SB 6 — An Act providing for the administration of permits by State agencies, for a tracking system for permit applications, for the establishment of permit programs, for third-party review of permit decision delays and for annual reports; establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and Opportunity and the Economic Development Strategy Group; and providing for their powers and duties.

PRINTER'S NO.   434

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                       SENATE BILL
                       No. 6
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS-HILL, ROTHMAN, BROOKS, K. WARD, LAUGHLIN,
        BROWN, MARTIN, COSTA, BAKER, J. WARD, PENNYCUICK, STEFANO,
        DUSH AND MASTRIANO, MARCH 19, 2025

     REFERRED TO INTERGOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, MARCH 19, 2025


                                   AN ACT
 1   Providing for the administration of permits by State agencies,
 2      for a tracking system for permit applications, for the
 3      establishment of permit programs, for third-party review of
 4      permit decision delays and for annual reports; establishing
 5      the Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and Opportunity and
 6      the Economic Development Strategy Group; and providing for
 7      their powers and duties.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10   Section 1.   Short title.
11      This act shall be known and may be cited as the Permit
12   Administration and Economic Development Act.
13   Section 2.   Definitions.
14      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16   context clearly indicates otherwise:
17      "Applicant."   A person, corporation, municipality, municipal
18   authority, political subdivision, State agency or an agency of
19   the Federal Government, which submits an application for a
20   permit to a State agency.
 1      "Application."    A submission to a State agency by an
 2   applicant which seeks any of the following:
 3          (1)     A new permit.
 4          (2)     A permit renewal.
 5          (3)     A permit amendment.
 6          (4)     A permit modification.
 7          (5)     A permit transfer.
 8          (6)     A change of ownership of a permit.
 9      "Completeness review."      The process by which a State agency's
10   staff reviews an application to determine if the application
11   satisfies all of the applicable statutory and regulatory
12   requirements.
13      "Incomplete application."       An application which does not
14   include all required documents and information necessary to
15   perform a completeness review.
16      "Office."    The Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and
17   Opportunity established under section 11(a).
18      "Permit."    For the purposes of this act, an authorization
19   issued by a State agency which approves the performance of a
20   regulated activity. The term includes authorization permits,
21   certificates of public convenience, plan approvals and
22   registrations under a general permit.
23      "Permit decision."    The issuance or denial of a permit.
24      "Permit decision delay."     The failure of a State agency to
25   issue a permit decision not later than:
26          (1)     the time period specified by statute or regulation,
27      including the time period specified under 4 Pa. Code Ch. 7a
28      Subch. H (relating to permit decision guarantee for the
29      Department of Environmental Protection); or
30          (2)     30 days after the submission of the permit

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 1      application if there is no time period specified by statute
 2      or regulation, including 4 Pa. Code Ch. 7a Subch. H.
 3      "Permit program."     The program designed for the operation and
 4   management of permits which are subject to permit decision
 5   delays.
 6      "Processing time."    Beginning when the permit satisfies the
 7   completeness review, the total number of business days allowed
 8   by statute, regulation or State agency policy before a State
 9   agency must take final action on a permit decision.
10      "State agency."     An office, department, independent agency,
11   authority, board or commission of the executive branch that
12   issues permits.
13      "Strategy group."    The Economic Development Strategy Group
14   established under section 12(a).
15      "Technical review."     A review of the technical aspects of an
16   application to determine if the application satisfies all of the
17   applicable statutory and regulatory requirements for permit
18   issuance.
19      "Technically deficient application."     An application that
20   does not include all necessary documents and information in
21   sufficient detail to perform a technical review.
22      "Third-party professional."     An individual in this
23   Commonwealth who possesses all of the requisite certifications
24   and qualifications of an occupation relating to a permit
25   administered by a State agency.
26   Section 3.   Initial review of permits by State agencies.
27      Not later than 60 days after the effective date of this
28   section, a State agency shall review the State agency's permit
29   decisions and permit decision delays during the immediately
30   preceding calendar year and submit a report of findings to the

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 1   General Assembly.
 2   Section 4.     Compilation of permits.
 3      (a)   List of permits.--A State agency shall compile, maintain
 4   and make available a complete list of all types of permits
 5   issued by the State agency. The list, including any revisions to
 6   the list, shall be transmitted to the Legislative Reference
 7   Bureau for publication in the next available issue of the
 8   Pennsylvania Bulletin and shall be posted on the State agency's
 9   publicly accessible Internet website. The list shall include,
10   but not be limited to, the following information:
11            (1)   The program under which each permit is issued.
12            (2)   The statutory and regulatory authority for each
13      permit.
14            (3)   The time frame when the State agency must issue each
15      permit.
16            (4)   The average time frame within which each permit is
17      actually issued.
18      (b)   Time limit.--A State agency shall, not later than 90
19   days after the effective date of this subsection, complete the
20   initial list required under subsection (a).
21   Section 5.     Tracking system for permit application.
22      (a)   Establishment.--A State agency shall establish, maintain
23   and make available a secure tracking system for applicants to
24   track the status of applications on the State agency's publicly
25   accessible Internet website not later than six months after the
26   effective date of this subsection.
27      (b)   Notice.--Within five business days after receiving an
28   application, a State agency shall notify an applicant in writing
29   or by electronic means of the receipt and provide information
30   instructing the applicant in the utilization of the tracking

