March 2026

New PA Law Maintains PACE/PACENET Enrollee Benefits Through 2027

More than 250,000 older adults depend on Pennsylvania’s prescription assistance programs, PACE and PACENET, to be able to afford life-saving medications. However, due to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), about 20,000 of those enrollees were facing disqualifying increases in their overall income. 

Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed legislation into law to protect these older Pennsylvanians by maintaining their PACE prescription medication benefits. House Bill 923, now Act 49 of 2025, renews the cost-of-living moratorium for PACE/PACENET through December 31, 2027. The original moratorium was set to expire December 31, 2025.

Learn more about PACE and PACENET by visiting the Department of Aging’s website

The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women Wants You to Help Shape Its State of the Woman Report

The Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women has launched a survey to gather input from all women across the Commonwealth as part of the Shapiro Administration’s forthcoming State of the Woman Report. 

The commission is collecting insight from Pennsylvania women on their experiences and priorities to better inform the Administration’s policies that impact women. 

The survey is open until May 30 and is also available in Spanish and Chinese.

The commission will also host statewide listening sessions to further engage with all women across the Commonwealth.

Looking Back

 Committee Hearings

• The House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee met on February 2 to vote on House Resolution 389 (Madden) – a resolution recognizing the month of February 2026 as “Senior Independence Month” in Pennsylvania.

Looking Ahead 

Budget Hearings

• House and Senate budget hearings begin on February 23, 2026, and will continue through March 12, 2026.

• The Department of Aging will have its budget hearing with the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, March 10 at 1:00 PM. 

• Other House Appropriations Committee budget hearings of interest:  

  • Wednesday, March 4, 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM – Department of Human Services

  • Thursday, March 12, 10:00 AM – Budget Secretary/Executive Offices

• Other Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings of interest:    

  • Wednesday, March 4, 1:00 PM – Budget Secretary

2026 Session Schedule: 

House

• March: 23, 24, 25  

• April: 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29  

• May: 4, 5, 6  

• June: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30  

• September: 28, 29, 30  

• October: 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21  

• November: 9, 10

Senate

• March: 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25  

• April: 20, 21, 22  

• May: 4, 5, 6 

• June: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30