Pennsylvania Establishes State Poet Laureate and Nomination Committee

Original title: An Act establishing the Pennsylvania Poet Laureate and the Pennsylvania Poet Laureate Nomination Committee; and providing for their powers and duties.

Last action · April 8, 2025: Laid on the table, April 8, 2025Sponsors: Bob Freeman and 20 others

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Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Proposed

Pennsylvania establishes the official positions of Pennsylvania and a five-member Nomination Committee to select candidates, effective in 60 days.

Why it matters

Creates a new state-recognized literary office and advisory panel whose members and appointee serve without salary but receive reimbursement for travel and expenses.

Who It Would Have Affected

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

Directly affected

Pennsylvania Poet Laureate

Serves a two-year term, performs official poetry readings at state events, and receives expense reimbursements without receiving a salary.

Directly affected

Pennsylvania Poet Laureate Nomination Committee members

Evaluates qualifications, solicits nominations, selects up to three candidates for the Governor, and receives expense reimbursements.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who selects the Pennsylvania Poet Laureate?

The Governor appoints the from a list of up to three nominees provided by the Pennsylvania Poet Laureate Nomination Committee.

Do the poet laureate and committee members receive a salary?

No, both the and committee members serve without compensation, though they are reimbursed for necessary travel and other official expenses.

What are the specific duties of the Poet Laureate?

The must give an official reading of a poem at the Governor's inauguration, at the biannual opening of the legislative session upon request of leadership, and at official commemorations upon request of the Governor.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Tabled in the House.

Procedural history

4 actions

Apr 8, 2025House
Laid on the table, April 8, 2025
Apr 8, 2025HouseIntroduced
First consideration, April 8, 2025
Apr 8, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported as committed, April 8, 2025
Mar 25, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to STATE GOVERNMENT, March 25, 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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