PennsylvaniaHB 3312025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in budget and finance, further providing for expenses; in facilities and supplies, further provid . . .ing for deposits into account; and, in access to justice, providing for performance audit of account.

Sponsored By: Tim Briggs (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

State pays higher judge registration fees

The Court Administrator’s annual payment to the Special Court Judges of Pennsylvania Association rises from $200 to $400 per covered position. Covered positions include magisterial district judges, Philadelphia Municipal Court judges, and Philadelphia Traffic Court judges authorized as of January 31. Payment is due on the first day of each fiscal year, including July 1. Expenses covered by this rule come from the annual budget for magisterial district judges’ education, except journal publishing costs. The Court Administrator directly pays to publish the monthly journal of law and state Supreme Court rule updates. These are state expenses, not household fees. The law takes effect immediately, with these changes applying retroactively to July 1, 2025.

Court revenue shifts to civil legal aid

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, certain magisterial district court costs go to a restricted civil legal aid account. Only money otherwise payable to the Commonwealth is redirected; county payments and the amounts charged to households do not change. This funding change applies retroactively to July 1, 2025. The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee must audit the civil legal aid account and report to lawmakers by June 15, 2026. The audit must review services supported by this account and other funding, recipient organizations, and the services they provide. It must count cases where required fees or surcharges were not assessed and measure collection rates for assessed charges. It must also examine potential deposit increases from repealing the surcharge and identify other funding sources. The committee must consult the Supreme Court’s Court Administrator, Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts Board, and eligible funded legal-service providers.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tim Briggs

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Ben Waxman

    Democratic • House

  • Benjamin V. Sanchez

    Democratic • House

  • Carol Hill-Evans

    Democratic • House

  • Chris Pielli

    Democratic • House

  • Christopher M. Rabb

    Democratic • House

  • Danielle Friel Otten

    Democratic • House

  • Ed Neilson

    Democratic • House

  • G. Roni Green

    Democratic • House

  • Jared G. Solomon

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Ciresi

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Webster

    Democratic • House

  • Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz

    Democratic • House

  • Jose Giral

    Democratic • House

  • Justin C. Fleming

    Democratic • House

  • Keith S. Harris

    Democratic • House

  • Kristine C. Howard

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Donahue

    Democratic • House

  • Liz Hanbidge

    Democratic • House

  • Melissa Cerrato

    Democratic • House

  • Michael H. Schlossberg

    Democratic • House

  • Perry S. Warren

    Democratic • House

  • Rick Krajewski

    Democratic • House

  • Robert Freeman

    Democratic • House

  • Russ Diamond

    Republican • House

  • Sean Dougherty

    Democratic • House

  • Tarik Khan

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 521 • No: 75

committee vote • 2/4/2026

21 0

Yes: 21 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/4/2026

House Bill 331 PN2859, Final Passage

Yes: 46 • No: 2

committee vote • 2/3/2026

17 0

Yes: 17 • No: 0

committee vote • 2/3/2026

17 0

Yes: 17 • No: 0

committee vote • 2/2/2026

9 5

Yes: 9 • No: 5

committee vote • 2/2/2026

12 2

Yes: 12 • No: 2

House vote • 1/28/2026

House Bill 331 PN2718, FINAL PASSAGE

Yes: 147 • No: 52

committee vote • 1/28/2026

35 2

Yes: 35 • No: 2

House vote • 12/17/2025

House Bill 331 PN0286 A02252

Yes: 203 • No: 0

committee vote • 6/2/2025

14 12

Yes: 14 • No: 12

Actions Timeline

  1. Act No. 1 of 2026

    2/4/2026Governor
  2. Approved by the Governor

    2/4/2026Governor
  3. Presented to the Governor

    2/4/2026House
  4. Signed in Senate

    2/4/2026House
  5. Signed in House

    2/4/2026House
  6. House concurred in Senate amendments (187-11)

    2/4/2026House
  7. Re-reported on concurrence, as committed

    2/4/2026House
  8. Referred to Rules

    2/4/2026House
  9. Third consideration and final passage (46-2)

    2/4/2026Senate
  10. Re-reported as committed

    2/4/2026Senate
  11. Re-referred to Appropriations

    2/4/2026Senate
  12. Re-reported as amended

    2/3/2026Senate
  13. Re-referred to Rules & Executive Nominations

    2/3/2026Senate
  14. Second consideration

    2/3/2026Senate
  15. First consideration

    2/2/2026Senate
  16. Reported as amended

    2/2/2026Senate
  17. Referred to Judiciary

    1/30/2026Senate
  18. Third consideration and final passage (147-52)

    1/28/2026House
  19. Re-reported as committed

    1/28/2026House
  20. Re-committed to Appropriations

    12/17/2025House
  21. Second consideration, with amendments

    12/17/2025House
  22. Removed from table

    12/16/2025House
  23. Laid on the table

    6/2/2025House
  24. First consideration

    6/2/2025House
  25. Reported as committed

    6/2/2025House

Bill Text

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