Four freshman senators have been elected to leadership positions on state Senate standing committees for the 2025-2026 session, although most committee chairs in the Republican-controlled chamber will remain unchanged from the previous session.
Sense. Dawn Keefer (R-York) and Patty Kim (D-Dauphin), who previously served in the House and won state Senate races in 2024, will lead Local Government Commission.
Sen. Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny), who was elected to the seat previously held by Jim Brewster, will serve as minority leader Finance Committeeand Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) returns as the committee’s majority chairman.
Senator Joe Picozzi (Philadelphia), who defeated incumbent Democrat Jimmy Dillon, was elected, as Philadelphia’s only Republican senator, as Speaker of the House of Representatives Committee on Urban Affairs and Housing. Sen. Nikil Saval (R-Philadelphia) will once again serve as minority committee chair.
A newly formed commission chaired by a pair of suburban Philadelphia lawmakers will also participate in this session.
Sense. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) and Tim Kearney (D-Delaware) will moderate Commission on Institutional Sustainability and Innovation (ISIC). According to a press release, the committee was established this year to oversee and evaluate legislation relating to the current and future sustainability of institutional facilities such as hospitals, educational institutions and nursing homes. Democrats in the Senate.
The latest information on other Senate committees
Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland) will serve as chairwoman Education Committee this session, while Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) returns as minority leader. Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill), who served as chairman last session, will now serve as chairman Chairman of the Majority Policy Committee.
The Law and Justice Committee two new leaders will lead this session. Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) will serve as majority leader, while Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) will serve as minority leader. During the previous session, the committee was headed by Sen. Mike Regan and Jim Brewster, who have both retired.
Senator Wayne Langerholc (R-Clearfield), who chaired the committee Transport Committee will lead in the previous session Committee on Aging and Youth along with Sen. Maria Collett (D-Montgomery), who returns as minority leader.
Driving Transport Committee this session will be Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair) and Democratic Sen. Marty Flynn returns as chairman of the minority committee.
The committee will be chaired by Senator Chris Gebhard (Lebanon). Banking and Insurance committee, replacing Sen. John DiSanto (R-Dauphin), who retired after last session. Dream. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) will Again serve as chairman of the minority committee.
Senator Rosemary Brown (R-Monroe) will serve in this capacity Community, economic and recreational development The committee is co-chairing this session with Senator Anthony Williams (Philadelphia), who also served as chair last session. During the 2023-2024 session, the committee was headed by Gebhard.
Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) will continue to serve as chairwoman of the Committee Communication and technology Committee, but will be joined by Sen. Nick Miller (D-Lehigh) as minority chairman. In previous sessionstate Senator Jimmy Dillon was minority leader. Dillon lost his re-election bid.
Sen. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) continues to lead Game and fishing Commission, although the new minority leader, Sen. Lisa Boscola, sits on the commission. Last sessionBrewster was minority leader.
Senator Lisa Baker (R-Louzerne) remains chair of this committee Committee on the Judiciary this session, but will be joined by Sen. Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery) as minority leader. Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) was the House Minority Leader previous session.
Instead, Santarsiero will be minority leader of the House of Representatives State Government Committee this session with the Majority Leader, State Senator Cris Dush (R-Jefferson).
The following committees remain unchanged:
