Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 2 R cosponsors

SB 764 — An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alteration of territory or corporate entity and dissolution, further providing for conduct of referenda and for court review of transitional plan.

Last action — Laid on the table

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

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced May 22, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Advancing 50% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

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.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

63 added · 60 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill SB 764 adds a provision allowing a court to order a new referendum regarding the consolidation or merger of municipalities. This change is significant because it provides residents an additional legal avenue to ensure that municipal government structures can be updated or re-evaluated if the existing plans are deemed inadequate. By empowering the courts to initiate a new vote, it strengthens the democratic process and ensures that community voices can be heard in decisions impacting local governance.

→
Previous
Latest
PRINTER'S NO.
HOUSE AMENDED PRINTER'S NO.
1322 PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
764 2025 INTRODUCED BY DUSH AND BROWN, MAY 22, 2025 REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, MAY 22, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alteration of territory or corporate entity and dissolution, further providing for conduct of referenda and for court review of transitional plan.
764 2025 INTRODUCED BY DUSH AND BROWN, MAY 22, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 19, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alteration of territory or corporate entity and dissolution, further providing for conduct of referenda and for court review of transitional plan.
(a.1) Suspend implementation.-- (1) In the case of the approval of a referendum initiated under section 735 (relating to initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger without new home rule charter) or 735.1 (relating to initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger with new home rule charter), the governing body of a municipality to be consolidated or merged may petition the court of common pleas any time prior to the effective date of the consolidation or merger by resolution to find that, because of alleged or apparent fraud, error or material loss impacting the finances of one of the municipalities to be consolidated or merged that 20250SB0764PN0820 - 2 - occurred prior to the date of the initial referendum and was not disclosed in any official proceeding under this chapter or other law, implementation of the consolidation or merger should be suspended.
(a.1) Suspend implementation.-- (1) In the case of the approval of a referendum initiated under section 735 (relating to initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger without new home rule charter) or 735.1 (relating to initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger with new home rule charter), the governing body of a municipality to be consolidated or merged may petition the court of common pleas any time prior to the effective date of the consolidation or merger by resolution to find that, because of alleged or apparent fraud, error or material loss impacting the finances of one 20250SB0764PN1322 - 2 - of the municipalities to be consolidated or merged that occurred prior to the date of the initial referendum and was not disclosed in any official proceeding under this chapter or other law, implementation of the consolidation or merger should be suspended.
§ 735 or 735.1 held on or after November 1, 2021.
§ 735 or 735.1 held on or after November 1, 2021 THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
Section 3.
<-- Section 3.
20250SB0764PN0820 - 3 -
20250SB0764PN1322 - 3 -
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

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

The bill adds a new provision allowing for the suspension of implementation of a consolidation or merger due to alleged fraud, with a new referendum ordered by the court.

  • 53 Pa.C.S. § 741

    (a.1) Suspend implementation.--(1) In the case of the approval of a referendum initiated under section 735 (relating to initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger without new home rule charter) or 735.1 (relating to initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger with new home rule charter), the governing body of a municipality to be consolidated or merged may petition the court of common pleas any time prior to the effective date of the consolidation or merger by resolution to find that, because of alleged or apparent fraud, error or material loss impacting the finances of one of the municipalities to be consolidated or merged that occurred prior to the date of the initial referendum and was not disclosed in any official proceeding under this chapter or other law, implementation of the consolidation or merger should be suspended.

    This establishes a procedure for a governing body to request that the implementation of a consolidation or merger be put on hold due to issues affecting one of the municipalities.

  • 53 Pa.C.S. § 741

    (2) The court shall hold a hearing on the petition under paragraph (1) and order that a new referendum, replacing the previously held referendum, be held under section 736 if the court finds that the governing body's petition was supported by substantial evidence.

    This allows the court to mandate a new referendum if the governing body's claims are substantiated.

  • 53 Pa.C.S. § 741

    (3) If a referendum is ordered under paragraph (2), the adoption or implementation of the consolidation or merger agreement that is the subject of the petition shall be suspended until a new referendum is approved.

    This stipulates that the implementation of the consolidation or merger is postponed until the outcome of the new referendum.

  • 53 Pa.C.S. § 736

    as provided for in subsection (b)[.]; → as provided for in subsection (b); or (2) a new referendum ordered by a court under section 741(a.1) (relating to court review of transitional plan).

    This clarifies that a five-year moratorium does not apply if a new referendum is ordered by a court.

