Pennsylvania Vote Reports
2025 PA Legislative Scorecard
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2025 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
For detailed bill descriptions and thorough explanations of their constitutional merits or violations, scan the QR code above or visit thefreedomindex.org/pa/.
Senate Votes
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The Day of the Bible
Designates September 12, 2025, as "The Day of the Bible" in Pennsylvania.
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Regulatory Review and Accountability
Requires all state regulations costing over $1 million annually to be formally reviewed after three years.
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Forced Student Loan Application
Would require all high-school seniors in Pennsylvania to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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Fairness in Women's Sports Act
Requires Pennsylvania school and college sports teams to be designated by biological sex at birth, barring males from female teams and protecting schools that enforce sex-based divisions.
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Noncitizens in Agriculture and Licensure
Updates poultry technician licensing by expanding eligibility to all legal U.S. residents, raising fees, granting the state agriculture secretary broader power, and strengthening enforcement.
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CO2 Trading Program Repeal
Ends Pennsylvania's participation in RGGI by repealing CO₂ trading regulations and requiring legislative approval for any future emissions-related programs or taxes.
House Votes
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LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Recognizes the month of June 2025 as "LGBTQ+ Pride Month" in Pennsylvania.
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Contraceptive Access for All Act
Mandates that all Pennsylvania health-insurance plans cover every FDA-approved contraceptive at no cost, with state oversight, limited exemptions, and penalties for noncompliance.
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Food Bucks Program
Creates a program giving SNAP recipients $0.40 in bonus "Food Bucks" per $1 spent on fruits and vegetables, administered by a nonprofit with most funds directed to incentives.
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Equal Pay
Broadens pay-equity rules by adding race and ethnicity, banning pay secrecy and salary-history use, requiring pay-range disclosure, and imposing stricter enforcement.
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Blighted Areas and Property Rights
Allows counties to combat blight by adopting standardized property codes, and creates grant and mitigation funds to support local revitalization.
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Noncitizens in Agriculture and Licensure
Updates poultry technician licensing by expanding eligibility to all legal U.S. residents, raising fees, granting the state agriculture secretary broader power, and strengthening enforcement.
2024 PA Legislative Scorecard
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2024 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
Senate Votes
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No Wages by Cash or Check
Would permit employers to eliminate wages by cash or check.
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Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act
Authorizes carbon sequestration projects to reduce "greenhouse gas emissions" and empowers the state Department of Environmental Protection to designate "environmental justice" areas based on "demographic, economic, health and environmental data."
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Federal Drug Pricing
Requires pharmacy benefit managers to comply with the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.
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Funding State-Aided Universities
Provides funding for several state-related universities (Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and Lincoln) and a private Ivy League university (Penn).
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Parental Consent for Mental Health Services
Would require parental consent to virtual mental health services provided by or in coordination with a school entity.
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States' Powers to Combat Illegal Migration
Urges the Governor to offer the services of the Pennsylvania National Guard to the State of Texas in support of Operation Lone Star.
House Votes
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"Open Primary" Elections
Would let registered voters with no political party affiliation vote in primary elections.
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Funding State-Aided Universities
Provides funding for several state-related universities (Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and Lincoln) and a private Ivy League university (Penn).
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Carbon Capture and Sequestration Act
Authorizes carbon sequestration projects to reduce "greenhouse gas emissions" and empowers the state Department of Environmental Protection to designate "environmental justice" areas based on "demographic, economic, health and environmental data."
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Driver's Licenses for Illegal Aliens
Would allow a person who is 16 or 17 years of age and meets the definition of "homeless children and youths" under federal law to use a temporary address, along with the signature of a "teacher," "social worker," or "caseworker," when applying for a driver's license or identification card.
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"Morning-After" Pill Mandate
Would require health benefit plans to cover all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs and adult male or adult female sterilization surgery.
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Ban on "Ghost Guns"
Would amend the Uniform Firearms Act to prohibit the purchase, sale, and production of firearm or firearm parts without serial numbers.
2023 PA Legislative Scorecard
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2023 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
This is our second state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.
Senate Votes
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WIC Advisory Board
Establishes a Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board to advise the Department of Health on the Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
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Parental Control
Requires school entities' governing bodies to develop a parental control policy for instructional materials and books containing sexually explicit content.
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Constitution Display
Requires the governing board of a school entity to display the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States at the entrance of each school building.
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Forced Student Loans
Introduces a new section in the Public School Code, requiring all students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before completing high school.
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Dog Licenses
Makes changes to the Dog Law, notably to dog and kennel licensing, advertising the sale of dogs, strengthen penalties for Dog Law violations, and improve customer service, public safety, and animal welfare.
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Government Loans
Establishes the Veteran-owned Business Loan Guarantee Program.
House Votes
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Solar for Schools Grant
Establishes the Solar for Schools Grant Program within the Department of Community and Economic Development.
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Minimum Wage
Proposes a new minimum wage schedule.
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WIC Advisory Board
Establishes a Women, Infants, and Children State Advisory Board to advise the Department of Health on the Pennsylvania Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
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Government Grants
Aims to aid municipalities in revitalizing downtown commercial areas by supporting eligible applicants.
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Gun Background Checks
Removes the exemption for certain private gun sales from background check requirements.
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Workers' Rights
Amends the Pennsylvania Constitution to protect the right to organize and collectively bargain for wages, hours, working conditions, economic welfare and safety at work.
2022 PA Legislative Scorecard 2021-
The following scorecard lists several key votes in the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 2021 and 2022 and ranks state representatives and senators based on their fidelity to (U.S.) constitutional and limited-government principles.
This is our first state-level Scorecard; the selected votes may not be reflective of legislators' overall records. Their cumulative scores will change as we add more votes. Please check regularly for updates.
Senate Votes
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Abortion & Voting
Includes two constitutional amendments. It states that abortion is not a right and bans all abortions funded by the taxpayers. It also requires that voter ID is needed to vote.
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Election Integrity
Prohibits the use of non-public or outside money for the administration and execution of an election, making sure funding only comes from the taxpayers. This bans "Zuckerbucks" from elections in the state.
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Transgender Sports
Provides for sport activities in public school be expressly designated male, female or coed.
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Poll Watchers
Allows all registered voters of Pennsylvania to be eligible to be a poll watcher in any precinct in the state of Pennsylvania.
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Constitutional Carry
Eliminates the requirement of a license to carry a firearm in the state.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Status
Prohibits government entities and state funded colleges from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
House Votes
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Abortion & Voting
This bill includes two constitutional amendments. It states that abortion is not a right and bans all abortions funded by the taxpayers. It also requires that voter ID is needed to vote.
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Election Integrity
Prohibits the use of non-public or outside money for the administration and execution of an election, making sure funding only comes from the taxpayers.
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Poll Watchers
Allow all registered voters of Pennsylvania to be eligible to be a poll watcher in any precinct in the state of Pennsylvania.
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Transgender Sports
Provides for sport activities in public school be expressly designated male, female, or coed.
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Constitutional Carry
Eliminates the requirement of a license to carry a firearm.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Status
Prohibits government entities and state funded colleges from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination.