SB 134 — A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for spending limitations.

PRIOR PASSAGE -NONE
                                                        PRINTER'S NO.    82

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 134
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY BARTOLOTTA, ROTHMAN, PENNYCUICK, HUTCHINSON,
        PHILLIPS-HILL, STEFANO AND KEEFER, JANUARY 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 22, 2025


                              A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1   Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
 2      of Pennsylvania, providing for spending limitations.
 3      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 4   hereby resolves as follows:
 5      Section 1.    The following amendment to the Constitution of
 6   Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
 7      That Article VIII be amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 18.    Spending limitations.
 9      (a)    Except as provided in subsection (c), total spending by
10   the Commonwealth in a fiscal year shall not exceed the spending
11   appropriation limit as provided in this section.
12      (b)    The spending appropriation limit for any fiscal year
13   shall be equal to total appropriations made during the
14   immediately prior fiscal year, adjusted by the lesser of:
15      (1)    the average percentage change in personal income in this
16   Commonwealth for the three preceding years as reported by the
17   Federal Government or as determined pursuant to an act of the
 1   General Assembly; or
 2      (2)   the average percentage change in inflation for the three
 3   preceding years plus the average percentage change in the State
 4   population for the three preceding years as reported by the
 5   annual Federal census population estimates and adjusted every
 6   decade to match the official Federal decennial census.
 7      (c)   The spending appropriation limit may be exceeded in any
 8   fiscal year:
 9      (1)   to respond to a declared emergency, if the General
10   Assembly approves by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
11   members elected to each House of the General Assembly; or
12      (2)   in other situations if the Governor requests at least 30
13   days prior to the beginning of the fiscal year and the General
14   Assembly approves by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
15   members elected to each House of the General Assembly.
16      (d)   For purposes of this section:
17      (1)   "Inflation" shall mean the percentage change in the
18   United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
19   Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, not seasonally
20   adjusted; all items index, or its successor index.
21      (2)   "Total spending by the Commonwealth" shall mean the
22   total of the amounts approved as executive authorizations by the
23   Governor plus the total amounts of appropriations made by the
24   General Assembly, excluding appropriations made with money
25   received from the Federal Government.
26      Section 2.    The following procedure applies to the proposed
27   constitutional amendment in this joint resolution:
28            (1)   Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of
29      the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
30      proceed immediately to comply with the advertising

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 1    requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
 2    of Pennsylvania.
 3        (2)   Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of
 4    the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
 5    proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
 6    requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
 7    of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
 8    submit the amendment to the qualified electors of this
 9    Commonwealth at the first primary, general or municipal
10    election which meets the requirements of section 1 of Article
11    XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.




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