HB 2361 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alteration of territory or corporate entity and dissolution, further providing for definitions, for procedure for consolidation or merger, for joint agreement of governing bodies, for initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger with new home rule charter and for conduct of referenda, repealing provisions relating to consolidation or merger agreement, providing for advisory committee, consolidation or merger agreement and mediation, further providing for effectuation of consolidation or merger, for procedures and for court review of transitional plan and providing for extension of deadlines and for grant qualification.

This bill updates Pennsylvania laws to clarify and streamline the process for neighboring municipalities to merge or consolidate into a single entity. It establishes specific definitions for agreements between city councils and allows residents to propose mergers through a petition process if the councils do not agree. Key provisions include creating a required transitional planning committee with representatives from each involved city to manage the merger, standardizing how local laws are enforced, and setting clear deadlines and procedures for court review. The legislation also repeals older, conflicting rules regarding merger agreements and ensures that any new combined city can qualify for state grants.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
House Passage
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 7, 2026 Last action Jun 5, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN3140 Printer's No. PN3316 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to replace the old draft with a new version that includes significant procedural updates regarding municipal consolidations. The most critical change is the shift in authority for appointing a specific committee member from the Secretary of Community and Economic Development to the Court of Common Pleas, ensuring the appointee is a resident of the affected municipality. Additionally, the bill clarifies that if a governing body rejects a consolidation agreement, they must specify exactly which provisions are objectionable and why, streamlining the legal review process.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on municipal consolidations and mergers in Pennsylvania, but the procedural requirements for forming advisory committees and reviewing agreements have been tightened to ensure local representation and clearer legal standards.
REQUIREMENT

Changed the appointment authority for an additional advisory committee member from the Secretary of Community and Economic Development to the Court of Common Pleas, with a requirement that the appointee must be a resident of an affected municipality.

Updated the process for rejecting a consolidation agreement to require the governing body to explicitly list objectionable provisions and explain how they fail to provide an orderly transition.

DEFINITION

Replaced references to 'joint agreement' with 'consolidation or merger agreement' in the context of recording documents to ensure consistency with the new mediation procedures.

Floor votes · House Jun 3, 2026

How they voted

2010
Passed
Total votes 201
Jun 3, 2026
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican99
99 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Jun 5, 2026
Committee
Referred to Local Government
upper
Jun 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Jun 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 2, 2026
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Apr 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Apr 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Local Government
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors