Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 15 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 545 — An Act amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in limitation of time, further providing for six months limitation; in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity, for limitations on damages and for exceptions to governmental immunity and providing for claims for compensation for wrongful conviction; in general administration, providing for services after wrongful conviction; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of department.

Last action — Referred to Judiciary

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

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · 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.

  • 16 sponsors

    1 primary, 15 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (15 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

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.

In plain language

This bill amends laws regarding wrongful convictions and government immunity in Pennsylvania.

The bill updates provisions related to wrongful convictions, allowing claims for compensation and stipulating exceptions to government immunity. It defines eligibility for compensation and outlines the petition process.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means workers wrongfully convicted may seek compensation under new provisions.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

8 changes Share ↗

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

The bill establishes a statutory framework for compensation claims related to wrongful convictions in Pennsylvania.

  • Section 5522(c)

    This section shall not apply to any civil action or proceeding brought under section 8522(b)(10) or (11) → This section shall not apply to any civil action or proceeding brought under section 8522(b)(10) or (11) (relating to exceptions to sovereign immunity) or 8542(b)(9) or (10) (relating to exceptions to governmental immunity).

    The amendment expands the exceptions to the six-month limitation for civil actions related to governmental immunity.

  • Section 8522(b)

    (11) Wrongful conviction.--A wrongful conviction for which a claim may be brought under section 8583 (relating to petition for compensation).

    This addition specifies that wrongful convictions are an exception to sovereign immunity, allowing for claims against the Commonwealth.

  • Section 8528(d)

    This section shall not apply to damages awarded under section 8522(b)(10) or (11). → This section shall not apply to damages awarded under section 8522(b)(10) or (11).

    The amendment clarifies that the limitations on damages do not apply to claims related to wrongful convictions.

  • Section 8542(b)

    (10) Wrongful conviction.--A wrongful conviction for which a petition may be filed under section 8583 (relating to petition for compensation).

    This addition specifies that wrongful convictions are an exception to governmental immunity, enabling claims against local agencies.

  • Chapter 85 of Title 42

    SUBCHAPTER D CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION

    This creates a new subchapter dedicated to establishing the process for seeking compensation for wrongful convictions.

  • Section 8582

    An action may be brought under this subchapter to seek compensation for the wrongful conviction of an individual.

    This establishes the right to bring actions specifically for wrongful conviction compensation.

  • Section 8583

    A petition for compensation shall be in a form and manner determined by the Supreme Court. Petitions shall be filed and heard by Commonwealth Court.

    This clarifies the procedural requirements for filing a petition for compensation for wrongful convictions.

  • Section 8584

    If Commonwealth Court grants a petition and enters an order in favor of the petitioner:

    This section outlines the compensation that can be awarded to individuals wrongfully convicted.

Action History

  1. Referred to Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 237 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (237)

237 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 237 →

"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

Who sponsors HB 545?
HB 545 is sponsored by Regina G. Young (Democratic), Justin C. Fleming (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), Malcolm Kenyatta (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Nancy Guenst (Democratic), Chris Pielli (Democratic), Tarik Khan (Democratic), Mike Jones (Republican), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), Mary Jo Daley (Democratic), Elizabeth Fiedler (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Maureen E. Madden (Democratic), and Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 545?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 545?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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