PennsylvaniaHB 11762025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in intestate succession, further providing for shares of others than surviving spouse; and, in . . .dispositions independent of letters, family exemption, probate of wills and grant of letters, further providing for payments to family and funeral directors.

Sponsored By: Joe Ciresi (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher direct account payments to families

Beginning 60 days after enactment, the law raises the limit for direct family payments from $10,000 to $20,000. A financial institution may pay a deceased person’s funds directly, without the usual estate process, when its total holdings do not exceed $20,000. Payment priority is spouse, then child, then parent, then sibling. Families must present a receipted funeral bill or a licensed funeral director’s affidavit confirming satisfactory funeral-payment arrangements. The institution is allowed, but not required, to make this payment.

Higher unclaimed property payments to heirs

Beginning 180 days after enactment, the law raises the successor-payment limit for unclaimed property from $11,000 to $20,000. The Pennsylvania State Treasurer may distribute property or pay funds to qualifying successors of a deceased Pennsylvania resident. The property must have been reported to Pennsylvania and be in the Treasurer’s custody as unclaimed or abandoned property. The higher limit does not guarantee payment.

Local charities inherit when relatives cannot

Beginning 60 days after enactment, local charitable funds become last-in-line heirs for assets passing without a will. A surviving spouse’s share is protected, and descendants, parents, siblings and their descendants, grandparents, and qualifying aunt-and-uncle relatives come first. When none of those relatives qualify, the remaining share goes to an eligible fund in the deceased person’s municipality, then school district, then county. If none exists in those places, Pennsylvania receives the money. The fund must be held by a community foundation, support charitable causes, and be intended to last forever. The foundation must have existed for at least 10 years, support varied charitable work, and have federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. It must seek endowment gifts from many donors, be publicly supported, and meet federal rules for treatment as one entity. It must also have an independent governing body not appointed by one outside entity and receive an annual independent financial audit.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joe Ciresi

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Abigail Salisbury

    Democratic • House

  • Arvind Venkat

    Democratic • House

  • Benjamin V. Sanchez

    Democratic • House

  • Carol Hill-Evans

    Democratic • House

  • Dan K. Williams

    Democratic • House

  • Darisha K. Parker

    Democratic • House

  • Dave Madsen

    Democratic • House

  • Ed Neilson

    Democratic • House

  • G. Roni Green

    Democratic • House

  • Heather Boyd

    Democratic • House

  • Jeff Olsommer

    Republican • House

  • Joe McAndrew

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Webster

    Democratic • House

  • Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz

    Democratic • House

  • Jose Giral

    Democratic • House

  • Kristine C. Howard

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Donahue

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa A. Borowski

    Democratic • House

  • Liz Hanbidge

    Democratic • House

  • Melissa Cerrato

    Democratic • House

  • Melissa L. Shusterman

    Democratic • House

  • Perry S. Warren

    Democratic • House

  • Robert Freeman

    Democratic • House

  • Steven R. Malagari

    Democratic • House

  • Tarik Khan

    Democratic • House

  • Torren Ecker

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Valerie S. Gaydos

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 779 • No: 2

committee vote • 11/18/2025

21 0

Yes: 21 • No: 0

Senate vote • 11/18/2025

House Bill 1176 PN2599, Final Passage

Yes: 49 • No: 0

committee vote • 10/28/2025

14 0

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote • 10/1/2025

House Bill 1176 PN2382, FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 203 • No: 0

committee vote • 9/30/2025

36 0

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 9/30/2025

House Bill 1176 PN1313 A01781, MOTION TO SUSPEND RULES

Yes: 202 • No: 1

House vote • 9/30/2025

House Bill 1176 PN1313 A01781

Yes: 202 • No: 1

committee vote • 7/9/2025

26 0

Yes: 26 • No: 0

committee vote • 6/30/2025

26 0

Yes: 26 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 50 of 2025

    11/24/2025Governor
  2. Approved by the Governor

    11/24/2025Governor
  3. Presented to the Governor

    11/19/2025House
  4. Signed in Senate

    11/19/2025House
  5. Signed in House

    11/19/2025House
  6. House concurred in Senate amendments

    11/19/2025House
  7. Re-reported on concurrence, as committed

    11/19/2025House
  8. Referred to Rules

    11/19/2025House
  9. Third consideration and final passage (49-0)

    11/18/2025Senate
  10. Re-reported as committed

    11/18/2025Senate
  11. Re-referred to Appropriations

    11/17/2025Senate
  12. Amended on third consideration

    11/17/2025Senate
  13. Second consideration

    10/29/2025Senate
  14. First consideration

    10/28/2025Senate
  15. Reported as committed

    10/28/2025Senate
  16. Referred to Judiciary

    10/3/2025Senate
  17. Third consideration and final passage (203-0)

    10/1/2025House
  18. Re-reported as committed

    10/1/2025House
  19. Re-committed to Appropriations

    9/30/2025House
  20. Second consideration, with amendments

    9/30/2025House
  21. Removed from table

    9/10/2025House
  22. Laid on the table

    9/10/2025House
  23. Re-reported as committed

    9/10/2025House
  24. Re-committed to Rules

    7/14/2025House
  25. First consideration

    7/14/2025House

Bill Text

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