Pennsylvania HB 2361: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in alteration of territory or corporate entity and dissolution, further providing for definitions, for procedure for consolidation or merger, for joint agreement of governing bodies, for initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger with new home rule charter and for conduct of referenda, repealing provisions relating to consolidation or merger agreement, providing for advisory committee, consolidation or merger agreement and mediation, further providing for effectuation of consolidation or merger, for procedures and for court review of transitional plan and providing for extension of deadlines and for grant qualification.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3140 PRINTER'S NO. 3316
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2361
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY FREEMAN, SAPPEY, SMITH-WADE-EL, JAMES AND
B. MILLER, APRIL 6, 2026
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 29, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in alteration of territory or
corporate entity and dissolution, further providing for
definitions, for procedure for consolidation or merger, for
joint agreement of governing bodies, for initiative of
electors seeking consolidation or merger with new home rule
charter and for conduct of referenda, repealing provisions
relating to consolidation or merger agreement, providing for
advisory committee, consolidation or merger agreement and
mediation, further providing for effectuation of
consolidation or merger, for procedures and for court review
of transitional plan and providing for extension of deadlines
and for grant qualification.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 732 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
§ 732. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Consolidation or merger agreement." An agreement entered
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into under section 737.1 (relating to advisory committee,
consolidation or merger agreement and mediation) by the
governing bodies of municipalities to be consolidated or merged
if the consolidation or merger is initiated by petition of
electors under section 735 (relating to initiative of electors
seeking consolidation or merger without new home rule charter).
* * *
"Joint agreement." An agreement entered into under section
734 (relating to joint agreement of governing bodies) by the
governing bodies of municipalities proposed to be consolidated
or merged if the consolidation or merger is initiated by the
governing bodies.
* * *
Section 2. Section 733(a)(3) and (b) of Title 53 are amended
to read:
§ 733. Procedure for consolidation or merger.
(a) General rule.--Two or more municipalities may be
consolidated or merged into a single municipality, whether
within the same or different counties, if each of the
municipalities is contiguous to at least one of the other
consolidating or merging municipalities and if together the
municipalities would form a consolidated or merged municipality.
Consolidation or merger may be commenced by one of the
following:
* * *
[(3) One or more of the municipalities using a joint
agreement followed by approval by the electorate of the joint
agreement and one or more of the municipalities using
initiative of electors.
(b) Combination of joint agreement and initiative.--When
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consolidation or merger is commenced by a combination of joint
agreements and initiatives, the initiative petition and
municipal joint agreement shall be materially consistent.]
* * *
Section 3. Section 734(a), (b)(10) and (c) of Title 53 are
amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
read:
§ 734. Joint agreement of governing bodies.
(a) [General rule] Form.--The governing body of each
municipality proposed to be consolidated or merged shall enter
into a joint agreement [under the official seal of each
municipality] by ordinance to consolidate or merge into one
municipality.
(b) Elements.--The joint agreement shall include, but not be
limited to:
* * *
(10) The common administration and enforcement of
ordinances enforced uniformly within the consolidated or
merged municipality and the interim processing of land use
applications and approvals.
(c) Transitional planning committee.--In preparing and
adopting a joint agreement, the governing bodies of the
municipalities may appoint a transitional planning committee
[composed of residents of the respective municipalities,
including not more than one of whom may be a member of the
governing body of each municipality,] to study and make
recommendations to the governing bodies regarding transitional
plans and schedules, common administration and uniform
enforcement of ordinances, consolidation and merger of
departments and staff and other matters of concern to the
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governing bodies. [The transitional planning committee, if
created, shall continue for a maximum of six months after the
effective date of the consolidation or merger to advise the new
governing body of the consolidated or merged municipality on
merging budgets, staffing and operations.] No later than 60 days
after certification of a favorable vote on consolidation or
m