SR 3 — A Resolution adopting the Rules of the Senate for the 209th and 210th Regular Session.

PRINTER'S NO.   3

                    THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



          SENATE RESOLUTION
             No. 3
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY PITTMAN, JANUARY 7, 2025

     INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, JANUARY 7, 2025


                                 A RESOLUTION
 1   Adopting the Rules of the Senate for the 209th and 210th Regular
 2      Session.
 3      RESOLVED, That the following be adopted as the Rules of the
 4   Senate for the governing of the 209th and 210th Regular Session.
 5                                2025-2026
 6                   RULES OF THE SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
 7   Rule 1.   Sessions.
 8      (a)    Regular and special.--The General Assembly shall be a
 9   continuing body during the term for which its Representatives
10   are elected. It shall meet at twelve o'clock noon on the first
11   Tuesday of January each year. Special sessions shall be called
12   by the Governor on petition of a majority of the Members elected
13   to each House or may be called by the Governor whenever in his
14   opinion the public interest requires. (Const. Art. II, Sec. 4)
15      (b)    Weekly.--The Senate shall convene its weekly sessions on
16   Monday, unless the Senate shall otherwise direct.
17   Rule 2.   President.
18      The Lieutenant Governor shall be President of the Senate.
 1   (Const. Art. IV, Sec. 4)
 2   Rule 3.    Duties of the President.
 3      The President shall:
 4             (1)   Take the chair on every legislative day at the hour
 5      to which the Senate stands recessed, immediately call the
 6      Senators to order, and proceed with the Order of Business of
 7      the Senate.
 8             (2)   While in session have general direction of the
 9      Senate Chamber. It shall be the President's duty to preserve
10      order and decorum, including ensuring all members and staff
11      with privilege of the floor are properly attired pursuant to
12      Senate Rule 10, and, in case of disturbance or disorderly
13      conduct in the Chamber or galleries, may cause the same to be
14      cleared. When in the President's opinion there arises a case
15      of extreme disturbance or emergency the President shall, with
16      the concurrence of the President Pro Tempore, the Majority
17      Leader and the Minority Leader, recess the Senate. Such
18      recess shall not extend beyond the limitation imposed by
19      Article II, section 14 of the Constitution.
20             (3)   During debate, prevent personal references or
21      questions as to motive, and confine Senators, in debate, to
22      the question.
23             (4)   Decide, when two or more Senators arise, who shall
24      be first to speak.
25             (5)   In the presence of the Senate, within one
26      legislative day after receipt or adoption, sign all bills and
27      joint resolutions which have passed both Houses after their
28      titles have been read.
29             (6)   Sign resolutions, orders, writs, warrants and
30      subpoenas issued by order of the Senate. The signature shall

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 1      be attested by the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate,
 2      or, if absent, by the Chief Clerk of the Senate; and the fact
 3      of signing shall be entered in the Journal on the next
 4      available session day.
 5             (7)   Decide all points of order, subject to appeal,
 6      giving, however, any Member called to order the right to
 7      extenuate or justify. Debate shall not be permitted unless
 8      there be an appeal from a decision of the President in which
 9      event the President shall submit the question to the whole
10      Senate for decision. The President shall submit points of
11      order involving the constitutionality of any matter to the
12      Senate for decision. Questions of order submitted to the
13      Senate may be debated.
14   Rule 4.    President Pro Tempore.
15      (a)    Election.--The Senate shall, at the beginning and close
16   of each regular session and at such other times as may be
17   necessary, elect one of its Members President Pro Tempore, who
18   shall perform the duties of the Lieutenant Governor in any case
19   of absence or disability of that officer, and whenever the
20   office of Lieutenant Governor shall be vacant. (Const. Art. II,
21   Sec. 9)
22      (b)    Voting.--The vote of a majority of the Members voting
23   shall be required to elect a President Pro Tempore. Except at
24   the beginning and close of each regular session, the Senate
25   shall only elect a President Pro Tempore when the office has
26   become vacant and the vote of the majority of the Members
27   elected shall be required to vacate the office of a seated
28   President Pro Tempore.
29   Rule 5.    Duties of President Pro Tempore.
30      (a)    Mandatory.--The President Pro Tempore shall:

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 1             (1)   Appoint the Chair, Vice Chair and members of the
 2      Standing Committees of the Senate as soon after the election
 3      of the President Pro Tempore as possible. Upon the
 4      resignation of the Chair of a standing committee, the
 5      President Pro Tempore may designate an acting Chair.
 6             (2)   Appoint members to special committees whenever
 7      authorized.
 8             (3)   Fill all vacancies occurring in standing and special
 9      committees.
10             (4)   Refer to the appropriate standing committee every
11      bill and joint resolution which may be introduced in the
12      Senate or received from the House of Representatives.
13             (5)   Appoint and have under the President Pro Tempore's
14      direction such Senate employees as are authorized by law.
15             (6)   Vote last on all questions when occupying the Chair.
16      (b)    Discretionary.--The President Pro Tempore may name any
17   Senator to preside in the absence of the President, or if both
18   the President and President Pro Tempore are absent the Majority
19   Leader, or the Majority Leader's designee, shall preside. The
20   Majority Leader, during such time, shall be vested with all
21   powers of the President. This authority shall not extend beyond
22   a day's recess.
23   Rule 6.    Duties of the Secretary-Parliamentarian.
24      (a)    Election.--At the beginning of each regular session
25   convening in an odd-numbered year and at other times as may be
26   necessary, the Senate shall elect a Secretary-Parliamentarian of
27   the Senate.
28      (b)    General duties.--The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the
29   Senate shall:
30             (1)   Assist the presiding officer in conducting the

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 1      business of the session.
 2            (2)   Act in the capacity of Parliamentarian.
 3      (c)     Specific duties.--The Secretary-Parliamentarian of the
 4   Senate shall, subject to the direction of the President Pro
 5   Tempore:
 6            (1)   Direct the following functions:
 7                  (i)    Amending bills in the Senate.
 8                  (ii)    Preparing and publishing the Senate Calendar.
 9                  (iii)    Publication of the Senate History.
10                  (iv)    Numbering Senate bills as they are introduced
11            and causing them to be distributed to the chair of the
12            committee to which they are referred and receiving a
13            receipt for the same.
14                  (v)    Printing of bills.
15                  (vi)    Maintain and update, as needed, the Legislative
16            Data Processing Senate Virtual Session Desk application
17            for use by members and staff.
18            (2)   Keep a record of the Senate action on a bill on a
19      special record sheet attached to the bill after it has been
20      reported from committee.
21            (3)   Keep a record of all leaves granted by the Senate by
22      compiling the leave requests submitted by a member and
23      transmitted to the Secretary-Parliamentarian by the
24      respective Whips. These records shall be retained only for
25      the duration of the two-year legislative session. Further,
26      these records shall be available for public inspection upon
27      request.
28            (4)   Transmit all bills, joint resolutions, concurrent
29      resolutions and other communications to the House of
30      Representatives within one legislative day of final passage

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 1      or adoption, and each shall be accompanied by a message
 2      stating the title to the measure being transmitted and
 3      requesting concurrence of the House, as required.
 4             (5)    Attest all writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by
 5      order of the Senate; certify as to the passage of Senate
 6      Bills and the approval of executive nominations.
 7             (6)    Supervise the Senate Library, assist Senators by
 8      making reference material available to them and perform any
 9      duties assigned to the Senate Librarian by any statute.
10             (7)    Supervise the Chief Sergeant-at-Arms, the Senate
11      Bill Room, the Senate Print Shop, the Official Reporter's
12      Office and the Senate Page Service.
13             (8)    Post each roll call vote taken in the Senate on the
14      Internet website maintained by the Senate immediately, but in
15      no case later than 24 hours after the vote. Each roll call
16      vote shall be posted in a manner which clearly identifies the
17      bill, resolution or other subject of the vote.
18             (9)    Post the Legislative Journal of the Senate on the
19      Internet website maintained by the Senate upon approval of
20      the Journal or within 90 calendar days of each session day,
21      whichever is earlier. The journal shall be the official
22      record of the Senate upon Senate approval or posting of the
23      Journal on the Internet website by the Secretary-
24      Parliamentarian.
25             (10)    Provide for the publication and dissemination of
26      educational or informational literature pertaining to the
27      Senate, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the Government of
28      the United States.
29   Rule 7.    Duties of the Chief Clerk of the Senate.
30      (a)    Election.--At the beginning of each regular session

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 1   convening in an odd-numbered year and, whenever necessary, the
 2   Senate shall elect a Chief Clerk of the Senate.
 3      (b)    Duties.--The Chief Clerk shall be the chief fiscal
 4   officer of the Senate and shall perform those powers and duties
 5   prescribed by law, the Rules of the Senate and at the direction
 6   of the President Pro Tempore. In the absence of the Secretary-
 7   Parliamentarian, the Chief Clerk shall, subject to the direction
 8   of the President Pro Tempore, attest all writs, warrants and
 9   subpoenas issued by order of the Senate and shall certify as to
10   the passage of Senate Bills and the approval of executive
11   nominations.
12   Rule 8.    Duties of the Chief Sergeant-at-Arms.
13      There shall be a Chief Sergeant-at-Arms who shall:
14             (1)   Be constantly in attendance during the sessions of
15      the Senate except when absent in discharging other duties.
16             (2)   Appoint, have charge of and direct the work of the
17      assistant sergeants-at-arms.
18             (3)   Serve all subpoenas and warrants issued by the
19      Senate or any duly authorized officer or committee.
20             (4)   Maintain order, at the direction of the presiding
21      officer, in the Senate Chamber and adjoining rooms.
22             (5)   See that no person, except those authorized to do
23      so, disturbs or interferes with the desk, or its contents, of
24      any Senator or officer.
25             (6)   Exclude from the Floor all persons not entitled to
26      the privilege of the same.
27             (7)   Have charge of all entrances to the Chamber during
28      the sessions of the Senate and shall see that the doors are
29      properly attended.
30             (8)   Announce, upon recognition by the presiding officer,

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 1      all important communications and committees.
 2             (9)    Escort the Senate to all Joint meetings with the
 3      mace.
 4             (10)    Escort the Senate to attend funeral services of
 5      members, former members of the Senate or other dignitaries
 6      with the mace.
 7   Rule 9.    Order of Business.
 8      (a)    General rule.--The Order of Business to be observed in
 9   taking up business shall be as follows:
10   First                    Call to Order.
11   Second                   Prayer by the Chaplain and Pledge of
12                            Allegiance.
13   Third                    Reading of Communications.
14   Fourth                   Receiving reports of committees.
15   Fifth                    Asking of leaves of absence. No Senator
16                            shall absent himself without leave of the
17                            Senate, first obtained, unless prevented
18                            from attendance by sickness, or other
19                            sufficient cause.
20   Sixth                    Approval of Journals of preceding session
21                            days.
22   Seventh                  Offering of original resolutions.
23   Eighth                   Introduction of Guests. As a special order
24                            of business, the Majority Leader, in
25                            consultation with the Minority Leader, may
26                            permit approved committee meetings to be
27                            held in the Rules Room during the
28                            introduction of guests.
29   Ninth                    Consideration of the Calendar. Any bill or
30                            resolution on the Calendar not finally

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 1                          acted upon within 10 legislative days shall
 2                          be removed from the Calendar and laid on
 3                          the table, unless the Senate shall
 4                          otherwise direct.
 5   Tenth                  Consideration of Executive Nominations.
 6   Eleventh               Unfinished Business. Reports of Committees.
 7   Twelfth                First consideration of bills reported from
 8                          committee, which, at this time, shall not
 9                          be subject to amendment, debate or a vote
10                          thereon.
11   Thirteenth             Announcements by the Secretary-
12                          Parliamentarian.
13   Fourteenth             Introduction of Petitions and
14                          Remonstrances.
15   Fifteenth              Recess.
16      (b)     Special order of business.--Any subject may, by a vote
17   of a majority of the Members present, be made a special order;
18   and when the time so fixed for its consideration arrives, the
19   presiding officer shall lay it before the Senate.
20   Rule 10.    Order and decorum.
21      (a)     Recognition.--Any Senator who desires to speak or
22   deliver any matter to the Senate shall rise and respectfully
23   address the presiding officer as "Mr. President" or "Madam
24   President," and on being recognized, may address the Senate at a
25   microphone located on the Floor of the Chamber.
26      (b)     Avoiding personal references.--Any Senator addressing
27   the Senate shall confine remarks to the question under debate,
28   avoiding personal references or questions as to motive.
29      (c)     Speaking out of order.--If any Senator transgresses the
30   Rules of the Senate, in speaking or otherwise, the presiding

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 1   officer may, or any Senator may through the presiding officer,
 2   call that Senator to order.
 3      (d)   Speaking more than twice.--No Senator shall speak more
 4   than twice on one question without leave of the Senate.
 5      (e)   Submitting remarks for the record.--A Senator, or a
 6   Floor Leader on behalf of a Senator, may submit written remarks
 7   for the record if the written remarks do not violate the
 8   provisions of this Rule and the written remarks are submitted
 9   completely when recognized by the presiding officer. Written
10   remarks intended to be submitted for the record shall not be
11   spread across the record until the Majority Leader and Minority
12   Leader have reviewed the written remarks for compliance with
13   this Rule. Any objection to compliance with this Rule by the
14   Majority Leader or Minority Leader shall be communicated in
15   writing to the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate within
16   five calendar days.
17      (f)   Decorum.--When a Senator is speaking, no other person
18   shall pass between the Senator and the presiding officer.
19      (g)   Order and privilege.--No Senator speaking shall be
20   interrupted except by a call to order, a question of privilege,
21   a question of order or a call for the previous question, without
22   the consent of the Senator speaking, and no Senator shall speak
23   on a question after it is put to a vote.
24      (h)   Questions of order.--The presiding officer shall decide
25   all questions of order, subject to appeal by any member. No
26   debate shall be allowed on questions of order, unless there is
27   an appeal. A second point of order on the same general subject,
28   but not the same point, is not in order while an appeal is
29   pending, but when the first appeal is decided, laid on the table
30   or otherwise disposed of, the second point of order is in order

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 1   and is subject to appeal. While an appeal is pending, no other
 2   business is in order. It is within the discretion of the
 3   presiding officer as to whether to vacate the chair on an
 4   appeal.
 5      (i)     Question when interrupted.--A question regularly before
 6   the Senate can be interrupted only by a call for the previous
 7   question, for amendment, postponement, to lay on the table,
 8   commitment, recess or adjournment sine die.
 9      (j)     Use of tobacco products.--No tobacco products, including
10   cigarettes, cigars, pipes and chewing tobacco, shall be used in
11   the Senate Chamber or in Senate Committee Rooms.
12      (k)     Cell phones.--In the Senate Chamber, cell phones and
13   similar portable communication devices shall be set to silent
14   mode and use of voice or video recording and broadcasting
15   capabilities is prohibited.
16      (l)     Proper attire.--Members and staff with privilege of the
17   floor during Senate sessions shall not dress in a manner
18   offensive to the decorum of the Senate but shall be dressed in
19   professional attire, including a coat, tie and trousers or
20   slacks for men, and appropriate dignified dress for women.
21   Rule 11.    Motions.
22      (a)     Putting a motion.--When a motion is made, it shall,
23   before debate, be stated by the presiding officer. Every motion
24   made to the Senate and entertained by the presiding officer
25   shall be entered in the Journal with the name of the Senator
26   making it. A motion may be withdrawn by the Senator making it
27   before amendment, postponement, an order to lay on the table or
28   decision.
29      (b)     Precedence of motions.--Motions shall take precedence in
30   the following order:

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 1            (1)    Adjourn sine die.
 2            (2)    Recess.
 3            (3)    Previous question.
 4            (4)    Recess temporarily within the same session day.
 5            (5)    Questions of privilege of the Senate.
 6            (6)    Orders of the day.
 7            (7)    Lay on the table.
 8            (8)    Limit, close or extend limit on debate.
 9            (9)    Postpone.
10            (10)    Commit or recommit.
11            (11)    Amend.
12            (12)    Main motion.
13      (c)   Non-debatable motions.--Non-debatable motions are:
14            (1)    Adjourn sine die.
15            (2)    Recess.
16            (3)    Recess temporarily within the same session day.
17            (4)    Previous question.
18            (5)    Lay on the table.
19            (6)    Orders of the day.
20            (7)    Limit, close or extend limit on debate.
21      (d)   Motions which permit limited debate.--
22            (1)    On the motion to postpone, the question of
23      postponement is open to debate, but the main question is not.
24            (2)    The motion to commit or recommit to committee is
25      debatable as to the propriety of the reference, but the main
26      question is not open to debate.
27            (3)    The motion to amend is debatable on the amendments
28      only and does not open the main question to debate.
29      (e)   Seconding motions.--All motions, except for the previous
30   question, which shall be seconded by not less than four

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 1   Senators, may be made without a second.
 2      (f)   Recessing and convening.--
 3            (1)   A motion to recess shall always be in order, except,
 4      when on the call for the previous question, the main question
 5      shall have been ordered to be now put, or when a Member has
 6      the Floor, and shall be decided without debate.
 7            (2)   On a motion to recess, adopted and not having a
 8      reconvening time, the Senate will meet the following day at
 9      10:00 a.m.
10            (3)   The Senate shall not convene earlier than 8:00 a.m.
11      unless the Senate adopts a motion that sets forth the need to
12      convene earlier than 8:00 a.m.
13            (4)   The Senate shall not recess later than 11:00 p.m.
14      each session day unless the Senate adopts a motion that sets
15      forth the need to recess later than 11:00 p.m.
16      (g)   Motion for previous question.--Pending the consideration
17   of any question before the Senate, a Senator may call for the
18   previous question, and if seconded by four Senators, the
19   President shall submit the question: "Shall the main question
20   now be put?" If a majority vote is in favor of it, the main
21   question shall be ordered, the effect of which shall cut off all
22   further amendments and debate, and bring the Senate to a direct
23   vote first upon the pending amendments and motions, if there be
24   any, then upon the main proposition. The previous question may
25   be ordered on any pending amendment or motion before the Senate.
26      (h)   Motion to lay on table.--The motion to lay on the table
27   is not debatable, and the effect of the adoption of this motion
28   is to place on the table the pending question and everything
29   adhering to it. Questions laid on the table remain there for the
30   entire session unless taken up before the session closes.

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 1      (i)   Motion to take from table.--A motion to take from the
 2   table, a bill or other subject, is in order under the same order
 3   of business in which the matter was tabled. It shall be decided
 4   without debate or amendment.
 5      (j)   Reconsideration.--
 6            (1)   When a question has once been made and carried in
 7      the affirmative or negative, it shall be in order to move the
 8      reconsideration thereof. When the Senate has been equally
 9      divided on a question, or a bill shall have failed to pass by
10      reason of not having received the number of votes required by
11      the Constitution, it shall be in order to move the
12      reconsideration thereof.
13            (2)   Provided, however, that no motion for the
14      reconsideration of any vote shall be in order after a bill,
15      resolution, report, amendment or motion upon which the vote
16      was taken shall have gone out of the possession of the
17      Senate.
18            (3)   Provided, further, that no motion for
19      reconsideration shall be in order unless made on the same day
20      on which the vote was taken, or within the next five days of
21      voting session of the Senate thereafter.
22            (4)   A motion to reconsider the same question a third
23      time is not in order.
24            (5)   When a bill, resolution, report, amendment, order,
25      or communication, upon which a vote has been taken, shall
26      have gone out of the possession of the Senate and been sent
27      to the House of Representatives or to the Governor, the
28      motion to reconsider shall not be in order until a resolution
29      has been passed to request the House or Governor to return
30      the same and the same shall have been returned to the

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 1      possession of the Senate.
 2   Rule 12.    Bills.
 3      (a)     Passage of bills.--
 4            (1)   No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill
 5      shall be so altered or amended, on its passage through either
 6      House, as to change its original purpose. (Const. Art. III,
 7      Sec. 1)
 8            (2)   No alteration or amendment shall be considered which
 9      is not appropriate and closely allied to the original purpose
10      of the bill. If a bill has been amended after being reported
11      by the Appropriations Committee and if the amendment may
12      require the expenditure of Commonwealth funds or funds of a
13      political subdivision or cause a loss of revenue to the
14      Commonwealth or a political subdivision, the Appropriations
15      Committee shall make a fiscal note reflecting the impact of
16      the amendment available to the Senators.
17      (b)     Reference and printing.--No bill shall be considered
18   unless referred to a committee, printed for the use of the
19   members and returned therefrom. (Const. Art. III, Sec. 2)
20      (c)     Form of bills.--No bill shall be passed containing more
21   than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title,
22   except a general appropriation bill or a bill codifying or
23   compiling the law or a part thereof. (Const. Art. III, Sec. 3)
24      (d)     Consideration of bills.--Every bill shall be considered
25   on three different days in each House. All amendments made
26   thereto shall be available pursuant to Rule 13(a)(2) for the use
27   of the members before the final vote is taken on the bill. Upon
28   written request addressed to the presiding officer of the Senate
29   by at least 25% of the Members elected to the Senate, any bill
30   shall be read at length in that House. No bill shall become a

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 1   law, unless on its final passage the vote is taken by yeas and
 2   nays, the names of the persons voting for and against it are
 3   entered on the Journal, and a majority of the Members elected to
 4   each House is recorded thereon as voting in its favor. (Const.
 5   Art. III, Sec. 4)
 6      (e)   Local and special bills.--No local or special bill shall
 7   be passed unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall
 8   have been published in the locality where the matter or the
 9   thing to be effected may be situated, which notice shall be at
10   least 30 days prior to the introduction into the General
11   Assembly of such bill and in the manner to be provided by law;
12   the evidence of such notice having been published shall be
13   exhibited in the General Assembly before such act shall be
14   passed. (Const. Art. III, Sec. 7)
15      (f)   Revenue bills.--All bills for raising revenue shall
16   originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may
17   propose amendments as in other bills. (Const. Art. III, Sec. 10)
18      (g)   Appropriation bills.--
19            (1)   The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing
20      but appropriations for the executive, legislative and
21      judicial departments of the Commonwealth, for the public debt
22      and for public schools. All other appropriations shall be
23      made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject.
24      (Const. Art. III, Sec. 11)
25            (2)   No appropriation shall be made for charitable,
26      educational or benevolent purposes to any person or community
27      nor to any denomination and sectarian institution,
28      corporation or association: Provided, That appropriations may
29      be made for pensions or gratuities for military service and
30      to blind persons 21 years of age and upwards and for

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 1      assistance to mothers having dependent children and to aged
 2      persons without adequate means of support and in the form of
 3      scholarship grants or loans for higher educational purposes
 4      to residents of the Commonwealth enrolled in institutions of
 5      higher learning, except that no scholarship, grants or loans
 6      for higher educational purposes shall be given to persons
 7      enrolled in a theological seminary or school of theology.
 8      (Const. Art. III, Sec. 29)
 9      (h)   Charitable and educational appropriations.--No
10   appropriation shall be made to any charitable or educational
11   institution not under the absolute control of the Commonwealth,
12   other than normal schools established by law for the
13   professional training of teachers for the public schools of the
14   State, except by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected
15   to each House. (Const. Art. III, Sec. 30)
16      (i)   Land transfer legislation.--
17            (1)   No bills granting or conveying Commonwealth land or
18      taking title thereto shall be reported by any committee of
19      the Senate unless there has been filed with the Secretary-
20      Parliamentarian and the Chair of the Reporting Committee, a
21      memorandum from the Department of General Services indicating
22      the use to which the property is presently employed, the full
23      consideration for the transfer, if any, a departmental
24      appraisal of the property, including its valuation and a list
25      of recorded liens and encumbrances, if any, the use to which
26      the property will be employed upon its transfer, the date by
27      which the land is needed for its new use and the senatorial
28      district or districts in which the land is located. The
29      memorandum shall be filed within 60 days after a request is
30      made for same and contain a statement by a responsible person

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 1    in the Department of General Services indicating whether or
 2    not the departments involved favor the transfer which is the
 3    subject of the bill under consideration. The sponsor of the
 4    bill or the Chair of the Reporting Committee may request the
 5    memorandum from the Department of General Services.
 6        (2)     No amendment granting or conveying Commonwealth land
 7    or taking title thereto shall be considered by the Senate
 8    unless there has been filed with the Secretary-
 9    Parliamentarian and the Chair of the committee reporting the
10    bill a memorandum from the Department of General Services
11    indicating the use to which the property is presently
12    employed, the full consideration for the transfer, if any, a
13    departmental appraisal of the property, including its
14    valuation and a list of recorded liens and encumbrances, if
15    any, the use to which the property will be employed upon its
16    transfer, the date by which the land is needed for its new
17    use, the senatorial district or districts in which the land
18    is located and a statement by a responsible person in the
19    Department of General Services indicating whether or not the
20    departments involved favor the transfer which is the subject
21    of the amendment under consideration. The memorandum shall be
22    filed within 60 days after a request is made. The sponsor of
23    the amendment or the Chair of the Reporting Committee may
24    request the memorandum from the Department of General
25    Services.
26        (3)     If a memorandum is not filed within 60 days after a
27    request is made to the Department of General Services, the
28    Senate or any committees of the Senate may consider bills or
29    amendments granting or conveying Commonwealth land or taking
30    title thereto, notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2).

20250SR0003PN0003                  - 18 -
 1      (j)   Consideration during second regular session.--All bills,
 2   joint resolutions, resolutions, concurrent resolutions or other
 3   matters pending before the Senate upon the recess of a first
 4   regular session convening in an odd-numbered year shall maintain
 5   their status and be pending before a second regular session
 6   convening in an even-numbered year but not beyond adjournment
 7   sine die or November 30th of such year, whichever first occurs.
 8      (k)   Introduction.--All bills shall be introduced in
 9   quadruplicate or filed electronically with the Secretary-
10   Parliamentarian's Office through a process determined by the
11   Secretary-Parliamentarian. A sponsor may be added after a bill
12   has been printed but the addition of sponsors shall not require
13   that the bill be reprinted. All bills shall be examined by the
14   Legislative Reference Bureau for correctness as to form and
15   shall be imprinted with the stamp of the Bureau before being
16   filed with the Secretary-Parliamentarian for introduction.
17      (l)   Character of bills to be introduced.--No Member shall
18   introduce, nor shall any committee report any bill for the
19   action of the Senate, proposing to legislate upon any of the
20   subjects prohibited by Article III, section 32 of the
21   Constitution.
22      (m)   Printing of amended bills.--
23            (1)   All bills reported or re-reported from committee, if
24      amended by the committee, and all bills on the Calendar, if
25      amended by the Senate, shall be reprinted and a new printer's
26      number assigned thereto before any action is taken thereon.
27            (2)   No bill or joint resolution re-reported from
28      committee as amended shall be voted upon on final passage
29      until at least 10 hours have elapsed from the time of the
30      committee report.

20250SR0003PN0003                    - 19 -
 1      (n)   First consideration.--Bills on first consideration shall
 2   not be subject to amendment, debate or a vote thereon.
 3      (o)   Second consideration.--Bills on second consideration may
 4   be subject to amendment, debate and a vote thereon.
 5      (p)   Third consideration and final passage.--
 6            (1)   The following apply:
 7                  (i)    Bills on third consideration may be amended and
 8            are subject to debate. Bills on final passage may not be
 9            amended but are open to debate. The vote on final passage
10            shall be taken by a roll call. The names of the Senators
11            voting for and against shall be recorded, entered in the
12            Journal and posted on the Internet website maintained by
13            the Senate. No bill shall be declared passed unless a
14            majority of all Senators elected to the Senate shall be
15            recorded as voting for the same.
16                  (ii)    No bill which may require an expenditure of
17            Commonwealth funds or funds of any political subdivision
18            or cause a loss of revenue to the Commonwealth or any
19            political subdivision shall be given third consideration
20            on the Calendar until it has been referred to the
21            Appropriations Committee and a fiscal note attached
22            thereto.
23                  (iii)    In obtaining the information required by these
24            Rules, the Appropriations Committee may utilize the
25            services of the Budget Office and any other State agency
26            as may be necessary.
27                  (iv)    No bills appropriating money for charitable or
28            benevolent purposes shall be considered finally until
29            after the general appropriation bill shall have been
30            reported from committee.

20250SR0003PN0003                       - 20 -
 1            (2)   The following apply:
 2                  (i)    It shall not be in order, by suspension of this
 3            Rule or otherwise, to consider a bill on final passage
 4            unless it is printed, together with amendments, if any,
 5            and made available to the Senators.
 6                  (ii)   No bill or joint resolution amended on third
 7            consideration shall be voted on final passage until at
 8            least 10 hours have elapsed from the time of adoption of
 9            the amendment.
10      (q)   Prefiling of bills, joint resolutions and resolutions.--
11   Any Senator or Senator-elect may file, via paper or electronic
12   format, bills, joint resolutions and resolutions with the
13   Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate commencing on December
14   15 of each even-numbered year. The Secretary-Parliamentarian of
15   the Senate shall number the bills, joint resolutions and
16   resolutions and shall have them available for distribution. Upon
17   the naming of the committees of the Senate at the convening of a
18   First Regular Session, the President Pro Tempore shall refer all
19   prefiled measures to the proper committee within 14 calendar
20   days.
21      (r)   Normal filing of bills, joint resolutions and
22   resolutions.--Senators may introduce bills, joint resolutions
23   and resolutions by filing the same, via paper or electronic
24   format, with the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate. The
25   Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate shall number the bills,
26   joint resolutions and resolutions and shall notify the President
27   Pro Tempore of the fact of such filing.
28      (s)   Referral to committee by President Pro Tempore.-- Upon
29   the establishment of standing committees, every bill, joint
30   resolution and resolution introduced by a Senator or received

20250SR0003PN0003                       - 21 -
 1   from the House of Representatives shall be referred by the
 2   President Pro Tempore to the appropriate committee within 14
 3   calendar days. Upon referral, the Secretary-Parliamentarian of
 4   the Senate shall deliver the bills, joint resolutions and
 5   resolutions, via paper or electronic format, to the committees
 6   to which they have been referred. The Secretary-Parliamentarian
 7   of the Senate shall have the bills, joint resolutions and
 8   resolutions available for distribution.
 9   Rule 13.    Amendments.
10      (a)     When in order.--
11            (1)   Amendments shall be in order when a bill is reported
12      or re-reported from committee, on second consideration and on
13      third consideration. No amendments shall be received by the
14      presiding officer or considered by the Senate which destroys
15      the general sense of the original bill or is not appropriate
16      and closely allied to the original purpose of the bill. Any
17      Member, upon request, must be furnished a copy of a proposed
18      amendment, this includes being available on the Senate
19      Virtual Session Desk application or its successor
20      applications, and be given a reasonable opportunity to
21      consider same before being required to vote thereon.
22            (2)   Amendments offered on the Floor shall be read by the
23      Reading Clerk and stated by the presiding officer to the
24      Senate before being acted upon. Amendments shall be presented
25      with at least four typewritten copies obtained electronically
26      through the Legislative Reference Bureau, which shall have
27      the Sponsor identified. No amendment may be considered by the
28      Senate until the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate has
29      posted the amendment on the Internet website maintained by
30      the Senate.

20250SR0003PN0003                    - 22 -
 1            (3)   Amendments to bills or other main motions or
 2      questions before the Senate may be tabled. When an amendment
 3      proposed to any bill or other main motion or question before
 4      the Senate is laid on the table, it shall not carry with it
 5      or prejudice the bill, main motion or question. A motion to
 6      take an amendment from the table shall only be in order if
 7      the bill or other main motion or question remains before the
 8      Senate for decision. The motion to take an amendment from the
 9      table is not debatable and shall have the same precedence as
10      the motion to amend.
11      (b)   Amendments reconsidering; revert to prior print.--
12   Amendments adopted or defeated may not be again considered
13   without reconsidering the vote by which the amendments were
14   adopted or defeated, unless a majority vote of the Senators
15   present shall decide to revert to a prior printer's number. If
16   such a motion is made to a bill on third consideration and
17   carried it shall not be in order to vote on the final passage of
18   the bill until a copy of the reverted printer's number is made
19   available to the Senators, this includes being available on the
20   Senate Virtual Session Desk application or its successor
21   applications.
22      (c)   Concurrence in House amendments.--
23            (1)   The following apply:
24                  (i)    No amendments to bills by the House shall be
25            concurred in by the Senate, except by the vote of a
26            majority of the Members elected to the Senate taken by
27            yeas and nays. (Const. Art. III, Sec. 5)
28                  (ii)    If a bill on concurrence contains an amendment
29            which may require the expenditure of Commonwealth funds
30            or funds of a political subdivision or cause a loss of

20250SR0003PN0003                       - 23 -
 1        revenue to the Commonwealth or a political subdivision,
 2        the bill may not be voted finally until a fiscal note
 3        reflecting the impact of the amendment is made available
 4        to the Senators.
 5        (2)   The following apply:
 6              (i)    Any bill or resolution containing House
 7        amendments which is returned to the Senate shall be
 8        referred to the Committee on Rules and Executive
 9        Nominations immediately upon the reading of the
10        communication by the Reading Clerk. The consideration of
11        any bill or resolution containing House amendments may
12        include the amendment of House amendments only by the
13        Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations. The vote on
14        concurring in amendments by the House to bills or
15        resolutions amended by the House shall not be taken until
16        the bills or resolutions have been favorably reported, as
17        committed or as amended, by the Committee on Rules and
18        Executive Nominations and have been placed on the desks
19        of the Senators, this includes being available on the
20        Senate Virtual Session Desk application or its successor
21        applications, and particularly referred to on their
22        calendars.
23              (ii)    Unless the Majority Leader and the Minority
24        Leader shall agree otherwise, the offering of an
25        amendment to House amendments in the Committee on Rules
26        and Executive Nominations shall not be in order until at
27        least one hour after the filing of a copy of the
28        amendment as prepared by the Legislative Reference Bureau
29        with the office of the Secretary-Parliamentarian. Upon
30        the filing of such an amendment, the Secretary-

20250SR0003PN0003                   - 24 -
 1            Parliamentarian shall immediately time stamp the
 2            amendment and forward a time-stamped copy of the
 3            amendment to the offices of the Majority Leader and the
 4            Minority Leader. Except as provided in this subsection,
 5            it shall not be in order to suspend or otherwise waive
 6            the requirements of this subsection.
 7   Rule 14.    Committees.
 8      (a)     Standing committees.--
 9            (1)   There shall be the following permanent standing
10      committees, the Chair, the Vice Chair and members thereof to
11      be appointed by the President Pro Tempore as soon as possible
12      after the election of the President Pro Tempore in sessions
13      convening in odd-numbered years or such other times as may be
14      necessary. The composition of each standing committee shall
15      reasonably reflect the caucus composition of the Senate
16      membership.
17                  Aging and Youth - 10 members
18                  Agriculture and Rural Affairs - 10 members
19                  Appropriations - 19 members
20                  Banking and Insurance - 13 members
21                  Communications and Technology - 10 members
22                  Community, Economic and Recreational Development - 13
23            members
24                  Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure - 13
25            members
26                  Education - 10 members
27                  Environmental Resources and Energy - 10 members
28                  Finance - 10 members
29                  Game and Fisheries - 10 members
30                  Health and Human Services - 12 members

20250SR0003PN0003                     - 25 -
 1                Institutional Sustainability and Innovation - 10
 2          members
 3                Intergovernmental Operations - 10 members
 4                Judiciary - 13 members
 5                Labor and Industry - 10 members
 6                Law and Justice - 10 members
 7                Local Government - 10 members
 8                Rules and Executive Nominations - 16 members
 9                State Government - 10 members
10                Transportation - 13 members
11                Urban Affairs and Housing - 10 members
12                Veterans' Affairs and Emergency Preparedness - 10
13          members
14          (2)   Subcommittees. Each standing committee or the chair
15    thereof may appoint, from time to time, a subcommittee to
16    study or investigate a matter falling within the jurisdiction
17    of the standing committee or to consider a bill or resolution
18    referred to it. A subcommittee may hold public hearings only
19    with the prior permission of its standing committee.
20    Subcommittees shall be regulated by the Senate Rules of
21    Procedure and shall be in existence for only that time
22    necessary to complete their assignments and report to their
23    standing committees.
24    (b)   Members-ex-officio.--
25          (1)   The President Pro Tempore shall be an ex-officio
26    voting member of all standing committees and any
27    subcommittees that may be established and shall not be
28    included in the number of committee members herein provided.
29    However, the President Pro Tempore shall not be an ex-officio
30    Member of the Committee on Ethics and Official Conduct.

20250SR0003PN0003                   - 26 -
 1            (2)   The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader shall
 2      each be an ex-officio member of the Committee on
 3      Appropriations and shall not be included in the number of
 4      members of the committee provided herein.
 5            (3)   The Majority Leader shall serve as Chair of the
 6      Committee on Rules and Executive Nominations and the Minority
 7      Leader shall serve as the Minority Chair.
 8            (4)   During a roll call vote, ex-officio members shall be
 9      called immediately before calling the Chair of a committee or
10      subcommittee, whose name shall be called last.
11      (c)   Committees' function between sessions.--Standing
12   committees shall exist and function both during and between
13   sessions. Such power shall not extend beyond November 30th of
14   any even-numbered year.
15      (d)   Powers and responsibilities.--Standing committees are
16   authorized:
17            (1)   To maintain a continuous review of the work of the
18      Commonwealth agencies concerned with their subject areas and
19      the performance of the functions of government within each
20      such subject area, and for this purpose to request reports
21      from time to time, in such form as the standing committee
22      shall designate, concerning the operation of any Commonwealth
23      agency and presenting any proposal or recommendation such
24      agency may have with regard to existing laws or proposed
25      legislation in its subject area. The standing committee is
26      authorized to require public officials and employees and
27      private individuals to appear before the standing committee
28      for the purpose of submitting information to it.
29            (2)   In order to carry out its duties, each standing
30      committee is empowered with the right and authority to

20250SR0003PN0003                    - 27 -
 1    inspect and investigate the books, records, papers,
 2    documents, data, operation and physical plant of any public
 3    agency in this Commonwealth.
 4          (3)   In order to carry out its duties, each standing
 5    committee or special committee appointed under Rule 5(a)(2)
 6    may issue subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum and other
 7    necessary process to compel the attendance of witnesses and
 8    the production of any books, letters or other documentary
 9    evidence desired by the committee. The chair may administer
10    oaths and affirmations in the manner prescribed by law to
11    witnesses who shall appear before the committee to testify.
12    (e)   Notice of meetings.--
13          (1)   The following apply:
14                (i)    The Chair of a committee or, in the absence of
15          the Chair, the Vice Chair, with the approval of the
16          Chair, shall provide each member of the committee with
17          written notice of committee meetings, which may be done
18          electronically. The notice of a meeting shall include the
19          date, time and location of the meeting and the number of
20          each bill, resolution or other matter which may be
21          considered. During session, notice of meetings of
22          standing committees shall be published daily. Notice
23          shall be delivered by the Chair to the Secretary-
24          Parliamentarian's office on a form prescribed by the
25          Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate by the end of the
26          session on the day preceding its intended publication.
27                (ii)   Whenever the Chair of any standing committee
28          shall refuse to call a regular meeting, then a majority
29          plus one of the members of the standing committee may
30          vote to call a meeting by giving two days' written notice

20250SR0003PN0003                     - 28 -
 1        to the Secretary-Parliamentarian of the Senate, setting
 2        the time and place for such meeting. Such notice shall be
 3        read in the Senate and the same posted by the Secretary-
 4        Parliamentarian in the Senate. Thereafter, the meeting
 5        shall be held at the time and place specified in the
 6        notice. In addition, any such meeting shall comply with
 7        all provisions of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open
 8        meetings) relative to notice of meetings.
 9               (iii)   When the majority plus one of the members of a
10        standing committee believe that a certain bill or
11        resolution in the possession of the standing committee
12        should be considered and acted upon by such committee,
13        they may request the Chair to include the same as part of
14        the business of a committee meeting. Should the Chair
15        refuse such request, the membership may require that such
16        bill be considered by written motion made and approved by
17        a majority plus one vote of the entire membership to
18        which the committee is entitled.
19        (2)    A committee meeting, or hearing for which notice has
20    not been published as provided in paragraph (1), may be held
21    during a session only if approval is granted by the Majority
22    Leader and the Minority Leader and if notice of each bill,
23    resolution or other matter to be considered is given during
24    session.
25        (3)    A committee meeting, or hearing for which notice has
26    been published as provided in paragraph (1), may be
27    rescheduled and held during a session in consultation with
28    the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader and if notice of
29    each bill, resolution or other matter to be considered is
30    given during session.