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 1   system established under subsection (a).
 2      (c)   System contents.--The tracking system shall include all
 3   of the following:
 4            (1)   The processing time for each permit, the statutory
 5      and regulatory authority and State agency policy establishing
 6      the processing time.
 7            (2)   The dates associated with the receipt of each
 8      permit, completeness review, technical review, elevated
 9      review, if necessary, and the final permit decision.
10            (3)   The estimated time remaining for each incomplete
11      phase of the permit approval process.
12            (4)   The identity and contact information for the State
13      agency employee assigned to answer questions about the
14      application process.
15   Section 6.     Notice of incomplete and technically deficient
16                  applications.
17      (a)   Notice.--If a State agency finds an incomplete
18   application or technically deficient application, the State
19   agency shall notify the applicant in writing or by electronic
20   means of all of the following:
21            (1)   The statute or regulation which requires a
22      correction or additional information within the application.
23            (2)   The reasons why the application is not in
24      conformance with the statute or regulation specified under
25      paragraph (1) in clear language that is readily
26      understandable by a layperson.
27            (3)   The correction or additional information needed for
28      the State agency to issue the permit.
29            (4)   The procedure an applicant is required to employ to
30      initiate an appeal of an adverse State agency decision.

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 1      (b)   Time limit.--If an application is determined to be:
 2            (1)   incomplete, the State agency shall notify the
 3      applicant of the determination within 10 business days of
 4      receipt of the application; or
 5            (2)   technically deficient, the State agency shall notify
 6      the applicant of the determination not later than 20 business
 7      days after the conclusion of a completeness review.
 8      (c)   Tolling period.--
 9            (1)   If the State agency determines that the State agency
10      is unable to issue a determination on the application, the
11      State agency shall specify the information that is necessary
12      for the applicant to resubmit the application.
13            (2)   The deadlines under subsection (b) shall toll during
14      the time period commencing on the date when the applicant
15      receives the notice that the application is an incomplete
16      application or technically deficient application and the date
17      when the State agency receives the applicant's resubmitted
18      application.
19            (3)   Upon receipt of the applicant's resubmitted
20      application, the State agency shall approve or deny the
21      resubmitted application within the number of business days
22      remaining in the tolled time period.
23   Section 7.     Notice of permit changes and expiration.
24      A State agency shall notify a permit holder in writing or by
25   electronic means of any of the following:
26            (1)   The expiration date of a permit 60 days before the
27      permit's expiration date.
28            (2)   A change to a statute or regulation which may affect
29      the permit.
30            (3)   A change in permit fees which may affect the renewal

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 1      of the permit.
 2   Section 8.     Validity of permits.
 3      A permit issued prior to the effective date of a statute or
 4   regulation altering the requirements for the permit shall remain
 5   valid under the provisions by which the permit was granted,
 6   unless otherwise agreed to by all parties.
 7   Section 9.     Third-party review of permit decision delays.
 8      (a)   Establishment.--Not later than six months after the
 9   effective date of this subsection, a State agency shall
10   establish a program to review permit decision delays and resolve
11   issues causing permit decision delays.
12      (b)   Third-party.--
13            (1)   If a State agency has not established an internal
14      process for an on-the-record, quasi-judicial review of the
15      State agency's determinations, the State agency shall
16      contract with a third-party professional to administer a
17      program established under subsection (a) in accordance with
18      62 Pa.C.S. Pt. I (relating to Commonwealth procurement code).
19            (2)   Payments to a third-party professional under this
20      subsection shall consist of the remittance of any fees
21      collected by a State agency from applicants whose
22      applications are subject to a permit decision delay.
23      (c)   Review.--
24            (1)   A State agency shall, immediately after establishing
25      a program under subsection (a), refer applications that have
26      been submitted to the State agency and are subject to permit
27      decision delay to a third-party professional for review and
28      resolution.
29            (2)   A permit application that becomes subject to permit
30      decision delay after the establishment of a program under

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 1      subsection (a) shall be submitted by the State agency to a
 2      third-party professional for review and resolution no later
 3      than three business days after the application becomes
 4      subject to permit decision delay.
 5      (d)   Issuance.--After a third-party professional's review of
 6   an application which is subject to a permit decision delay and
 7   the resolution of all issues causing the delay, the third-party
 8   professional shall transmit the application to the State agency
 9   for issuance of the permit.
10      (e)   Deemed approval of permit.--If a State agency receives a
11   completed application, a permit decision delay occurs and the
12   application has not been submitted to a third-party professional
13   review as required under subsection (c), the application shall
14   be deemed approved and the State agency shall issue the permit.
15   Section 10.    Annual reports.
16      Not later than January 31 of each year, a State agency shall
17   submit a report to the General Assembly that, at a minimum,
18   shall contain the following information from the immediately
19   preceding calendar year:
20            (1)   The number of applications received.
21            (2)   The number of applications reviewed by the State
22      agency that received a decision without being referred to a
23      third-party professional.
24            (3)   The average time frame for permit decisions from the
25      State agency on applications that received a decision without
26      being referred to a third-party professional.
27            (4)   The number of applications reviewed by third-party
28      professionals.
29            (5)   The average time frame for contracted third-party
30      professionals to complete an application review.

