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In just seven months, the Shapiro Administration has transformed the Commonwealth’s digital front door to deliver an improved website that meets Pennsylvania’s residents where they are and helps them find the information they need.
The new PA.gov is part of the Shapiro Administration’s goal to make the Commonwealth’s digital services user-friendly and accessible and make state government move at the speed of business.
Harrisburg, PA - On January 09, 2025, the Shapiro Administration announced that the new PA.gov(opens in a new tab) is complete, transforming 64 separate Commonwealth websites into a single, cohesive online experience that puts Pennsylvania’s residents first and makes it easier to access online services through intuitive, user-focused design. Led by the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience (CODE PA), the Shapiro Administration used feedback from Pennsylvania residents and worked with subject matter experts and senior agency leadership to construct an improved, easier-to-use website.
“There should be no wrong door for Pennsylvanians to contact state government and get the information and services they deserve — whether in person or online,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “My Administration has made it a priority to revamp how we connect with Pennsylvanians online and deliver digital services and I’m pleased to announce we’ve finished overhauling the outdated websites Pennsylvanians were forced to use, and replaced them with a user-friendly, accessible experience that puts Pennsylvanians and their needs first in every part of its design. We will continue to put Pennsylvanians first and make the Commonwealth’s websites and digital services easier to use for everyone across our Commonwealth.”
“For the first time, Pennsylvanians have a website that prioritizes their needs and what their state government can offer them,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “Most people come to PA.gov because they need something. Whether it’s a worker looking for a job, an entrepreneur wanting to start a new business, or a family that wants to camp in one of our state parks — it’s all there and more on the new PA.gov.”
The Commonwealth’s online services are vital resources to millions of Pennsylvanians. In the month of December 2024, the new PA.gov received nearly 9 million visits and over 72 million page views. Since June 1, key pages such as the PA.gov home page and services directory have garnered over 250 million page views.
The new PA.gov provides a “no wrong door” experience by making it easier for Pennsylvanians to find what they need, even if they do not know which agencies to contact or all the programs available to them. The Services Directory (opens in a new tab)tool provides comprehensive access to information about services offered by every state agency through simple and intuitive filter and search options. Rather than being forced to search for information on dozens of separate websites and search tools, Pennsylvanians can find information about services from every agency in a single place using a single search tool.
For example, visitors can browse through nearly 1,000 Commonwealth services based on life events such as facing a financial shock, having a child, or finding a job, as well as by audience, category, or keyword search. Results pages explain each service in a simple and consistent format, with links to additional resources and contact information.
“The Services Directory demonstrates how we are reimagining the way people interact online with the Commonwealth to be simple, seamless, and secure,” said Bry Pardoe, Executive Director of CODE PA. “The new PA.gov gives the Commonwealth a solid digital foundation to build upon, and I look forward to seeing how we continue to improve through research and talking to Pennsylvanians about their experiences using the website.”
The PA.gov transformation kicked off on May 29, 2024, with the launch of the new PA.gov home page, Governor’s Office, Lieutenant Governor’s Office, and Department of Human Services websites. In the months that followed, agencies inventoried their existing websites to rewrite and reorganize information to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to find what they need. This collaborative effort included subject matter experts for services and programs, digital and communications, information technology, legal, and senior leadership to ensure that each site was thoroughly reviewed for accuracy and clarity. The new PA.gov also recognizes that website users have different abilities. For example, sites are designed to be compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers and can be navigated using just a keyboard.
Over 300 Pennsylvania residents participated in user research to inform the design of the new PA.gov. This included over 370 hours of moderated and unmoderated interviews and 189 survey responses. CODE PA also worked with First Lady Lori Shapiro to host "Lori Listens" focus group sessions to gather input from Pennsylvanians on what digital services they need and where critical improvements can be made.
Learn more about how CODE PA is working to transform the Commonwealth’s online services through user-centered design and research, leveraging an in-house team of digital talent to build cost effective solutions, and modern technology solutions at code.pa.gov(opens in a new tab).