PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRINTER'S NO. 464
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.481
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BIZZARRO, GIRAL, PROBST, SANCHEZ, GUENST, HADDOCK,
DONAHUE, WARREN, MALAGARI AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, further providing for proposal of amendments
by the General Assembly and their adoption.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
That section 1 of Article XI be amended to read:
ยง 1. Proposal of amendments by the General Assembly and their
adoption.
Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate
or House of Representatives; and if the same shall be agreed to
by [a majority] at least two-thirds of the members elected to
each House, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be
entered on their journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon,
and the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall cause the same to be
published three months before the next general election, in at
least two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers
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afterwards chosen, such proposed amendment or amendments shall
be agreed to by [a majority] at least two-thirds of the members
elected to each House, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
cause the same again to be published in the manner aforesaid;
and such proposed amendment or amendments shall be submitted to
the qualified electors of the State in such manner, and at such
time at least three months after being so agreed to by the two
Houses, as the General Assembly shall prescribe; and, if such
amendment or amendments shall be approved by a majority of those
voting thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become a part
of the Constitution; but no amendment or amendments shall be
submitted oftener than once in five years. When two or more
amendments shall be submitted they shall be voted upon
separately.
(a) In the event a major emergency threatens or is about to
threaten the Commonwealth and if the safety or welfare of the
Commonwealth requires prompt amendment of this Constitution,
such amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the
Senate or House of Representatives at any regular or special
session of the General Assembly, and if agreed to by at least
two-thirds of the members elected to each House, a proposed
amendment shall be entered on the journal of each House with the
yeas and nays taken thereon and the official in charge of
statewide elections shall promptly publish such proposed
amendment in at least two newspapers in every county in which
such newspapers are published. Such amendment shall then be
submitted to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth in such
manner, and at such time, at least one month after being agreed
to by both Houses as the General Assembly prescribes.
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the qualified electors voting thereon, it shall become part of
this Constitution. When two or more emergency amendments are
submitted they shall be voted on separately.
Section 2. The following procedure applies to the proposed
constitutional amendment in this joint resolution:
(1) Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of
the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania.
(2) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of
the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
submit the amendment to the qualified electors of this
Commonwealth at the first general election which meets the
requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania.
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