Pennsylvania HB 2179: 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.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2833
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2179
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY SAPPEY, FREEMAN, SMITH-WADE-EL, JAMES AND
B. MILLER, JANUARY 30, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 30, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.103, No.69), entitled "An
act concerning townships of the second class; and amending,
revising, consolidating and changing the law relating
thereto," in ordinances, further providing for ordinances.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1601(a) of the act of May 1, 1933
(P.L.103, No.69), known as The Second Class Township Code, is
amended and the section is amended by adding subsections to
read:
Section 1601. Ordinances.--(a) The board of supervisors may
adopt ordinances in which general or specific powers of the
township may be exercised, and, by the enactment of subsequent
ordinances, the board of supervisors may amend, repeal or revise
existing ordinances. All proposed ordinances, whether original,
amended, repealed, revised, consolidated or codified, shall be
published not more than sixty days nor less than seven days
before passage at least once in one newspaper circulating
generally in the township. [Public notices shall include either
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the full text or a brief summary of the proposed ordinance which
lists the provisions in reasonable detail and a reference to a
place within the township where copies of the proposed ordinance
may be examined.] Publication of a proposed ordinance shall
include the following:
(1) The full text of the proposed ordinance or the title and
a brief summary of the proposed ordinance. A brief summary shall
include, as applicable, a description of any:
(i) adoption, amendment or repeal of any tax, fee, charge or
assessment;
(ii) adoption, amendment or repeal of a regulation that
provides for an offense or civil or criminal penalty; and
(iii) provision or covenant that:
(A) provides for the payment or disbursement of funds for
goods, services or contractual obligations;
(B) restricts funds for a specific purpose or obligation; or
(C) pledges funds for a specific purpose or obligation.
(2) A reference to a place within the township where a copy
of the proposed ordinance may be examined.
(3) A reference to the publicly accessible Internet website,
if any, where the full text of the proposed ordinance may be
examined.
* * *
(a.2) If a brief summary published under subsection (a) is
the subject of a legal challenge, the summary shall be legally
sufficient if the summary:
(1) contains the information required under subsection (a)
(1); and
(2) is made available for examination at the time of
publication in conformity with subsection (a)(2) and (3).
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(a.3) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), the requirements of
this section shall not supersede the publication or notification
requirements of a proposed ordinance under the act of July 31,
1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the "Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code."
* * *
Section 2. The publication requirements under this act shall
apply to the advertisement of an ordinance occurring after the
effective date of this section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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