HB 481 — 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.

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
 1   Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
 2      of Pennsylvania, further providing for proposal of amendments
 3      by the General Assembly and their adoption.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby resolves as follows:
 6      Section 1.    The following amendment to the Constitution of
 7   Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
 8      That section 1 of Article XI be amended to read:
 9   § 1.   Proposal of amendments by the General Assembly and their
10               adoption.
11      Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the Senate
12   or House of Representatives; and if the same shall be agreed to
13   by [a majority] at least two-thirds of the members elected to
14   each House, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be
15   entered on their journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon,
16   and the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall cause the same to be
17   published three months before the next general election, in at
18   least two newspapers in every county in which such newspapers
 1   shall be published; and if, in the General Assembly next
 2   afterwards chosen, such proposed amendment or amendments shall
 3   be agreed to by [a majority] at least two-thirds of the members
 4   elected to each House, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
 5   cause the same again to be published in the manner aforesaid;
 6   and such proposed amendment or amendments shall be submitted to
 7   the qualified electors of the State in such manner, and at such
 8   time at least three months after being so agreed to by the two
 9   Houses, as the General Assembly shall prescribe; and, if such
10   amendment or amendments shall be approved by a majority of those
11   voting thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become a part
12   of the Constitution; but no amendment or amendments shall be
13   submitted oftener than once in five years. When two or more
14   amendments shall be submitted they shall be voted upon
15   separately.
16      (a)   In the event a major emergency threatens or is about to
17   threaten the Commonwealth and if the safety or welfare of the
18   Commonwealth requires prompt amendment of this Constitution,
19   such amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in the
20   Senate or House of Representatives at any regular or special
21   session of the General Assembly, and if agreed to by at least
22   two-thirds of the members elected to each House, a proposed
23   amendment shall be entered on the journal of each House with the
24   yeas and nays taken thereon and the official in charge of
25   statewide elections shall promptly publish such proposed
26   amendment in at least two newspapers in every county in which
27   such newspapers are published. Such amendment shall then be
28   submitted to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth in such
29   manner, and at such time, at least one month after being agreed
30   to by both Houses as the General Assembly prescribes.

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 1      (b)   If an emergency amendment is approved by a majority of
 2   the qualified electors voting thereon, it shall become part of
 3   this Constitution. When two or more emergency amendments are
 4   submitted they shall be voted on separately.
 5      Section 2.    The following procedure applies to the proposed
 6   constitutional amendment in this joint resolution:
 7            (1)   Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of
 8      the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
 9      proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
10      requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
11      of Pennsylvania.
12            (2)   Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of
13      the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
14      proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
15      requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
16      of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
17      submit the amendment to the qualified electors of this
18      Commonwealth at the first general election which meets the
19      requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
20      of Pennsylvania.




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