Action History

  1. Laid on the table

  2. First consideration

  3. Reported as amended

  4. Referred to Local Government

  5. Third consideration and final passage

  6. Re-reported as committed

  7. Re-referred to Appropriations

  8. Second consideration

  9. First consideration

  10. Reported as committed

  11. Referred to Local Government

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 251 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (251)

251 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 251 →

"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): Report Bill As Amended

Passed 26 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14000
Republican 12000
Total 26000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (26)
Member Party Vote
Abigail Salisbury Democratic Yea
Brian Munroe Democratic Yea
Carol Kazeem Democratic Yea
Christina D. Sappey Democratic Yea
Dave Madsen Democratic Yea
Ismail Smith-Wade-El Democratic Yea
Jim Haddock Democratic Yea
Jim Prokopiak Democratic Yea
Justin C. Fleming Democratic Yea
Kyle Donahue Democratic Yea
Lisa A. Borowski Democratic Yea
Liz Hanbidge Democratic Yea
Robert Freeman Democratic Yea
Tarah Probst Democratic Yea
Alec J. Ryncavage Republican Yea
Andrew Kuzma Republican Yea
Brett R. Miller Republican Yea
Chad G. Reichard Republican Yea
Dane Watro Republican Yea
Eric J. Weaknecht Republican Yea
Jacob D. Banta Republican Yea
Jill N. Cooper Republican Yea
Parke Wentling Republican Yea
Roman Kozak Republican Yea
Tom Jones Republican Yea
Wendy Fink Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Committee vote (Local Government): Adopt Amendment

Passed 26 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14000
Republican 12000
Total 26000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (26)
Member Party Vote
Abigail Salisbury Democratic Yea
Brian Munroe Democratic Yea
Carol Kazeem Democratic Yea
Christina D. Sappey Democratic Yea
Dave Madsen Democratic Yea
Ismail Smith-Wade-El Democratic Yea
Jim Haddock Democratic Yea
Jim Prokopiak Democratic Yea
Justin C. Fleming Democratic Yea
Kyle Donahue Democratic Yea
Lisa A. Borowski Democratic Yea
Liz Hanbidge Democratic Yea
Robert Freeman Democratic Yea
Tarah Probst Democratic Yea
Alec J. Ryncavage Republican Yea
Andrew Kuzma Republican Yea
Brett R. Miller Republican Yea
Chad G. Reichard Republican Yea
Dane Watro Republican Yea
Eric J. Weaknecht Republican Yea
Jacob D. Banta Republican Yea
Jill N. Cooper Republican Yea
Parke Wentling Republican Yea
Roman Kozak Republican Yea
Tom Jones Republican Yea
Wendy Fink Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Committee vote (Appropriations): Re-Reported as Committed

Passed 22 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 14000
Democratic 8000
Total 22000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Amanda M. Cappelletti Democratic Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
Judith L. Schwank Democratic Yea
Patty Kim Democratic Yea
Sharif Street Democratic Yea
Timothy P. Kearney Democratic Yea
Vincent J. Hughes Democratic Yea
Cris Dush Republican Yea
Daniel Laughlin Republican Yea
Devlin J. Robinson Republican Yea
Elder A. Vogel Republican Yea
Jarrett Coleman Republican Yea
Joe Picozzi Republican Yea
Joe Pittman Republican Yea
Kim L. Ward Republican Yea
Kristin Phillips-Hill Republican Yea
Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea
Scott Martin Republican Yea
Tracy Pennycuick Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE

Passed 50 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 27000
Democratic 23000
Total 50000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (50)
Member Party Vote
Amanda M. Cappelletti Democratic Yea
Anthony H. Williams Democratic Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Carolyn T. Comitta Democratic Yea
Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic Yea
James Andrew Malone Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
John I. Kane Democratic Yea
Judith L. Schwank Democratic Yea
Katie J. Muth Democratic Yea
Lindsey M. Williams Democratic Yea
Lisa M. Boscola Democratic Yea
Maria Collett Democratic Yea
Marty Flynn Democratic Yea
Nick Miller Democratic Yea
Nick Pisciottano Democratic Yea
Nikil Saval Democratic Yea
Patty Kim Democratic Yea
Sharif Street Democratic Yea
Steven J. Santarsiero Democratic Yea
Timothy P. Kearney Democratic Yea
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 Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Committee vote (Local Government): Reported as Committed

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 7000
Democratic 4000
Total 11000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Carolyn T. Comitta Democratic Yea
James Andrew Malone Democratic Yea
Patty Kim Democratic Yea
Timothy P. Kearney Democratic Yea
Cris Dush Republican Yea
Dawn W. Keefer Republican Yea
Doug Mastriano Republican Yea
Kim L. Ward Republican Yea
Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea
Scott E. Hutchinson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections
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 764?
SB 764 is sponsored by Cris Dush (Republican) and Rosemary M. Brown (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 764?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced May 22, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 764?
Track SB 764 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 764

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of SB 764

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →