Pennsylvania 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: Died 10 R cosponsors

SB 531 — An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, providing for findings regarding firearms and ammunition; and, in preemptions, providing for regulation of firearms and ammunition.

Last action — Removed from table

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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Compared against the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill reinforces the preemption of local regulations on firearms and introduces new provisions for individuals adversely affected by local regulations.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120

    No county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth. → The Commonwealth by this section preempts and supersedes any local regulation by a political subdivision of firearms, ammunition, firearms components or ammunition components in this Commonwealth, and any such local regulation is declared null and void.

    Local governments can no longer impose any regulations regarding firearms and ammunition, as the state now exclusively regulates this area.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120

    Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a political subdivision from bringing or maintaining an action against a firearms or ammunition manufacturer or dealer for breach of contract or warranty as to firearms or ammunition purchased by the political subdivision. → A person adversely affected by any manner of ordinance, resolution, rule, practice or other action promulgated or enforced by a county or municipality in violation of section 2962(g) or 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120(a) may seek declarative and injunctive relief and the actual damages attributable to the violation in an appropriate court.

    Individuals can now seek legal relief if local governments impose unlawful regulations concerning firearms.

  • 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120

    The term shall include any person engaged in the business of selling at wholesale or retail a firearm or ammunition. → The term includes attorney fees, expert witness fees, court costs and compensation for loss of income.

    The definition of 'reasonable expenses' now explicitly includes various legal costs that individuals may incur when challenging unlawful local firearm regulations.

Action History

  1. Removed from table

  2. Laid on the table

  3. Removed from table

  4. Laid on the table

  5. Removed from table

  6. Laid on the table

  7. Removed from table

  8. Laid on the table

  9. Removed from table

  10. Laid on the table

  11. Removed from table

  12. Laid on the table

  13. Removed from table

  14. Laid on the table

  15. First consideration

  16. Reported as committed

  17. PN 0566 Referred to LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 18 co-sponsors · 234 not signed on · 3 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (18)

Not signed on (234)

234 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 234 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Committee vote (LOCAL GOVERNMENT): Reported as Committed

Passed 7 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 4000
Unaffiliated 3100
Democratic 0300
Total 7400
% of votes cast 64%36%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
BROWNE — Yea
REGAN — Yea
SCARNATI — Yea
BLAKE — Nay
Judith L. Schwank Democratic Nay
Steven J. Santarsiero Democratic Nay
Timothy P. Kearney Democratic Nay
Michele Brooks Republican Yea
Scott E. Hutchinson Republican Yea
Scott Martin Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 531?
SB 531 is sponsored by Judy Ward (Republican), Kim L. Ward (Republican), Wayne Langerholc (Republican), Scarnati, Folmer, Elder A. Vogel (Republican), Camera Bartolotta (Republican), Kristin Phillips-Hill (Republican), Scott Martin (Republican), Gordner, Gene Yaw (Republican), Disanto, Scott E. Hutchinson (Republican), Regan, Brewster, Aument, Mensch, Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), and Scavello.
What is the current status of SB 531?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 531?
Track SB 531 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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