Pennsylvania House Bill HB1746

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 7/21/25
• Refer: 7/21/25

Caption

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, further providing for sessions of the General Assembly.

Summary

HB1746 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change the Pennsylvania General Assembly from a continuing body into a part-time body. Under the bill, the legislature would still convene at noon on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January, but it would be required to finish its regular business by the last day of March each year unless a special session is called. The proposal also preserves the Governor’s authority to call special sessions, either on petition of a majority of the members elected to each House or when the Governor believes the public interest requires it. Because this is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment, the bill does not itself change statutory law immediately. Instead, it sets out the text of the amendment and the process for advancing it: after first and second passage by the General Assembly, the Secretary of the Commonwealth must advertise the amendment and submit it to voters at the next eligible general or municipal election. If approved by the electorate, the amendment would alter Article II, Section 4 of the Pennsylvania Constitution and would likely require the legislature to operate on a more limited annual schedule.

Impact

HB1746 would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution rather than ordinary statutes, so its direct legal effect would be to redefine the General Assembly’s session structure and legislative calendar. If adopted by voters, it would replace the current constitutional language describing the legislature as a continuing body with language making it a part-time body and imposing a March adjournment deadline for regular business. The practical impact would fall on legislators, legislative staff, state agencies that rely on the timing of enactment, and the public, because the amendment would compress the period for passing bills and conducting regular legislative work.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote history was provided, so there is no recorded debate or roll-call evidence to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the proposal appears to reflect a reform-oriented view that the legislature should meet less frequently and operate on a more limited schedule. Because it is a constitutional amendment, any final sentiment will likely depend on broader views about legislative efficiency, accountability, and the role of a part-time legislature in Pennsylvania.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely to be whether making the General Assembly a part-time body would improve efficiency and reduce government activity, or instead hinder the legislature’s ability to respond to policy needs throughout the year. Supporters would likely favor a shorter session and a more limited legislative calendar, while opponents may argue that a March deadline is too restrictive for budget work, oversight, and complex policy development. Another likely issue is the preservation of special-session authority, which may be seen as a safeguard by supporters but as an insufficient substitute for year-round legislative capacity by critics.