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 1            (6)   The number of State agency employees reviewing
 2      permit applications as organized by each regional office of
 3      the State agency, if applicable, and the number of
 4      applications each State employee reviewed.
 5   Section 11.     Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and
 6                  Opportunity.
 7      (a)   Establishment.--The Pennsylvania Office of
 8   Transformation and Opportunity is established within the
 9   Governor's Office. The office shall facilitate the
10   implementation of transformational economic development
11   projects, which will result in substantial quality job
12   opportunities and capital investment in this Commonwealth by:
13            (1)   coordinating and expediting interagency cooperation;
14            (2)   marshaling Federal and State resources to maximize
15      economic development opportunities for this Commonwealth to
16      compete, grow and thrive in a global economy; and
17            (3)   leveraging the role of the Governor to engage the
18      global business community on behalf of the Commonwealth.
19      (b)   Duties.--The office shall:
20            (1)   Create a systematic process for managing economic
21      development projects involving the resources of multiple
22      State agencies to facilitate project management.
23            (2)   Establish and monitor the progress of additional
24      areas of economic development project support, including
25      serving as a one-stop shop for coordination of State
26      agencies, expediting State agency permit and license reviews
27      and ensuring speed of business review and approval of
28      Commonwealth economic incentive programs.
29            (3)   Work in partnership with the Department of Community
30      and Economic Development and all relevant State agencies in

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 1    reviewing Federal and State funding applications to ensure
 2    that they maximize the opportunity to attract
 3    transformational economic development projects.
 4          (4)   Establish objectives and targets for the
 5    implementation of transformative economic development
 6    projects prioritized by the Governor for this Commonwealth.
 7          (5)   Establish and monitor time-based standards for
 8    completion of each phase of a transformative economic
 9    development project.
10          (6)   Work in partnership with the Department of Community
11    and Economic Development and all relevant State agencies and
12    coordinate with the Governor's Action Team to ensure that
13    thorough due diligence is performed for prioritized projects,
14    which shall include:
15                (i)    Overall economic impact of the project.
16                (ii)    The validity of its business model and
17          likelihood of positive impact on an identified priority
18          industry or sector.
19                (iii)    The impact on communities that have been
20          disadvantaged and underserved.
21                (iv)    The strength of commitments for private
22          financing of the project.
23          (7)   Work in partnership with the Department of Community
24    and Economic Development, all relevant State agencies and the
25    Governor to develop an overall economic development blueprint
26    and strategy for this Commonwealth in identifying key
27    industry and sectors where this Commonwealth has competitive
28    advantages.
29    (c)   Staffing and administration.--
30          (1)   The Governor shall appoint a Chief Transformation

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 1      and Opportunity Officer of the office who shall serve at the
 2      pleasure of the Governor and coordinate the implementation
 3      and development of the duties specified in this section.
 4            (2)   The Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer may
 5      hire staff, including economic development specialists, to
 6      perform the duties specified in this section.
 7            (3)   The Chief Transformation and Opportunity Officer
 8      shall report directly to the Governor and the office shall
 9      operate from the Governor's Office.
10      (d)   Reports.--The office shall prepare and issue an annual
11   report to the Governor with the first annual report due December
12   31, 2025, and subsequent reports due December 31 of each
13   succeeding year. The annual report shall include an analysis and
14   examination of significant economic development opportunities
15   gained and lost by this Commonwealth within an identified time
16   period and recommendations for improvement. The report shall be
17   delivered to the Governor or the Governor's designee.
18   Section 12.     Economic Development Strategy Group.
19      (a)   Establishment.--The Economic Development Strategy Group
20   is established within the Governor's Office.
21      (b)   Duty.--The strategy group shall advise the Governor on
22   economic development projects and processes to attract and
23   retain employers, recruit leaders of innovation and create
24   quality jobs in this Commonwealth.
25      (c)   Membership.--
26            (1)   The strategy group shall be chaired by the Governor
27      or, in the Governor's absence, by the Chief Transformation
28      and Opportunity Officer.
29            (2)   The strategy group shall consist of the following:
30                  (i)   The Secretary of Agriculture.

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 1                 (ii)    The Secretary of Community and Economic
 2            Development.
 3                 (iii)    The Secretary of Education.
 4                 (iv)    The Secretary of Environmental Protection.
 5                 (v)    The Secretary of Labor and Industry.
 6                 (vi)    The Secretary of Transportation.
 7                 (vii)    Other members of the Governor's cabinet,
 8            appointed, on an individual project basis, at the
 9            discretion of the Governor.
10      (d)   Compensation prohibited.--Members of the strategy group
11   may not receive compensation for performance of their duties on
12   the strategy group.
13   Section 13.    Construction.
14      Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit or otherwise
15   alter a State agency's authority to revoke a permit for failure
16   to comply with the laws of this Commonwealth.
17   Section 14.    Effective date.
18      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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