News & Brews December 30, 2025
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Shapiro to become highest-paid governor in America
Step aside, New York. Pennsylvania’s Gov. Josh Shapiro is about to become the highest paid governor in the United States, with a salary of $253,870. He was already second in line (at $245K) after New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul (who earns $250K). But Pennsylvania’s 3.3% automatic cost of living increase goes into effect on January 1, bumping Shapiro’s salary by about $8,000. What’s he going to do with the increase? Well, he’s not going to Disney World (as far as we know), but he IS going on a book tour to promote—what else—himself. The Post-Gazette has more.
Lawmakers optimistic permitting reform will help Pa.
The Inquirer reports, “When U.S. Steel opted to build a new mill in Arkansas that had originally been planned for Allegheny County, then-Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson joked in 2022 that his state could have the mill built faster than Pennsylvania could have it permitted.” The joke hit home. Republican lawmakers had been pushing for permitting reform in Pennsylvania for years. And this past year saw some important steps forward. Among the changes are “deemed approved” permitting for certain projects after 60 days.
Here are 2025’s ‘curious’ new Pa. laws
PennLive reminds us that Pennsylvania passed a record low number of laws this past year (despite Gov. Shapiro’s GSD claims). Among those laws were some odd balls. For example, in preparation for the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup events, two bills will “allow foreign physicians traveling with sports teams to practice in Pennsylvania for up to 45 days.” Another law “clarifies that the state law providing legal immunity for food donations applies regardless of the use-by date on the product.” And thinking about abandoning your boat? Well, there are now “formal legal definitions of ‘derelict’ and ‘abandoned’ boats, as well as rules for reporting such vessels to the state boat commission and notifying owners that their watercraft is a nuisance.”
Six new laws to close out the year
And speaking of new laws, last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed six bills into law, spanning topics including unemployment benefits for domestic abuse victims, filling vacant seats for certain local office, catering at funerals, and more. The Center Square gives us a rundown of the new legislation.
Happy New Year! Here’s your yearly turnpike toll hike.
Ahh, the New Year. Time to raise a toast—and a toll. Pennsylvania’s annual turnpike toll hike will go into effect on January 4. The Post-Gazette tells us that the 4% hike will be the lowest since 2014. But that’s hardly any consolation for drivers using the most expensive toll road in the world. And it’s doubly annoying given that the whole turnpike mess was avoidable were it not for three things: Power, patronage, and politics.