For the third time, the Philadelphia City Council Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless heard testimony on Bills No. 250329 and 250330. The legislation, which adds new regulations to the city’s landlord and tenant laws, has faced backlash from groups representing property owners and landlords.
Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke, the sponsor of the legislation, said the bills were necessary because “picking up and moving” when dealing with a bad landlord is not always a viable solution.
“I’m shocked at how often I’ve heard some people reply to a tenant with a negligent landlord with ‘just move,’ O’Rourke said. “Friends, we live in an economy where ‘just move’ doesn’t work to actually protect the well-being of tenants, and when it is possible, doesn’t work fast enough since tenants can’t rely on economic freedom to pack up camp whenever an issue arises.”
“I believe that we in government have to protect their right to a safe and secure living space, because we know that what can happen when that right is not protected,” O’Rourke added.
The legislation adds the following protections to the city code:
A codified right to organize in a tenants association — making Philadelphia the largest city in the country to explicitly protect tenant organizing from landlord retaliation;
Expansion of Good Cause Eviction Protections to all leases, not just month-to-month leases, as required by current law;
City Council authorization of a proactive rental inspection program run by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I);
New accountability measures for landlords who are out of compliance with the city’s building code, with new standards for informing tenants when they cannot legally collect rent.
This Week’s Budget Hearings
Chief Administrative Officer
The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) creates and supports conditions for the City of Philadelphia’s departments and workforce to deliver efficient, effective, and equitable City services while enhancing quality of life for all residents,visitors, and communities. CAO fosters a culture of excellence, integrity, innovation, and ongoing improvement to transform service delivery, provide people-centered solutions to challenges impacting residents and employees, and strengthen administrative functions in pursuit of the Mayor’s vision to make Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation with access to economic opportunity for all.
FY 2026 Budget: $11,934,400
FY 2027 Budget: $12,054,614
Office of Human Resources
Under the guidance of the Civil Service Commission, the Office of Human Resources (OHR) works to attract, select, and retain a qualified, diverse, and effective workforce to support the Mayor’s goal to make Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation with access to economic opportunity for all. OHR is committed to ensuring that the City is an employer of choice. OHR continually reviews its processes to improve the services it provides and works closely with partner agencies, such as the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, to develop people strategies that are innovative and focus on creating an environment that values diversity and inclusion. A key component of OHR’s mission is to effectively administer the City’s civil service system to create and maintain workforce management practices that are based on merit and equity. The Office regularly reviews all aspects of the system to assure that merit is the driving value in the selection of staff while working to break down traditional barriers to diversity and inclusion.
FY 2026 Budget: $18,601,319
FY 2027 Budget: $22,966,434
Office of Innovation and Technology
The Office of Innovation and Technology (OIT) functions as the City’s central technology agency, responsible for establishing and executing the City’s IT strategy in direct alignment with the Mayor’s vision and departmental goals. OIT provides the digital infrastructure, systems, and services that enable secure, efficient, and effective government operations.
FY 2026 Budget: $160,736,553
FY 2027 Budget: $158,671,878
Office of Public Property
The Department of Public Property (DPP) serves the City’s workforce and community responsibly by providing quality facilities and workspaces, enabling the City’s workforce to take meaningful steps to meet the Mayor’s policy goals to make Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation with access to economic opportunity for all.
FY 2026 Budget: $324,784,759
FY 2027 Budget: $341,518,928
Fleet Services
The Department of Fleet Services (DFS) ensures that City vehicles and other automotive equipment are available, dependable, and safe to operate so that City departments and agencies can deliver services. DFS is responsible for the acquisition, repair, maintenance, and disposal of all City-owned vehicles and equipment. DFS also fuels City vehicles, as well as vehicles for quasi-City agencies (including the School District of Philadelphia), through its department-operated fuel stations. DFS maintains an active fleet of approximately 7,000 vehicles, including over 700 pieces of specialized equipment. From fire trucks to riding mowers, DFS ensures that City employees have the vehicles they need to do their jobs and work towards a City that fulfills the Mayor’s goal of making Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, greenest big city in the nation with access to economic opportunity for all.
FY 2026 Budget: $78,940,852
FY 2027 Budget: $76,159,561
Department of Human Services
The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) mission is to serve Philadelphia’s children, youth, families, and communities by building on their strengths and advancing safe and supportive environments.
FY 2026 Budget: $916,917,963
FY 2027 Budget: $926,657,093
Mayor’s Department of Education
The Mayor’s Office of Education (MOE) is dedicated to transforming Philadelphia’s education system by fostering innovation and ensuring world-class learning opportunities for all residents, regardless of age or socioeconomic background. By facilitating collaboration among City departments and educational institutions, MOE creates a unified, effective strategy for educational advancement and supports the Mayor’s vision of a safer, cleaner, and greener Philadelphia with access to economic opportunity for all.
FY 2026 Budget: $9,894,385
FY 2027 Budget: $9,894,285
Parks and Recreation
The people of Philadelphia own a treasure of facilities and resources that they have entrusted to Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR) to manage fairly, equitably, and sustainably. PPR stewards these treasures with programs and services that contribute to the health, wellness, and prosperity of all in pursuit of the Mayor’s goal of making all Philadelphia neighborhoods safe, clean, and green.
FY 2026 Budget: $89,836,792
FY 2027 Budget: $89,318,467
Free Library of Philadelphia
The mission of the Free Library of Philadelphia (FLP)
is to advance literacy, guide learning, and inspire
curiosity as part of the Mayor’s vision to provide
world-class educational opportunities for
Philadelphians of all ages and socioeconomic
backgrounds.
FY 2026 Budget: $77,593,762
FY 2027 Budget: $78,259,130
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