Pennsylvania Judicial Branch Key Votes

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Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:

  1. The vote should be helpful in portraying how a member stands on a particular issue
  2. The vote should be clear for any person to understand
  3. The vote has received media attention
  4. The vote was passed or defeated by a very close margin
  5. Occasionally, if a specific bill is consistently inquired about on the Voter's Research Hotline, the vote will be added

Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.

For more information about the legislative process, see here.


results per page:
Date State Bill No. Title Outcome
Oct. 7, 2025 PA HB 18 Establishes New Regulations Regarding Review Hearing for Incapacitated Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 1)
April 2, 2025 PA SB 475 Establishes Reforms Intended to Modernize and Strengthen Pennsylvania's Problem Solving Courts Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Oct. 9, 2024 PA HB 1509 Authorizes Various Criminal Sentencing Regulations and Parole Guideline Reforms Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
Oct. 9, 2024 PA HB 1700 Prohibits the Public Release of Any Personal Information of Federal Judges Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
July 9, 2024 PA HB 1466 Increases Pennsylvanians' Freedom of Speech and Those Subject to Frivolous Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
June 12, 2024 PA SB 1236 Establishes Landlord and Homeowner Protections from Squatters Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
Aug. 30, 2023 PA HB 1300 Authorizes Funding for Home Repair Subsidies, Adult Mental Health Services, and Public Defenders Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
May 2, 2023 PA SB 140 Authorizes the State Attorney General to Appoint a Special Prosecutor for South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
Jan. 11, 2023 PA SB 1 Authorizes Constitutional Amendment Requiring Valid Identification When Voting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
July 6, 2022 PA SB 1183 Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 2)
June 25, 2021 PA SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
Nov. 19, 2020 PA HB 1737 Establishes Liability Protection to Healthcare Practitioners and Manufacturers of Personal Protective Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
Oct. 21, 2020 PA HB 440 Repeals Obligation to Pay Outstanding Court-Ordered Finances Before Eligible Cases Are Sealed Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
Oct. 5, 2020 PA HB 1984 Authorizes a Parent to Petition to Terminate the Other Parent's Parental Rights Prior to Making Adoption Arrangements in Cases of Rape or Incest Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
July 15, 2020 PA HB 196 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Elect Appellate Court Judges by Regional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
July 15, 2020 PA SB 14 Establishes New Guidelines to Reduce Probation Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
April 18, 2018 PA SB 961 Increases OWI Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
May 10, 2017 PA SB 560 Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
Oct. 16, 2014 PA HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
June 21, 2011 PA SB 1131 Tort Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
March 20, 2006 PA HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)
Date No. Title Outcome
10/07 HB 18 Establishes New Regulations Regarding Review Hearing for Incapacitated Individuals Bill Passed - Senate (47 - 1)
4/02 SB 475 Establishes Reforms Intended to Modernize and Strengthen Pennsylvania's Problem Solving Courts Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
10/09 HB 1509 Authorizes Various Criminal Sentencing Regulations and Parole Guideline Reforms Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 1)
10/09 HB 1700 Prohibits the Public Release of Any Personal Information of Federal Judges Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
7/09 HB 1466 Increases Pennsylvanians' Freedom of Speech and Those Subject to Frivolous Lawsuits Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
6/12 SB 1236 Establishes Landlord and Homeowner Protections from Squatters Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
8/30 HB 1300 Authorizes Funding for Home Repair Subsidies, Adult Mental Health Services, and Public Defenders Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 18)
5/02 SB 140 Authorizes the State Attorney General to Appoint a Special Prosecutor for South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Crimes Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 21)
1/11 SB 1 Authorizes Constitutional Amendment Requiring Valid Identification When Voting Bill Passed - Senate (28 - 20)
7/06 SB 1183 Limits Use of Off-Road Vehicles; Authorizes Forfeiture Thereof Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (48 - 2)
6/25 SB 255 Appropriates Funds for Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (43 - 7)
11/19 HB 1737 Establishes Liability Protection to Healthcare Practitioners and Manufacturers of Personal Protective Equipment Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 20)
10/21 HB 440 Repeals Obligation to Pay Outstanding Court-Ordered Finances Before Eligible Cases Are Sealed Bill Passed - Senate (49 - 0)
10/05 HB 1984 Authorizes a Parent to Petition to Terminate the Other Parent's Parental Rights Prior to Making Adoption Arrangements in Cases of Rape or Incest Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
7/15 HB 196 Establishes a Constitutional Amendment to Elect Appellate Court Judges by Regional Districts Bill Passed - Senate (26 - 24)
7/15 SB 14 Establishes New Guidelines to Reduce Probation Sentences Bill Passed - Senate (50 - 0)
4/18 SB 961 Increases OWI Penalties Bill Passed - Senate (45 - 4)
5/10 SB 560 Establishes Provisions for Police Use of Body Cameras Bill Passed - Senate (48 - 0)
10/16 HB 80 Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws Bill Passed - Senate (34 - 14)
6/21 SB 1131 Tort Amendments Bill Passed - Senate (32 - 18)
3/20 HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill Bill Passed - Senate (38 - 10)

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