Pennsylvania House Bill HB1046

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/25/25
• Refer: 3/25/25

Caption

Establishing the Pennsylvania Poet Laureate and the Pennsylvania Poet Laureate Nomination Committee; and providing for their powers and duties.

Summary

HB1046 establishes a Pennsylvania Poet Laureate and a Pennsylvania Poet Laureate Nomination Committee. The bill creates a two-year poet laureate position appointed by the Governor from a list of up to three nominees submitted by the committee. The poet laureate would have three official duties: read a poem at the Governor’s inauguration, read a poem at the opening of the legislative session when requested by legislative leaders, and serve at official commemorations when requested by the Governor. The bill also creates a five-member nomination committee made up of the Secretary of Education or designee, the chair of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts or designee, the State Librarian or designee, and two gubernatorial appointees representing a poetry or humanities nonprofit and a college or university English department. The committee would determine nominee qualifications, solicit nominations, and forward a shortlist to the Governor. Both the poet laureate and committee members would serve without compensation, though they could be reimbursed for necessary travel and related expenses. The act would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Impact

HB1046 would add a new ceremonial and cultural office to Pennsylvania law and formally assign the Governor, legislative leaders, and selected state cultural and educational officials roles in the selection and use of a poet laureate. It would not change criminal, tax, or regulatory law, but it would create a new statutory framework for state-sponsored literary representation and public arts programming. The bill would also establish a new nomination process involving the Department of Education, the arts council, the state library, and outside humanities and academic representatives.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests generally favorable but not unanimous support. The House State Government Committee reported the bill as committed on a 14-12 vote, indicating a close committee split rather than broad consensus. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to show detailed public arguments, but the narrow vote suggests the measure drew some support as a cultural initiative and some skepticism about whether the state should create and administer the office.

Contention

The main point of contention appears to be whether Pennsylvania should create a new state office and committee for a largely symbolic role. Supporters likely view the bill as a way to promote poetry, the humanities, and civic culture through official state recognition, while opponents may question the need for a new statutory position, even one without salary. Another possible issue is the appointment structure: the Governor selects the poet laureate from committee nominees, and the committee includes both state officials and gubernatorial appointees, which may raise questions about balance, representation, and administrative necessity.