Pennsylvania Bills, News & Updates

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Summary

We are hoping that this bill makes it to the Pennsylvania House floor for a vote, and we are working to make that happen! Contact your state representative TODAY and ask them to support bringing House Bill 158 to the floor for a vote as quickly as possible!

If we believe in equal opportunities for women, that must include sports. Girls are losing their right to a fair playing field in sports because they are being forced to compete against male athletes.

This isn’t about hard work – it’s about biology. Men ale athletes have physical performance advantages that propel them to outperform women athletes. These biological differences are why sports are separated by sex in the first place.

Forcing girls to compete against boys removes equal opportunities, crushes female-made records, and takes away countless chances at scholarships and awards. This unfair reality is becoming increasingly prevalent in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation, and flies in the face of Title IX (Nine) enacted by Congress 50 years ago.

The Save Women’s Sports Act would ensure girls in Pennsylvania are not forced to compete against boys in sex-specific sports.

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2025/0/SB0790/PN0845

“Vexatious requester.” An individual who submits one or more
vexatious requests.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. The act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law, is amended by adding a section to read: Section 906.

Vexatious requesters. (a) Petition for relief.– (1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), an agency may petition the Office of Open Records for relief from a requester alleged by the agency to be a vexatious requester. The petition shall: (i) be submitted under penalty of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904

INTRODUCED BY DUSH, BROOKS, LAUGHLIN, FONTANA AND STEFANO, MAY 28, 2025 REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 28, 2025

PROGESSION OF A BILL IN PENNSYLVANIA

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Either a Representative or Senator starts with an IDEA

During the two-year session of the Legislature, between 4,000 and 5,000 bills are introduced in both Houses.

This idea is filed with the Secretary Parliamentarian of the Senate.

In the SENATE

The Parliamentarian gives the bill a number and delivers to the President Pro Tempore.

The President Pro Tempore then must refer the bill to a committee within 14 days.

The Parliamentarian will then give the “numbered bill” to the chairman of the designated committee.

In the HOUSE

A member of the House files the bill with the Chief Clerk

At the end of each day’s session in the House, the Chief Clerk will deliver all bills to the Speaker of the House.

The Speaker of the House then delivers it to the appropriate standing committee.

The next day the Speaker announces the previous day’s bills to the entire House. Senate and public distribution.

The Committees

Obviously, it would be impossible for the Senate and House to get through the voluminous legislative business of enacting new laws; amending present ones; appropriating money; investigating governmental operations and all the other duties that devolve upon the General Assembly without the effective procedure of a committee system.

There are approximately twenty-two standing committees in the Senate and approximately twenty-seven with sub-committees in the House.

When They are NOT In Session

The popular opinion is that when the Legislature is not meeting, nothing is being done. The fact is that most of the work of the session is being carried forward by these standing committees when the General Assembly is not in session.

Once a bill is in committee, the committee has full power over it. Sometimes it is referred by the chairman to a sub-committee with instructions to study and make a report of its recommendations to the main committee.

Reporting the Bill to the Floor

One of the committee members reports the bill to the Floor, either as committed (which means without change), as amended (with change), or, in rare instances with a negative recommendation. The committee may also decide not to report the bill at all.

Interestingly …

The Senate or House, by a majority vote of the members elected, may discharge its committees from consideration of any bill.

First Consideration in the SENATE

When a committee favorably reports a bill to the Senate it is given a first consideration.

This counts as day 1 of 3.

There may be an objection. (The Constitution of Pennsylvania requires that each bill shall be considered on three different days in both the Senate and House).

During this First Consideration… No Debate or amendments are permitted from the Floor.

The bill is voted on or agreed to and is advanced to the calendar.

Second Consideration in the SENATE

Senators may now propose amendments from the Floor of the Senate, of course they must be germane to the subject of the bill.

When a bill has been agreed to on second consideration, it is then placed on the next day’s calendar for third consideration,

If amendments are made and agreed to it must be reprinted.

Third Consideration in the SENATE

This will be the third day. After consideration and then agreeing to the bill a third time it will be advanced to the final passage, at which time its merits may be debated. The bill may also be amended.

At the conclusion of the debate, the roll of Senators is called and, if a constitutional majority of twenty-six Senators votes in its favor, the bill passes the Senate.

On a special class of appropriation bills, the Constitution requires a larger majority—two-thirds of the elected membership in each house.

Sending it to the House

After the bill has passed the Senate, it is transmitted to the House by the Message Clerk. The Chief Clerk of the House signs a receipt for the bill, and it is then handed over to the Speaker of the House, who refers it to one of the House Standing Committees.

In the HOUSE

A member of the House files the bill with the Chief Clerk

At the end of each day’s session in the House, the Chief Clerk will deliver all bills to the Speaker of the House.

The Speaker of the House then delivers it to the appropriate standing committee.

The next day the Speaker announces the previous day’s bills to the entire House, the entire Senate and for public distribution.

First Consideration in the HOUSE

If the bill is reported from committee, it follows somewhat the same course of passage as in the Senate except in the area of first consideration. The bill is agreed to BUT…..

Laid on the Table

When the bill is reported from committee and given first consideration, it is not automatically moved on to a second consideration but is laid on the table.

It may be removed from the table by a motion from the Majority Leader, or his designee, acting on a report by the Rules Committee.

Such report must be in writing and a copy thereof distributed to each Member.

When the bill is so removed from the table, it is placed on the second consideration calendar on the legislative day following such removal.

This procedure does not prohibit any Member from asking a motion to remove the bill from the table.

After Fifteen Days on the Table or Sooner

If the bill remains on the table for fifteen legislative days, it is automatically removed from the table and placed on the calendar for second consideration the next legislative day

BUT…. HOWEVER – Between first Monday in June & first Monday in September

If the bill is reported by the committee between the first Monday in June and the first Monday in September, it is, after first consideration, rereferred to the Rules Committee.

After the first Monday in September, all bills so referred to after the first Monday in June are automatically reported from the Committee, laid on the table. It is then given the second consideration either by motion or after fifteen days.

Basically, No Bills are moved to Second Consideration during the summer (June, July & August).

Second, Third and Final Passage in the HOUSE

Second consideration, third consideration, and final passage procedure is the same as in the Senate with one hundred and two votes being the constitutional majority required for final passage in the House.

24 more hours

If a bill is amended on third consideration, it is reprinted and requires 24 hours before final passage vote.

Amendments from the other House

The House may amend a Senate bill, in which case it is returned to the Senate for concurrence in the House amendments.

The Senate may amend House bills in the same manner.

Defeating the Bill

Either house may defeat the bill of the other house, either in committee or on the Floor.

How are Refusal to Amendments Handled?

The Six…. A Conference Committee is formed.

Three members are chosen from each House by The Speaker & Pres Pro Tempore

Their job is to resolve the differences between the two houses on the bill. When an agreement is reached their report is sent to their respective houses

The Conference Committee Report is presented.

The Senate requires waiting six hours before voting.

The House requires waiting 24 hours before voting.

 Both Houses must have a constitutional majority for the adoption of a Conference Committee Report.

 When a Bill has Finally Passed

When a bill has passed finally in both houses, it is signed by the both the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House in the presence of each house.

The Governor’s Consideration

The bill is then transmitted to the Governor for his consideration.

If he approves, he signs the bill, and it becomes a law.

If the Governor does not act upon a bill within ten calendar days after it has been received by him, while the General Assembly is in session, it automatically becomes law.

The Governor’s Veto

If he vetoes the bill it will be returned to the house of origin, together with the Governor’s reasons for the veto. The General Assembly has the power to pass a bill over the Governor’s veto by a constitutional vote of bill over the Governor’s veto by a constitutional vote of two-thirds of the Members in both Houses house.

No Action – Automatically Becomes Law

After final adjournment of the current General Assembly (Two Years), the Governor has thirty days to act upon the remaining bills passed by both houses.

Bills on which the Govenor takes no action automatically become law.

It is rare indeed for a bill to become law because of the Governor taking no action.

When a Bill is Given an Act Number

The official certified copy of each bill approved by the Governor is placed in the custody of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, given an act number and filed in the State Department. It then loses its identity as a bill and becomes an “Act of the General Assembly.” The Legislative Reference Bureau, the agency in which the bill originated, prepares the act for printing.

The Director of the Bureau, in punctuating and editing the act may, with the approval of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Office of Attorney General, make any corrections which will not in any manner affect or change the meaning, intent or substance of the act.

Examples of such corrections are misspelled words, typographical errors, plural or singular number, past, present or future tense appears where another should be used, a word clearly should have been omitted, etc.

What is a Pamphlet Law?

What are Advanced Copies of Enacted Statutes?

After all this is done, the Bureau publishes the acts in book form, known as the Pamphlet Laws, for distribution to the courts, attorneys, libraries and citizens of our Commonwealth who may request them. There is also an individual copy of the act printed for distribution, and they are called “advanced copies of enacted statutes.” This saves sending a copy of the bound P.L.s when just one act is desired – this then is the law

Explanation to Facilitate Reading of Legislative Bills

■ [Light face brackets] are used only in bills amending an existing law. They indicate that anything enclosed thereby appears in the existing law, but that it is proposed to omit it from the law as amended. The brackets and anything enclosed by them are carried along into the law, if the bill is finally enacted.

■ Underscoring is used only in bills amending an existing law. It indicates that the underscored matter does not appear in the existing law, but that it is proposed to insert it in the law as amended. The underscored matter will be carried into the law if the bill is finally enacted.

■ Ellipses (***) are used only in bills amending an existing law. They indicate omitted law which is not proposed to be changed in the bill.

■ [Dark face brackets] are used only in bills that have been amended, either in committee or on the Floor of either house. They indicate brackets inserted by such amendment and have the same effect as light face brackets.

■ Strike out type is used only in bills that have been amended either in committee or on the Floor of either house. They indicate that anything so printed appeared in a previous print of the bill but is to be deleted and will not appear in the text of the law if the bill is finally enacted.

■ CAPITAL LETTERS are used only in bills that have been amended, either by committee or on the Floor of either house. They indicate that the matter in capital letters did not appear in the original print of the bill but was inserted into the bill by amendment in either house. The matter in capital letters will be carried into the law, if the bill is finally enacted, in ordinary print, unless it is also underscored, in which case it will be printed in italics.

■ Strike out type and CAPITAL LETTERS indicate only the amendments made to the bill at the last previous stage of passage. All prior strike out amendments are dropped entirely from the new print, and all insert amendments previously shown in CAPITAL LETTERS are reset in lower case type. The one exception to this rule is a house bill amended more than once in the Senate or a Senate bill amended more than once in the house will, on the second and subsequent printings, cumulate all amendments made in the latter House, so that all amendments in which concurrence by the House of origin is required will stand out.

■ The line immediately preceding the title of the bill shows the stage of passage at which the amendments appearing on that print were made. All preceding printer numbers of each bill are shown in consecutive order in a line at the top of the first page of each bill.

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Then sends it to the “Legislative Reference Bureau” not sure why

The IDEA gets typed up and given back, probably in a bill like form, to the Legislature or Legislators that came up with the IDEA.

The secretary gives the IDEA a number. I would assume it is now a bill.

The President Pro Tempore refers the bill to a committee. Most likely the chair of a committee.

The committee will then discuss the bill. I am not sure how changes are made. I would guess if changes arte made it would only need to go back to the Legislative Reference Bureau to be re-typed.

The committee takes a vote to put it to a First Consideration

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

The bill can have a public hearing. But it does not need to have a public hearing

The bill can be committed as is. NO CHANGES

The bill may also be amended. If amended the bill will need to be reprinted.

Vote not to report bill to Senate for Action

#1 First Day or First Consideration differs a bit in the House and the Senate, but, in both instances, the first consideration is an announcement that a bill has been reported from the respective committee to the entire House or Senate.

There are no debates,

There are no votes

Ther no amendments from the floor in either Chamber.

In the Senate, the bill is automatically placed on the calendar for a second day or second consideration.

#2 Second Day or Second Consideration

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

A debate is permitted

An amendment is permitted (must be reprinted)

Vote is permitted

#2 Third Day or Third Consideration

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

Amendment permitted on third consideration

(If amended, bill is reprinted and requires six hours before final passage vote)

No amendments allowed on final passage

Debate permitted on final passage

Bills must be in printed form and on desks of Senators

26 votes required for final passage

If the bill passes…..

The bill moves to the House

BILL IS NOW IN THE HOUSE

The Chief Clerk receives the bill from the Senate

The Chief Clerk give the bill to the Speaker of the House who refers the bill to a committee

If the committee votes yea it moves out of committee. The bill goes to First Day or First Consideration

First Day or First Consideration

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

No debate

No amendment

Laid on table (After first Monday in June — rereferred to Rules Committee)

TABLE

May be removed by motion of Majority Leader as recommended by Rules Committee

May be removed by motion of any Member duly made and adopted

Automatically removed after 15 Legislative Days

Second Day or Second Consideration

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

Must be called up for consideration

Debate permitted

Amendment permitted (If amended, bill is reprinted)

Vote permitted

Third Day or Third Consideration

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

Amendment permitted on third consideration (If amended, bill is reprinted and requires 24 hours before final passage vote)

No amendment on final passage

Debate permitted on final passage

102 votes required for final passage

If the bill passes…..

The bill moves back to the Senate

TRANSMITTED BACK TO SENATE IF AMENDED — SEE DESCRIPTION OF ACTION ON REVERSE

IF NOT AMENDED Signed by Secretary of Senate Signed by President of Senate or President Pro Tempore

TRANSMITTED BACK TO HOUSE

Signed by Speaker

TRANSMITTED TO STATE DEPARTMENT FOR RECORDING

TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR BY STATE DEPARTMENT

GOVERNOR REFERS BILL TO ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR OPINION AS TO LEGALITY AND CONSTITUTIONALITY

GOVERNOR

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

GOVERNOR APPROVES

GOVERNOR PERMITS BILL TO BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE • If not signed within ten days when Legislature is in session — bill becomes law • If not signed within 30 days when Legislature has adjourned sine die — bill becomes law

TRANSMITTED BY GOVERNOR’S OFFICE TO STATE DEPARTMENT FOR CERTIFICATION, ASSIGNMENT OF ACT NUMBER AND FILING

STATE DEPARTMENT – Legislative Reference Bureau

COPY TRANSMITTED TO LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU FOR PREPARATION

PRINTER

GOVERNOR VETOS the BILL

If vetoed — bill is given a veto number by the State Department and returned to house of origin for possible further action. •

If vetoed — bill may be repassed by a two-thirds vote of the Members elected to both houses.

In the House, the bill is “laid on the table.” When it is laid on the table it becomes inactive, but it can only stay that way for up to fifteen legislative days. Once the fifteen days are up, the bill is removed from the table and placed on the calendar for second consideration.

However, if the Rules Committee recommends that it come off the table sooner, the Majority Leader can motion that the bill be removed from the table.

Additionally, a member of the House can motion for a bill to be removed from the table as long as they have the support of the majority of the members.

Between the first Monday in June and the first Monday in September, when a bill is reported out of committee to the House of Representatives, it is sent to the Rules Committee after first consideration.

After the first Monday in September, bills are re-referred to the floor of the House and laid on the table. To be taken off the table, the procedure above must be followed.

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as of August 6, 2025

Bill #                    Title of Bill                                                                     

SB 10 Pennsylvania Award for Student Success                     N/A                To Educ com

                                                                                                                                                5/6/2025

VOTE YES   VOTE YES   on SB 10

Senate Bill 10 Information; 2025-2026 Regular Session – The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

changing the laws relating thereto,” establishing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program/Fund

SB 705 Amending mail-in electors & applications mail-in ballots.    In House                          N/A

 VOTE NO   VOTE NO

             on SB 705                                                                                                                                               

5/6/2025

Senate Bill 705 Information; 2025-2026 Regular Session – The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

 VOTE NO   VOTE NO

             on SB 705 

The Secretary of the Commonwealth may develop an electronic system through which all qualified electors may apply for a mail-in ballot and request permanent mail-in voter status under this section… The transfer of a qualified registered elector on a permanent mail-in voting list from one county to another county shall only be permitted upon the request of the qualified registered elector

SB 790 Right-to-Know Law providing for vexatious requester             N/A                       In Senate

Reported to Committee State Gov com

                                                                                                                                                                6/3/2025

Senate Bill 790 Information; 2025-2026 Regular Session – The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

making related repeals,” in agency response, providing for vexatious requester. Except as provided under paragraph (2), an agency may petition the Office of Open Records for relief from a requester alleged by the agency to be a vexatious requester. The petition shall: un-sworn falsification.. requester alleged to be a vexatious requester.. constitute vexatious conduct.… Other relevant evidence of vexatious intent… the number and frequency of requests demonstrably exceed the agency’s reasonable capacity… demonstrated clear intent to harass, annoy, frustrate or burden an agency… The determination under this paragraph shall not be appealable… afford the alleged vexatious requester a fair opportunity to respond to the petition……

Bill #                    Title of Bill                                                                     

SB120 Legalize Marijuana for Recreational use in Pennsylvania          N/A                       In Senate

Rpt Committed State Gov com 

VOTE NO   VOTE NO                  on SB 120                                                                                                     

   6/3/2025

Senate Bill 120 Information; 2025-2026 Regular Session – The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

regulating the personal use and possession of cannabis; establishing the Cannabis Control Board; providing for powers and duties of the Cannabis Control Board; establishing the Cannabis Regulation Fund; providing for disproportionately impacted area, for regulation of cannabis business establishments, for enforcement and immunities, for laboratory testing, for advertising, marketing, packaging and labeling and for preparation, destruction and regulation of cannabis, edible and infused products; imposing a sales tax and excise tax on cannabis, edible and infused products; establishing the Cannabis Regulation Fund; providing for cannabis clean slate and for miscellaneous provisions; imposing penalties; consolidating provisions relating to medical use of cannabis; transferring powers and duties of the Department of Health to the Cannabis Control Board; and making repeals.

• Communities lose control:Local residents would have a short window to meet petition qualifications and have a judge stop a pot shop from opening in your neighborhood —and the ruling can’t be appealed.
• Government expansion:The state Liquor Control Board takes charge of licensing, ads, and sales.
• High-potency marijuana legalized:No limit on the THC potency of marijuana concentrates—linked to addiction and mental health crises.
• Home-grow allowed:Up to four plants per household, with vague security rules.