Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 6 D cosponsors

SB 300 — An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in facilities and supplies, further providing for surcharge; and, in forfeiture of assets, providing for legal representation in forfeiture proceedings.

Last action — Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 25, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Legal Representation in Forfeiture Proceedings

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill establishes a permanent surcharge fee and provides for legal representation in certain forfeiture proceedings for individuals unable to afford an attorney.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 3733.1

    A permanent fee of $2.25 shall be charged and collected on a filing relating to a civil action.

    Introduces a new $2.25 surcharge fee for civil action filings.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 3733.1

    The fee under subsection (a)(4) shall be collected and paid in accordance with section 3572 (relating to county portion of fines, etc.) and used in accordance with section 5806.3 (relating to legal representation in forfeiture proceedings).

    Specifies how the new surcharge fee will be collected and allocated for legal representation in forfeiture cases.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 5806.3

    If a person with standing files a claim to contest the forfeiture of property in a forfeiture proceeding under this chapter and is financially unable to obtain legal representation by an attorney and the property subject to forfeiture is real property, the court of common pleas having jurisdiction over the property, at the request of the person, shall provide the person with an attorney for the purpose of providing legal representation with respect to the claim.

    Mandates legal representation for financially unable individuals contesting real property forfeiture claims.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 5806.3

    If a person with standing who has not been charged in a related criminal case files a claim to contest the forfeiture of property in a forfeiture proceeding under this chapter and is financially unable to obtain legal representation by an attorney, the court of common pleas having jurisdiction may provide the person with an attorney for the purpose of providing legal representation with respect to the claim.

    Allows courts to provide legal representation to individuals contesting forfeiture claims, even without related criminal charges, if they cannot afford an attorney.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 5806.3

    In determining whether to provide legal representation under this section, the court of common pleas having jurisdiction shall take into account the following factors: (i) The person's standing to file a claim to contest the forfeiture. (ii) Whether the claim appears to be made in good faith.

    Establishes criteria for courts to evaluate requests for legal representation in forfeiture cases.

  • 42 Pa.C.S. § 5806.3

    Each county in this Commonwealth shall develop procedures and use funds received from the fee authorized in section 3733.1(a)(4) (relating to surcharge) for the purpose of administering this section.

    Requires counties to create procedures for administering legal representation in forfeiture cases, funded by the new surcharge.

Action History

  1. Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 25, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 247 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (247)

247 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

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

What does SB 300 do?
Legal Representation in Forfeiture Proceedings
Who sponsors SB 300?
SB 300 is sponsored by Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Sharif Street (Democratic), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Art Haywood (Democratic), John I. Kane (Democratic), and Amanda M. Cappelletti (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 300?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 25, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 300?
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