A Republican-led Pennsylvania Senate committee on Monday approved a bill that would create a Cannabis Control Board to oversee the state’s medical marijuana program and potential future recreational-use marijuana legalization.
The Senate Law & Justice Committee approved the bill in a 6-5 vote. All Democrats voted against the measure, along with Republican Sen. Dawn Keefer of York County.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie County. It does not legalize recreational marijuana, but Laughlin said it would allow legalization to be carried out “in a professional manner” if approved in the future.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has repeatedly called for recreational marijuana legalization. His proposed 2026-27 budget includes $729 million in new revenue from anticipated legalization.
The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
Separately, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would exempt vehicles less than five years old from Pennsylvania emissions inspections. The bill would also remove Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer and Westmoreland counties from the emissions testing program.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria County. Langerholc said less than 1% of vehicles under five years old fail annual emissions inspections.
The Appropriations Committee approved the bill in a party-line 13-8 vote, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. The bill now goes to the full Senate.
The full Senate also approved a bill that would increase penalties for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer when serious bodily injury results.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne County, would set a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence for attempting, conspiring or soliciting the murder of a law enforcement officer when serious bodily injury results.
Baker said the bill was prompted by advocacy from Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher following a 2024 incident in which Scranton Police Detective Kyle Gilmartin was shot in the head.
Gilmartin was in the Senate gallery Monday when the bill passed in a 41-8 vote.
The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
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