The Shapiro Administration is transforming government services with faster permit, license, and certification approvals, a redesigned PA.gov website, and a renewed focus on accountability and transparency.

Governor Shapiro is delivering real results in his first two years, setting a new standard for government efficiency, innovation, and service — and the Governor and his entire Administration are laser focused on continuing to work hard and get stuff done for all Pennsylvanians.

Harrisburg, PA – Since taking office, Governor Josh Shapiro and his Administration have focused on delivering better government services – positioning Pennsylvania as a leader in efficiency, accountability, and digital innovation. By reforming the Commonwealth’s permitting, licensing, and certification (PLC)(opens in a new tab) processes, launching a redesigned PA.gov(opens in a new tab), and implementing digital service and online improvements through the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA)(opens in a new tab), the Shapiro Administration is using technology and innovation to make government services faster, more accessible, and more effective for all Pennsylvanians.

From reducing bureaucratic delays and cutting red tape to fostering job creation and economic development, Governor Shapiro is proving that government can operate at the speed of business while putting the people of Pennsylvania first. The Shapiro Administration is setting a new standard for good governance, making the Commonwealth a place where government works to create real opportunity — and giving Pennsylvanians the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.

Transforming the PLC Processes to Drive Economic Growth

Governor Shapiro has made streamlining the PLC processes a cornerstone of his Administration’s efforts to improve government services. Through initiatives like the PA Permit Fast Track Program(opens in a new tab) and PAyback.pa.gov(opens in a new tab), the Commonwealth has:

• Accelerated Licensing for Working Pennsylvanians: Processing times for occupational licenses have dropped dramatically, with business licenses now issued in less than 3 days (down from 8 weeks), the processing time for teacher certifications being reduced from 12 weeks to under 2 weeks, and license processing times for barbershops and cosmetology salons reduced from nearly two weeks to same-day approvals.
• Boosted Pennsylvania’s Competitiveness for Businesses: Processing time for corporate filings has been reduced from 8 weeks to just 2 days, while small business certification times have decreased by 33 percent, making Pennsylvania more attractive than ever for businesses and workers.
• Developed a Comprehensive PLC Catalogue: For the first time, Pennsylvania created a catalogue of more than 2,400 PLCs(opens in a new tab) issued by the state, enabling the Shapiro Administration to identify bottlenecks and deliver answers more efficiently, giving Pennsylvanians more certainty in the process.
• Enhanced Accountability with a Money-Back Guarantee: PAyback.pa.gov(opens in a new tab), the nation’s first online money-back guarantee system, ensures timely permit processing by offering refunds for delays. This year, Pennsylvania achieved the largest improvement in its occupational licensing process(opens in a new tab) of any state in the nation.
• Reduced Backlogs: The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cut its permit backlog by 75 percent(opens in a new tab), eliminating delays for critical projects while maintaining environmental safeguards. The department has completely eliminated the backlog for oil and gas permits and is part of the newly launched SPEED program(opens in a new tab), allowing qualified professionals to review certain permits to further expedite the decision-making process.
• Streamlined Permitting: Pennsylvania launched the PA Permit Fast Track Program(opens in a new tab), the first state to have a project-based permitting system to expedite major economic development and infrastructure projects, led by the Office of Transformation & Opportunity (OTO).(opens in a new tab) Through this program, the Shapiro Administration has enhanced transparency, accelerated timelines, and improved interagency coordination — setting a new standard for efficiency in permitting processes.

Revolutionizing PA.gov: A Digital Platform for All Pennsylvanians

The Shapiro Administration has transformed the Commonwealth’s online presence(opens in a new tab) with the launch of a new, user-friendly PA.gov(opens in a new tab), consolidating 64 agency websites into one seamless platform. Designed with input from residents, the new site offers:

• Streamlined Navigation: A "no wrong door" approach ensures Pennsylvanians can easily find resources, whether they’re applying for a job, starting a business, or accessing state park information.
• Accessibility for All: Built to support assistive technologies like screen readers, the new platform ensures all users can find the information they’re looking for.
• Comprehensive Services Directory: With nearly 1,000 services organized by life events, audience, and keyword search, PA.gov provides intuitive access to vital information.

Establishing CODE PA for Sustainable Digital Innovation

In 2023, Governor Shapiro created CODE PA(opens in a new tab) to modernize digital services across the Commonwealth, including:

• Making It Easier to Find Services: Introduced integrated tools for an online review process of health plan denials for Pennsylvanians in partnership with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. This initiative includes a new website and online form(opens in a new tab) for independent reviews, resulting in successfully overturning 50 percent of denied health claims last year. Additionally, a new lookup tool(opens in a new tab) was launched to help Pennsylvania seniors and people with disabilities find nearby locations for in-person assistance with Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) applications, ensuring seamless access to support.
• Simplifying Access to Grants: Launched a new resource on PA.gov(opens in a new tab) that helps residents, businesses, non-profits, schools, and local governments easily find and apply for grant programs from state agencies.
• Building Internal Expertise: Reduced reliance on outside contractors by assembling an in-house team of digital experts, ensuring sustainable innovation within the Commonwealth.
• Standardizing User-Centered Design: Introduced the Keystone Design System to create a consistent and accessible digital experience across platforms. CODE PA incorporates user feedback through comprehensive user experience (UX) research to ensure services meet the needs of the people who use them.

Governor Shapiro: Two Years of G-S-D

As Governor Shapiro marks two years in office, he remains focused on continuing to bring people together to build on this progress and get a lot more stuff done for Pennsylvanians. Having shown up in communities all across the Commonwealth hundreds of times in these first two years, the Governor has listened to Pennsylvanians’ priorities and pledged to keep showing up, solving problems, and delivering results.

Visit Governor Shapiro's Accomplishments website(opens in a new tab) to explore the Administration’s interactive midterm report(opens in a new tab) and download a detailed PDF overview(opens in a new tab) of accomplishments.