20250SR0003PN0003                   - 29 -
 1      (f)   Bills recommitted.--Any bill or resolution reported by
 2   any standing committee without prior notice having been given as
 3   required by these Rules shall be recommitted to the committee
 4   reporting the same.
 5      (g)   Public meetings or hearings.--
 6            (1)   The following apply:
 7                  (i)    The Chair of a standing committee may hold
 8            hearings open to the public and in doing so shall make a
 9            public announcement in writing prior to the date of the
10            hearing of the date, time, location and subject matter of
11            the hearing.
12                  (ii)    The Chair of a standing committee shall have
13            the power to designate whether or not a meeting of the
14            committee for the purpose of transacting committee
15            business shall be open to the public or shall be held in
16            executive session and therefore closed to the public, but
17            no matters may be considered in executive session for
18            which an open meeting is required under 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7
19            (relating to open meetings).
20            (2)   All standing committees may have their hearings
21      reported and transcribed if payment for such service is being
22      made from committee funds. If payment is expected to be made
23      from a source other than committee funds, approval must be
24      first obtained from the President Pro Tempore.
25            (3)   The meetings of the Senate standing and special
26      committees may be livestreamed as determined by the committee
27      chair, if held in a hearing room equipped for that purpose,
28      and posted on the official Senate Internet website. The
29      official Senate livestream and recordings of the livestream,
30      video or audio, may be broadcasted and posted on the

20250SR0003PN0003                       - 30 -
 1      respective Senate caucus websites and social media platforms.
 2      The restrictions on video and audio feeds under Rule 23 apply
 3      to livestreamed and video recordings of standing and special
 4      committee meetings.
 5             (4)   The Chair of a committee shall provide reasonable
 6      accommodations for the virtual participation of a Senator in
 7      a committee hearing conducted outside of the Capitol Complex,
 8      if the Senator has given timely notice no later than 48 hours
 9      prior to the scheduled time of the committee hearing to the
10      Chair and Minority Chair of the committee of the Senator's
11      intent to participate virtually in the hearing and virtual
12      participation is feasible at the location where the hearing
13      is scheduled to be held. A Senator participating virtually in
14      a committee hearing shall not be eligible for any
15      reimbursement authorized by the Senate.
16      (h)    Quorum of committee.--A committee is actually assembled
17   only when a quorum constituting a majority of the members of
18   that committee is present in person. A majority of the quorum of
19   the whole committee shall be required to report any bill,
20   resolution or other matter to the Floor for action by the whole
21   Senate.
22      (i)    Quorum of subcommittee.--A subcommittee is actually
23   assembled only when a quorum constituting a majority of the
24   members of that subcommittee is present in person. A majority of
25   the quorum of the whole subcommittee shall be required to report
26   any bill, resolution or other matter to the committee.
27      (j)    Discharging committees.--
28             (1)   No standing committee shall be discharged from
29      consideration of any bill, resolution or other matter within
30      10 legislative days of its reference to committee without the

20250SR0003PN0003                     - 31 -
 1      unanimous consent of the Senate or after such 10-day period
 2      except by majority vote of all members elected to the Senate.
 3             (2)   Such discharge shall be by resolution which shall
 4      lie over one day for consideration upon introduction and
 5      which may be considered under the Order of Business of
 6      Resolutions on the Calendar.
 7      (k)     Amendments in committee.--Unless the Chair and Minority
 8   Chair of a committee agree otherwise, a committee shall not
 9   consider an amendment unless a copy of the amendment as prepared
10   by the Legislative Reference Bureau has been emailed to the
11   Chair and Minority Chair of the committee or uploaded and
12   distributed to all committee members through the virtual desk no
13   less than one hour prior to the commencement of the committee
14   meeting.
15   Rule 15.    Committee officers.
16      (a)     Chair-ex-officio.--The Chair and Minority Chair of each
17   standing committee shall be ex-officio members of each
18   subcommittee that may be established as part of the standing
19   committee, with the right to attend meetings of the subcommittee
20   and vote on any matter before the subcommittee.
21      (b)     Calling committee to order.--The Chair or, if authorized
22   by the Chair, the Vice Chair, shall call the committee to order
23   at the hour provided by these Rules. Upon the appearance of a
24   quorum, the committee shall proceed with the order of business.
25   Any member of the committee may question the existence of a
26   quorum.
27      (c)     Chair control of the committee room.--The Chair or, if
28   authorized by the Chair, the Vice Chair, shall preserve order
29   and decorum and shall have general control of the committee
30   room. In case of a disturbance or disorderly conduct in the

20250SR0003PN0003                      - 32 -
 1   committee room, the Chair or, if authorized by the Chair, the
 2   Vice Chair, may cause the same to be cleared. The use of cell
 3   phones and similar portable communication devices within any
 4   Senate committee room by anyone other than members of the Senate
 5   or their staffs is strictly prohibited.
 6      (d)     Chair's authority to sign documents and decide questions
 7   of order.--The Chair shall sign all notices, vouchers, subpoenas
 8   o

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