Pennsylvania State Senate

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The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered every two years such that half of the seats are contested at each election.[2] Even numbered seats and odd numbered seats are contested in separate election years. The president pro tempore of the Senate becomes the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in the event of the sitting lieutenant governor's removal, resignation or death. In this case the president pro tempore and lieutenant governor would be the same person.[3] The Pennsylvania Senate has been meeting since 1791.

Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania General Assembly
Logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
Founded1790; 234 years ago (1790)
New session started
January 3, 2023
Leadership
Austin Davis (D)
since January 17, 2023
Kim Ward (R)
since November 30, 2022
Majority Leader
Joe Pittman (R)
since November 30, 2022
Minority Leader
Jay Costa (D)
since January 4, 2011
Structure
Seats50
Layout of Pennsylvania
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (28)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle II, Pennsylvania Constitution
Salary$102,844/year + per diem[1]
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(even-numbered districts)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(odd-numbered districts)
RedistrictingBipartisan Commission
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Pennsylvania State Capitol
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Website
Pennsylvania State Senate

The president of the Senate is the lieutenant governor, who has no vote except to break a tie vote.

Qualifications

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Senators must be at least 25 years of age. They must be a U.S. citizen and a Pennsylvania resident four years, and a resident of that district one year prior to their election and must reside in that district during their term.[4]

Senate leadership

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President of the Senate: Austin Davis (D)
President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Kim Ward (R)

Majority party (R) Leadership position Minority party (D)
Joe Pittman Floor Leader Jay Costa
Ryan Aument Whip Christine Tartaglione
Kristin Phillips-Hill Caucus Chairman Wayne D. Fontana
Camera Bartolotta Caucus Secretary Maria Collett
Scott Martin Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent Hughes
Dan Laughlin Policy Committee Chairman Katie Muth
Lisa Baker Caucus Administrator Judy Schwank

Composition

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Historical sessions

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Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Ind Democratic Vacant
1995–1996 session 29 0 21 50 0
1997–1998 session 30 20 50 0
1999–2000 session 30 20 50 0
2001–2002 session 30 20 50 0
2003–2004 session 29 21 50 0
2005–2006 session 30 20 50 0
2007–2008 session 29 21 50 0
2009–2010 session 30 20 50 0
2011–2012 session 30 20 50 0
2013–2014 session 27 23 50 0
2015–2016 session 30 20 50 0
2016–2017 session 31 19 50 0
2017–2018 session 34 16 50 0
2018–2019 session 28 22 50 0
2019–2020 session 29 1 21 50 0
2021–2022 session 28 1 21 50 0

Current session

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As of January 3, 2023:

22 28
Democratic Republican
Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Ind Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 28 1 21 50 0
January 3, 2023 27 0 22 49 1
February 28, 2023[5] 28 50 0
Latest voting share 56% 0% 44%

Membership

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The Senate is made up of 50 members who are elected by district. In 2012, a State Senate district had an average population of 254,047 residents.

