Philadelphia City Council in 2022
Council Hits Record Pace with 285 New Bills in 2022
The year in summary
Philadelphia City Council saw a surge in legislative activity in 2022, introducing a record-breaking 285 bills - 19 more than the year before. The top issue areas that dominated the agenda were zoning (66), planning (60), infrastructure (58), transportation (55), and parking (40). Compared to the prior year, infrastructure issues saw a significant increase (+22), while parking and zoning issues declined (-21) each. Council President Clarke led the charge with 72 bills sponsored, followed by Councilmember Jones and Johnson. The most impactful bills included a record-breaking $5 billion operating budget, a $3.567 billion capital budget for infrastructure upgrades, and plans to ban single-use plastics in restaurants by 2025. Contested votes revealed some divisions within the council, with proposals like additional paid sick leave, tax relief, and a tax overhaul drawing opposition from some members.
Despite these disputes, 98% of bills that reached a final vote became law, showing a high level of agreement among Council members on key issues. The median days from introduction to becoming law was 49, indicating a relatively swift legislative process.
AI-generated analysis grounded in 285 bills from official Philadelphia City Council records.
What council worked on in 2022
Rising vs 2021: infrastructure (+22), taxation (+13), elections (+9), environment (+7). Declining: parking (-21), zoning (-21), business (-12), transportation (-8).
Highest-impact bills of 2022
Philadelphia Homeowners Face New Property Tax Bill with Proposed Increase of Up to 20% Over Five Years; City Council votes on measure that would raise taxes for nearly 300,000 property owners in the city.
Philadelphia's crumbling roads and bridges are one step closer to repair with the passage of a massive infrastructure upgrade package, set to pump nearly $4 billion into city coffers over the next year. Council Approves Measure to Ban Single-Use Plastics in Philly Restaurants by 2025 Philadelphia restaurants will no longer be allowed to hand out single-use plastics like straws and bags starting
Philadelphia's aging sewer system is set for a major overhaul as City Council advances a $2.5 billion plan to repair crumbling pipes and upgrade wastewater treatment facilities in neighborhoods like Fishtown and Kensington. Low-income renters may soon see rent increases capped at 4% annually under a new proposal from City Council that aims to slow the spread of gentrification in rapidly changing
Philadelphia Residents Could Face Higher Parking Fines under Proposed Council Ordinance, with Revenue Hiked from $120 to $200 for Repeat Offenders within Six Months. Proposal to Create Citywide Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advances through Philadelphia City Council, potentially unlocking millions in funding for low-income residents and community development projects.
Philadelphia homeowners can expect to pay higher real estate taxes starting next year, with city tax rates increasing to 57.19 cents per $100 of assessed value and school district tax rates rising to 82.79 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Most contested votes of 2022top 5 of 9
Most council roll calls are unanimous — these are the bills that split the chamber.
Most active sponsors in 2022
- Council President Clarke72 bills
- Councilmember Jones37 bills
- Councilmember Johnson31 bills
- Councilmember Gauthier28 bills
- Councilmember Squilla24 bills