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HB 209PENNSYLVANIASession 2025-2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Pennsylvania House Bill 209 makes second class township ordinances effective immediately upon adoption

Original title: An Act amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.103, No.69), known as The Second Class Township Code, in ordinances, further providing for ordinances.

Last action · June 27, 2025: Act No. 3 of 2025, June 27, 2025Sponsors: Lisa Borowski and 10 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Does

House Bill 209 amends The to make township ordinances effective immediately upon adoption unless a later date is specified, removing the previous five-day waiting period. The legislation also permits townships to file ordinance copies electronically with designated county offices and requires readvertising when substantial amendments are made.

Why it matters

Second class townships can implement new local laws and regulations without waiting five days after adoption, and they gain the option to submit required ordinance filings electronically to county offices.

Background

House Bill 209 amends The Second Class Township Code, which governs townships of the second class in Pennsylvania originally enacted under the act of May 1, 1933. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Second class townships

Townships can enact ordinances that become effective immediately and may submit required filings electronically to the county.

Directly affected

County offices

Counties are permitted to establish electronic methods for receiving municipal ordinances and may store them electronically for public access.

Key Facts

Ordinances in second class townships take effect immediately upon adoption unless a later date is specified in the ordinance, replacing the previous five-day waiting period.
Townships may complete required county filings by submitting an electronic copy of the ordinance through a method available in the sole discretion of the county.
Counties may store township ordinances electronically, provided the public can access them during regular business hours or at a remote location.
If substantial amendments are made to a proposed ordinance, the board of supervisors must readvertise a brief summary in a newspaper of general circulation at least ten days before enactment.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does a newly adopted township ordinance become effective under this law?

Unless a later date is specified in the ordinance itself, it becomes effective immediately upon adoption.

Can townships submit required ordinance filings electronically to the county?

Yes, filing with the county may be completed by submitting an electronic copy through a method available in the sole discretion of the county.

What happens if substantial amendments are made to a proposed ordinance before enactment?

The board of supervisors must readvertise in a newspaper of general circulation at least ten days before enactment, providing a brief summary of all provisions and amendments.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

22 actions

Jun 27, 2025Governor of Pennsylvania
Act No. 3 of 2025, June 27, 2025
Jun 27, 2025Governor of PennsylvaniaEnrolled
Approved by the Governor, June 27, 2025
Jun 26, 2025Governor of PennsylvaniaEnrolled
Presented to the Governor, June 26, 2025
Jun 25, 2025Senate
Signed in Senate, June 25, 2025
Jun 25, 2025House
Signed in House, June 25, 2025
Jun 25, 2025SenateFloor
Third consideration and final passage, June 25, 2025 (49-1)

Show 16 earlier actions

Jun 25, 2025SenateCommittee
Re-reported as committed, June 25, 2025
Jun 23, 2025SenateCommittee
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, June 23, 2025
Jun 23, 2025SenateFloor
Second consideration, June 23, 2025
Jun 10, 2025SenateIntroduced
First consideration, June 10, 2025
Jun 10, 2025SenateCommittee
Reported as committed, June 10, 2025
Mar 26, 2025SenateCommittee
Referred to LOCAL GOVERNMENT, March 26, 2025
Mar 26, 2025Senate
In the Senate
Mar 26, 2025HouseFloor
Third consideration and final passage, March 26, 2025 (194-7)
Mar 26, 2025HouseCommittee
Re-reported as committed, March 26, 2025
Mar 25, 2025House
Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, March 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025HouseFloor
Second consideration, March 25, 2025
Mar 24, 2025House
Removed from table, March 24, 2025
Feb 5, 2025House
Laid on the table, Feb. 5, 2025
Feb 5, 2025HouseIntroduced
First consideration, Feb. 5, 2025
Feb 5, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported as committed, Feb. 5, 2025
Jan 17, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to LOCAL GOVERNMENT, Jan. 17, 2025

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Related Legislation

State Bill

Pennsylvania House Bill 234 caps township stormwater fees and requires credits for approved management systems

Pennsylvania townships of the second class are restricted from charging stormwater management fees that exceed federal or state pollution control requ

Connected Entities

The Second Class Township Code

otherThe Second Class Township Code“Act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.103, No.69) being amended by the bill.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.palegis.us

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance40
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy5
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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