List of current members

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District Senator Party Residence Counties represented First elected Term ends
1 Nikil Saval Dem Philadelphia Philadelphia 2020 2024
2 Christine Tartaglione Dem Philadelphia Philadelphia 1994 2026
3 Sharif Street Dem Philadelphia Philadelphia 2016 2024
4 Art Haywood Dem Philadelphia Montgomery, Philadelphia 2014 2026
5 Jimmy Dillon Dem Philadelphia Philadelphia 2022[note 1] 2024
6 Frank Farry Rep Langhorne Borough Bucks 2022 2026
7 Vincent Hughes Dem Philadelphia Montgomery, Philadelphia 1994 2024
8 Anthony Williams Dem/Fwd[note 2] Philadelphia Delaware, Philadelphia 1998 2026
9 John Kane Dem Birmingham Chester, Delaware 2020 2024
10 Steve Santarsiero Dem Lower Makefield Township Bucks 2018 2026
11 Judy Schwank Dem Fleetwood Berks 2011 2024
12 Maria Collett Dem Lower Gwynedd Township Montgomery 2018 2026
13 Scott Martin Rep West Lampeter Township Berks, Lancaster 2016 2024
14 Nick Miller Dem Allentown Lehigh, Northampton 2022 2026
15 John DiSanto Rep Susquehanna Township Dauphin 2016 2024
16 Jarrett Coleman Rep Upper Macungie Township Bucks, Lehigh 2022 2026
17 Amanda Cappelletti Dem East Norriton Township Delaware, Montgomery 2020 2024
18 Lisa Boscola Dem/Fwd[note 3] Bethlehem Township Lehigh, Northampton 1998 2026
19 Carolyn Comitta Dem West Chester Chester 2020 2024
20 Lisa Baker Rep Lehman Township Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming 2006 2026
21 Scott Hutchinson Rep Oil City Butler, Clarion, Forest, Venango, Warren 2012 2024
22 Marty Flynn Dem Scranton Lackawanna, Luzerne 2021[note 4] 2026
23 Eugene Yaw Rep Loyalsock Township Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union 2008 2024
24 Tracy Pennycuick Rep Harleysville Berks, Montgomery 2022 2026
25 Cris Dush Rep Pine Creek Township Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter 2020 2024
26 Tim Kearney Dem Swarthmore Delaware 2018 2026
27 Lynda Culver Rep Sunbury Columbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder 2023 2024
28 Kristin Phillips-Hill Rep York Township York 2018 2026
29 Dave Argall Rep Rush Township Carbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill 2009 2024
30 Judy Ward Rep Hollidaysburg Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin 2018 2026
31 Mike Regan Rep Carroll Township Cumberland, York 2016 2024
32 Pat Stefano Rep Bullskin Township Bedford, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland 2014 2026
33 Doug Mastriano Rep Greene Township Adams, Franklin 2019 2024
34 Greg Rothman Rep Silver Spring Township Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry County 2022 2026
35 Wayne Langerholc Rep Johnstown Cambria County, Centre, Clearfield 2016 2024
36 Ryan Aument Rep East Hempfield Township Lancaster 2014 2026
37 Devlin Robinson Rep Bridgeville Allegheny, Washington 2020 2024
38 Lindsey Williams Dem West View Allegheny 2018 2026
39 Kim Ward Rep Hempfield Township Westmoreland 2008 2024
40 Rosemary Brown Rep East Stroudsburg Lackawanna, Monroe, Wayne 2022 2026
41 Joe Pittman Rep Indiana Armstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Westmoreland 2019 2024
42 Wayne Fontana Dem Pittsburgh Allegheny 2005 2026
43 Jay Costa Dem Forest Hills Allegheny 1996 2024
44 Katie Muth Dem East Vincent Township Berks, Chester, Montgomery 2018 2026
45 Jim Brewster Dem McKeesport Allegheny 2010 2024
46 Camera Bartolotta Rep Monongahela Beaver, Greene, Washington 2014 2026
47 Elder Vogel Rep New Sewickley Township Beaver, Butler, Lawrence 2008 2024
48 Chris Gebhard Rep North Cornwall Township Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon 2021[note 5] 2026
49 Dan Laughlin Rep Millcreek Township Erie 2016 2024
50 Michele Brooks Rep Jamestown Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer 2014 2026
  1. ^ John Sabatina resigned on December 31, 2021. Dillon was elected in a special election on May 17, and seated on June 7.
  2. ^ Affiliated with the Forward Party.
  3. ^ Affiliated with the Forward Party.
  4. ^ John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.
  5. ^ Dave Arnold died January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.

Standing committees

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Committee Name Majority chair Minority chair
Aging & Youth Judy Ward Maria Collett
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Elder Vogel Judy Schwank
Appropriations Scott Martin Vincent Hughes
Banking & Insurance John DiSanto Sharif Street
Communications & Technology Tracy Pennycuick Jimmy Dillon
Community, Economic & Recreational Development Chris Gebhard Anthony H. Williams
Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Patrick J. Stefano Lisa Boscola
Education Dave Argall Lindsey Williams
Environmental Resources & Energy Eugene Yaw Carolyn Comitta
Finance Scott Hutchinson Nick Miller
Game & Fisheries Greg Rothman Jim Brewster
Health & Human Services Michele Brooks Arthur L. Haywood III
Intergovernmental Operations Jarrett Coleman Christine Tartaglione
Judiciary Lisa Baker Steve Santarsiero
Labor & Industry Devlin Robinson John I. Kane
Law & Justice Mike Regan Jim Brewster
Local Government Rosemary Brown Tim Kearney
Rules & Executive Nominations Joe Pittman Jay Costa
State Government Cris Dush Amanda Cappelletti
Transportation Wayne Langerholc Marty Flynn
Urban Affairs & Housing Frank Farry Nikil Saval
Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparednesss Doug Mastriano Katie Muth

Past composition of the Senate

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Pennsylvania Manual, pp. 3–7.
  2. ^ Article II, section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution.
  3. ^ Article IV, section 14, Pennsylvania Constitution.
  4. ^ "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania"."Article II. The Legislature"."§5. Qualifications of Members".
  5. ^ Jones, Matt (February 15, 2023). "Schlegel-Culver to be sworn in to Senate Feb. 28". The Standard-Journal. Retrieved February 24, 2023.

Sources

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40°15′52.9″N 76°53′1.9″W / 40.264694°N 76.883861°W / 40.264694; -76.883861