SB 460 — An Act amending the act of December 30, 1974 (P.L.1072, No.347), referred to as the Governor and Lieutenant Governor Disability Procedure Law, further providing for incapacity of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
Last action — Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, Sept. 10, 2025
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced March 17, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Passed Senate
Current position in the legislative process.
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6 sponsors
1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 3 D) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Continuity in State Government
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
82 added · 84 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendment to Bill SB 460 clarifies the terminology around when the Governor becomes incapacitated or unable to perform their duties. The term "disabled" has been replaced with "incapacitated," and various references to the Governor's powers have been streamlined for clarity. This change is significant because it ensures a more precise understanding of the circumstances under which the Lieutenant Governor can step in as Acting Governor, promoting a clearer chain of succession when leadership is needed.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
394 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1150460 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFARGALL, PENNSYLVANIASTEFANO, SENATEDUSH, BILLFONTANA, SessionCOSTA AND SCHWANK, MARCH 17, 2025 REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 17, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.December 30, 1974 (P.L.1072, No.347), entitled "An act establishing procedure for determining the disability of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor," further providing for incapacity of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
460 2025 INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, STEFANO, DUSH, FONTANA, COSTA AND SCHWANK, MARCH 17, 2025 AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of December 30, 1974 (P.L.1072, No.347), entitled "An act establishing procedure for determining the disability of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor," further providing for incapacity of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.
Whenever the Governor transmits to the General Assembly [his] and the Lieutenant Governor a written declaration that [he is unable to discharge] the Governor is incapacitated <-- DISABLED and unable to discharge the powers and duties of [his <-- office] the Office of Governor, and until [he transmits to it] a written declaration to the contrary is transmitted by the Governor, [such] the powers and duties shall be discharged by the Lieutenant Governor as Acting Governor as provided in Article IV, section thirteen of the Constitution.
Whenever the Lieutenant Governor and a majority of the Governor's Cabinet as defined herein transmit to the General Assembly their written declaration that the Governor is [unable to discharge] incapacitated DISABLED and incapable of <-- discharging the powers and duties of [his office] the Office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting Governor as provided in Article IV, section thirteen of the Constitution.
[Thereafter] Following a declaration of incapacitation DISABILITY under section 2, when the Governor <-- transmits to the General Assembly [his] a written declaration that no disability exists, [he] the Governor shall resume the powers and duties of [his office] the Office of the Governor at the expiration of four days unless within that period the Lieutenant Governor and a majority of the Governor's Cabinet as defined herein transmit to the General Assembly another written declaration that the Governor is [unable to discharge] incapacitated DISABLED and incapable of discharging the powers <-- and duties of [his office] the Office of Governor.
If the General Assembly, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or if the General Assembly is not in session, within twenty-one days after the General Assembly is required to assemble, determines by two- thirds vote of each House that the Governor is [unable to discharge] incapacitated DISABLED and incapable of discharging <-- the powers and duties of the [office] Office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall continue to discharge the same as 20250SB0460PN1150Acting 20250SB0460PN0394 - 2 - Acting Governor;
Whenever the Lieutenant Governor transmits to the Governor and the General Assembly a written declaration that [he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office] the Lieutenant Governor is incapacitated DISABLED and incapable of <-- discharging the powers and duties of the Office of Lieutenant Governor, and until [he transmits to them] a written declaration to the contrary[, such] is transmitted by the Lieutenant Governor, the powers and duties shall be discharged by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate as Acting Lieutenant Governor as provided in Article IV, section fourteen of the Constitution.
Whenever the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and a majority of the Governor's Cabinet as defined herein transmit to the General Assembly [their] a written declaration that the Lieutenant Governor is [unable to discharge] incapacitated DISABLED and incapable of discharging the powers <-- and duties of [his office] Office of Lieutenant Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting Lieutenant Governor as provided in Article IV, section fourteen of the Constitution.
[Thereafter,] After declaration of incapacitation <-- DISABILITY under section 5, when the Lieutenant Governor <-- transmits to the General Assembly [his] a written declaration that no disability exists, [he] the Lieutenant Governor shall resume the powers and duties of [his office] the Office of Lieutenant Governor at the expiration of four days unless within that period the President Pro Tempore and a majority of the Governor's Cabinet as defined herein, transmit to the General 20250SB0460PN1150 - 3 - Assembly a written declaration 20250SB0460PN0394 - 3 - that the Lieutenant Governor is [unable to discharge] incapacitated DISABLED and incapable of <-- discharging the powers and duties of [his office] the Office of Lieutenant Governor.
If the General Assembly within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or if the General Assembly is not in session, within twenty-one days after the General Assembly is required to assemble, determines by two- thirds vote of each House that the Lieutenant Governor is [unable to discharge] incapacitated DISABLED and incapable of <-- discharging the powers and duties of the office, the President Pro Tempore shall continue to discharge the same as Acting Lieutenant Governor;
A written declaration shall be transmitted to the General Assembly by hand delivery, email or facsimile to the offices of the [clerks of the House and the Senate, and immediately upon receipt of such declaration it shall be the duty of the clerks forthwith to communicate the entire declaration to each member of the House and Senate by a telegram, supplemented by such other prompt communication as may be desirable under the 20250SB0460PN1150 - 4 - circumstances.] President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker 20250SB0460PN0394 - 4 - of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate and the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
20250SB0460PN115020250SB0460PN0394 - 5 -
Action History
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Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, Sept. 10, 2025
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In the House
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Third consideration and final passage, Sept. 9, 2025 (35-14)
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(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 785-787), Sept. 8, 2025
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Amended on third consideration, Sept. 8, 2025 (37-9)
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Re-reported as committed, July 16, 2025
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Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, June 25, 2025
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Second consideration, June 25, 2025
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First consideration, June 24, 2025
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Reported as committed, June 24, 2025
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Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, March 17, 2025
Sponsors
- Judith L. Schwank · Cosponsor
- David G. Argall · Primary
- Patrick J. Stefano · Cosponsor
- Cris Dush · Cosponsor
- Wayne D. Fontana · Cosponsor
- Jay Costa · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 247 not signed on · 13 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- David G. Argall Republican
Co-sponsors (5)
- Judith L. Schwank Democratic
- Patrick J. Stefano Republican
- Cris Dush Republican
- Wayne D. Fontana Democratic
- Jay Costa Democratic Voted No
Not signed on (247)
247 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 247 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic | 7 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 35 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 70% | 28% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (50)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Williams | — | Yea |
| Amanda M. Cappelletti | Democratic | Nay |
| Art Haywood | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Carolyn T. Comitta | Democratic | Yea |
| Christine M. Tartaglione | Democratic | Nay |
| James Andrew Malone | Democratic | Nay |
| Jay Costa | Democratic | Nay |
| John I. Kane | Democratic | Nay |
| Judith L. Schwank | Democratic | Yea |
| Katie J. Muth | Democratic | Yea |
| Lindsey M. Williams | Democratic | Nay |
| Lisa M. Boscola | Democratic | Yea |
| Maria Collett | Democratic | Nay |
| Marty Flynn | Democratic | Nay |
| Nick Miller | Democratic | Yea |
| Nick Pisciottano | Democratic | Nay |
| Nikil Saval | Democratic | Yea |
| Patty Kim | Democratic | Nay |
| Sharif Street | Democratic | Nay |
| Steven J. Santarsiero | Democratic | Nay |
| Timothy P. Kearney | Democratic | Nay |
| Vincent J. Hughes | Democratic | Nay |
| Wayne D. Fontana | Democratic | Yea |
| Camera Bartolotta | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Gebhard | Republican | Yea |
| Cris Dush | Republican | Yea |
| Daniel Laughlin | Republican | Yea |
| David G. Argall | Republican | Yea |
| Dawn W. Keefer | Republican | Yea |
| Devlin J. Robinson | Republican | Yea |
| Doug Mastriano | Republican | Yea |
| Elder A. Vogel | Republican | Yea |
| Frank A. Farry | Republican | Yea |
| Gene Yaw | Republican | Yea |
| Greg Rothman | Republican | Yea |
| Jarrett Coleman | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Picozzi | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Pittman | Republican | Yea |
| Judy Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kim L. Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kristin Phillips-Hill | Republican | Yea |
| Lisa Baker | Republican | Yea |
| Lynda Schlegel Culver | Republican | Yea |
| Michele Brooks | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick J. Stefano | Republican | Yea |
| Rosemary M. Brown | Republican | Yea |
| Scott E. Hutchinson | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Martin | Republican | Yea |
| Tracy Pennycuick | Republican | Yea |
| Wayne Langerholc | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Democratic | 10 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 37 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 74% | 18% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (50)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Williams | — | Yea |
| Amanda M. Cappelletti | Democratic | Nay |
| Art Haywood | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Carolyn T. Comitta | Democratic | Yea |
| Christine M. Tartaglione | Democratic | Nay |
| James Andrew Malone | Democratic | Nay |
| Jay Costa | Democratic | Yea |
| John I. Kane | Democratic | Nay |
| Judith L. Schwank | Democratic | Yea |
| Katie J. Muth | Democratic | Yea |
| Lindsey M. Williams | Democratic | Nay |
| Lisa M. Boscola | Democratic | Yea |
| Maria Collett | Democratic | Nay |
| Marty Flynn | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Nick Miller | Democratic | Yea |
| Nick Pisciottano | Democratic | Yea |
| Nikil Saval | Democratic | Yea |
| Patty Kim | Democratic | Nay |
| Sharif Street | Democratic | Nay |
| Steven J. Santarsiero | Democratic | Nay |
| Timothy P. Kearney | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Vincent J. Hughes | Democratic | Yea |
| Wayne D. Fontana | Democratic | Yea |
| Camera Bartolotta | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Gebhard | Republican | Yea |
| Cris Dush | Republican | Yea |
| Daniel Laughlin | Republican | Yea |
| David G. Argall | Republican | Yea |
| Dawn W. Keefer | Republican | Yea |
| Devlin J. Robinson | Republican | Yea |
| Doug Mastriano | Republican | Yea |
| Elder A. Vogel | Republican | Yea |
| Frank A. Farry | Republican | Yea |
| Gene Yaw | Republican | Yea |
| Greg Rothman | Republican | Yea |
| Jarrett Coleman | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Picozzi | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Pittman | Republican | Yea |
| Judy Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kim L. Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kristin Phillips-Hill | Republican | Yea |
| Lisa Baker | Republican | Yea |
| Lynda Schlegel Culver | Republican | Yea |
| Michele Brooks | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick J. Stefano | Republican | Yea |
| Rosemary M. Brown | Republican | Yea |
| Scott E. Hutchinson | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Martin | Republican | Yea |
| Tracy Pennycuick | Republican | Not Voting |
| Wayne Langerholc | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 460 do?
- Continuity in State Government
- Who sponsors SB 460?
- SB 460 is sponsored by Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), David G. Argall (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), Cris Dush (Republican), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), and Jay Costa (Democratic).
- What is the current status of SB 460?
- This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced March 17, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track SB 460?
- Track SB 460 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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