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
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, providing for spending limitations.
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 Article VIII be amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 18. Spending limitations.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c), total spending by
the Commonwealth in a fiscal year shall not exceed the spending
appropriation limit as provided in this section.
(b) The spending appropriation limit for any fiscal year
shall be equal to total appropriations made during the
immediately prior fiscal year, adjusted by the lesser of:
(1) the average percentage change in personal income in this
Commonwealth for the three preceding years as reported by the
Federal Government or as determined pursuant to an act of the
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17 General Assembly; or
(2) the average percentage change in inflation for the three
preceding years plus the average percentage change in the State
population for the three preceding years as reported by the
annual Federal census population estimates and adjusted every
decade to match the official Federal decennial census.
(c) The spending appropriation limit may be exceeded in any
fiscal year:
(1) to respond to a declared emergency, if the General
Assembly approves by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
members elected to each House of the General Assembly; or
(2) in other situations if the Governor requests at least 30
days prior to the beginning of the fiscal year and the General
Assembly approves by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
members elected to each House of the General Assembly.
(d) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Inflation" shall mean the percentage change in the
United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, not seasonally
adjusted; all items index, or its successor index.
(2) "Total spending by the Commonwealth" shall mean the
total of the amounts approved as executive authorizations by the
Governor plus the total amounts of appropriations made by the
General Assembly, excluding appropriations made with money
received from the Federal Government.
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
20250SB0134PN0082 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 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 primary, general or municipal
election which meets the requirements of section 1 of Article
XI of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
20250SB0134PN0082 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11