Pennsylvania House Bill HR275

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/30/25
• Refer: 6/30/25
• Passed: 7/7/25

Caption

Recognizing the month of September 2025 as "International Underground Railroad Month" in Pennsylvania.

Summary

House Resolution 275 recognizes September 2025 as "International Underground Railroad Month" in Pennsylvania. The resolution is commemorative and educational in nature: it recounts the history of slavery in Pennsylvania, the Underground Railroad’s role in helping enslaved African Americans escape to freedom, and the work of abolitionist organizations and historic sites across the Commonwealth. It also highlights state and national efforts to document and interpret Underground Railroad history, including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Frederick Douglass Institutes, the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom, and UNESCO-related memory designations. The resolution does not create or amend statutory law, impose duties, or appropriate funds. Its practical effect is to formally designate September 2025 for public recognition and awareness activities related to Underground Railroad history and the struggle for freedom. It serves as a symbolic statement of remembrance and appreciation for abolitionists, freedom seekers, and institutions preserving this history in Pennsylvania.

Impact

HR 275 has no direct legal or regulatory impact on Pennsylvania statutes, agencies, or private parties. As a House resolution, it functions as a ceremonial designation and a statement of legislative recognition rather than binding law. Its main effect is to encourage observance, education, and public commemoration of Underground Railroad history during September 2025.

Sentiment

The available voting history indicates strong support for the resolution. It was reported from the House Tourism, Recreation and Economic Development Committee on a 26-0 vote and then passed the House floor overwhelmingly, 199-4. The lack of committee transcripts suggests little recorded debate, and the broad bipartisan margins indicate the measure was generally well received as a historical and educational commemoration.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the record, likely because the resolution is symbolic and nonbinding. Any disagreement would most likely relate to the appropriateness of commemorative resolutions generally rather than the substance of the Underground Railroad recognition itself. The near-unanimous committee vote and overwhelming floor passage suggest that, if objections existed, they were limited and did not center on the historical message of the resolution.