October 19, 2026 · LOCAL GOVERNMENT · 1,223 words · 4 speakers · 69 segments
Good morning, everyone. Welcome you to this meeting of the House Local Government Committee. I'd like to call to order and ask Christina to call the roll.
Chairman Freeman.
Here.
Representative Sporowski.
By designation.
Donahue.
Designation.
Fleming.
Designation.
Haddock.
Designation.
Ambage.
She is online, I understand, but we'll be voting her by designation.
Kazim.
Designation.
Manson.
Here.
Monroe.
By designation.
Probst.
Designation.
Prokopiak.
Designation.
Salisbury.
Also by designation.
Sappy.
Designation.
Smith-Wadell.
Designation.
Chairman Miller.
Here.
Representatives Banta.
By designation.
Cooper.
Here.
Bink.
By designation.
Jones.
Here.
Kozak.
By designation.
Kuzma.
By designation.
Margatus.
Here.
Reichard.
By designation.
Rencavage.
By designation.
Weekneck.
Sure.
Wendling.
By designation. Okay, thank you. We can proceed with our meeting. We only have one bill to take under consideration, but before we start, I'd like to call on Chairman Miller to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please rise.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Thank you, Chairman Miller. Welcome. Okay, we'll proceed with our agenda. Today there is only one bill, Senate Bill 1150, which clarifies the Sunshine Act regarding the 24-hour rule of putting together an agenda for municipal meetings and other agency meetings. This is somewhat similar though a bit different from House Bill 2146 which we reported earlier in the session That was I think in many respects a little more pragmatic and flexible giving local governments some leeway in administrative matters and certain grant deadlines. This does not have those features, but like 2146, to be able to bring something up that is of a de minimis nature, there's three categories, they would still have to have a vote of the majority of the members on the body, the governing body, just as our legislation provided for. But with that being said, I would like to bring the bill up and put forward a motion to report the bill. But first, we will have an overview of the bill by Kyle Schaefer. And I should say, Kyle did get married over the weekend. So we wish him congratulations. Oh, I got ahead of myself. Is there a motion to congratulate him? Okay. Unamously carried.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senate Bill 1150 by Senator Stefano amends Title 65 public officers to clarify when an agency can take official action on a matter of agency business at a meeting if the matter was not noticed to the public. By a majority vote of the individuals present in voting during the conduct of a meeting, an agency may add a matter of emergency business, the minimus business arising within 24 hours before the meeting, and business arising during a meeting to the agenda. The reasons for changes to the agenda shall be announced at the meeting before a vote is conducted to make the changes to the agenda. If the vote passes, the agency may subsequently take action on the matter added to the agenda. Once a vote is taken, the agency may take that official action on the matter added to the agenda and shall post the amended agenda no later than the first business day following the meeting at which the agenda was changed. The agenda shall be posted to the agency website if available in the agency principal office location This bill is a result of the November 24 2025 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling where the court ruled that government agencies may add items to their meeting agenda with a simple majority vote without public notice. The bill takes effect in 60 days. The Senate passed the bill unanimously. The Pennsylvania News Media Association supports the legislation, and the local government coalition made up of the state municipal groups opposes this legislation.
Thank you, Kyle, for that overview. As I mentioned previously, it's similar to what we passed out of the committee under 2146, but there are a few differences, minor differences. But in both cases, they would still require a majority vote of the governing body to be able to go with one of the de minimis reasons for adding something to the agenda. So that's a good safeguard. And, of course, this was all triggered by the Supreme Court's ruling earlier in the year when they discovered the loophole that existed in the Sunshine Law. So this would close the loophole and provide the safeguards entailed in the legislation. Is there any discussion or comment regarding the bill?
Chairman Miller. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just add a few comments. Any bill that advances the goal of transparency is always good for the people. And I know, as you had mentioned, this is different than our Bill 2146 a bit, but it still advances the goal of transparency, and I would urge a yes vote. Thank you.
I appreciate that. And you're absolutely correct. This will advance the cause of transparency and more accountability. So I think it's something we can all get behind as a good government measure. Any other discussion? Shall we do a roll call, or do you want to? Okay, we can do a roll call. Christina, will you take the roll?
Chairman Freeman.
Yes.
representatives Borowski yes by designation Donahue by designation yes Fleming yes by designation Haddock yes by designation Ambage she is with us online but I would say yes by designation Kazim yes by designation Madsen yes Monroe Yes by designation Probst Yes by designation Prokopiak Yes by designation Salisbury Yes by designation SAPPI Yes by designation. Smith-Wadeau. Yes, by designation. Councilmember Miller. Yes. Representative Spanta. Yes, by designation. Cooper. Yes. Fink. Yes, by designation. Jones. Yes. Kozak. Yes, by designation. Kuzma. Yes, by designation. Margatus. Yes. Reichard. No, by designation. Ringkavage. Yes, by designation. Weakneck. Yes. Wendling. Yes, by designation. 25-1.
It passes, and I do want to note the presence of Representative Fleming who joined us and was voted in the affirmative. So it passes with one negative vote, but the majority of the committee voting for it. It will be reported to the House for consideration. And because of the timing, there's a really good chance that this can be taken up and passed in our chamber. If there's no amendment to it, it will go straight to the governor's desk and advance the issue. So are there any other comments or any order of business that we want to bring up? Okay. Just a message to the members, too. I think we've worked well as a committee this session, and I hope all the members will consider joining the committee again in the new session so that we can continue our work. And our great reputation is one of the best standing committees in the House. So keep that in mind.
May I have a comment?
Oh, sure.
Yes, and I will say, as I think I did at the very start, it means that this is the best committee in the entire General Assembly. Thank you.
Is there a motion to that?
There's a motion.
Carried unanimously, I believe. All right, so this concludes our meeting. I thank you all for coming in attendance, and this will probably be our last meeting before we get into the election. So thank you for coming.