SB 125 — A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for change of venue and for judicial administration.

PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
                                                       PRINTER'S NO.   1182

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 125
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY DUSH, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

     REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025


                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1   Proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the
 2      Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for change of
 3      venue and for judicial administration.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby resolves as follows:
 6      Section 1.    The following integrated amendments to the
 7   Constitution of Pennsylvania are proposed in accordance with
 8   Article XI:
 9      (1)    That section 23 of Article III be amended to read:
10   § 23.    Change of venue.
11      [The] Except as provided by this Constitution or in law, the
12   power to change the venue in civil and criminal cases shall be
13   vested in the courts, to be exercised in such manner as shall be
14   provided by law.
15      (2)    That section 10(c) of Article V be amended to read:
16   § 10.    Judicial administration.
17      * * *
18      (c)    The Supreme Court shall have the power to prescribe
 1   general rules governing practice, procedure and the conduct of
 2   all courts, justices of the peace and all officers serving
 3   process or enforcing orders, judgments or decrees of any court
 4   or justice of the peace, including the power to provide for
 5   assignment and reassignment of classes of actions or classes of
 6   appeals among the several courts as the needs of justice shall
 7   require, and for admission to the bar and to practice law, and
 8   the administration of all courts and supervision of all officers
 9   of the Judicial Branch, if such rules are consistent with this
10   Constitution and neither abridge, enlarge nor modify the
11   substantive rights of any litigant, nor affect the right of the
12   General Assembly to determine the jurisdiction of any court or
13   justice of the peace, nor suspend nor alter any statute of
14   limitation or repose. All laws shall be suspended to the extent
15   that they are inconsistent with rules prescribed under these
16   provisions. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the
17   General Assembly may by statute [provide]:
18      (1)   Provide for the manner of testimony of child victims or
19   child material witnesses in criminal proceedings, including the
20   use of videotaped depositions or testimony by closed-circuit
21   television.
22      (2)   Establish venue in civil cases in this Commonwealth.
23      * * *
24      Section 2.    The following procedure applies to the proposed
25   constitutional amendments in this joint resolution:
26            (1)   Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of
27      the amendments, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
28      proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
29      requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
30      of Pennsylvania.

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




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