January
Mark Belko, Tax Increases not a Substitute for a Countywide Property Reassessment, Pittsburgh School District Argues, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Jan. 9, 2025), Mark Belko writes that the Pittsburgh School District is arguing that the current Allegheny County property assessment system violates constitutional principles, particularly under the state’s Uniformity and Equal Protection clauses. The school district contends that chronic understaffing, budget deficits, and reliance on tax increases are unsustainable solutions to the inequitable tax system, asserting that a countywide reassessment is the only constitutionally adequate remedy. The school district has filed a lawsuit seeking to compel reassessment.
Eugene Gibilaro, State Tax Policy – The Fine Line Between Delegation and Abdication, JD Supra (Blog) (Jan. 24, 2025), Eugene Gibilaro writes that the Pennsylvania General Assembly is permitted to delegate authority to administrative agencies, such as the Department of Revenue, but must establish clear policy choices and provide sufficient standards to guide and limit that authority. The Commonwealth Court recently applied the nondelegation doctrine in East Coast Vapor LLC v. Department of Revenue, where it struck down portions of the Tobacco Products Tax Act because the Act unconstitutionally delegated legislative authority by failing to specify what information the Department could require from manufacturers seeking licenses. Gibilaro writes that the court’s decision reinforced the principle that while the legislature may delegate authority, it cannot abdicate its responsibility to set meaningful standards.
February
Michael Hensley, PA Supreme Court to Hear GOA’s, GOF’s Challenge to Philadelphia’s Unconstitutional Private Firearm Manufacturing Ban, States News Service (Feb. 19, 2025), Michael Hensley writes that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has decided to hear a challenge by Gun Owners of America (GOA) and Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) against Philadelphia’s ban on private firearm manufacturing. GOA argues that the ordinance, which prohibits individuals from making firearms using methods like 3D printing, violates Pennsylvania’s preemption statute – the Uniform Firearms Act – which grants the state legislature exclusive authority to regulate firearms. Additionally, GOA and GOF claim that the ban infringes on Article I, Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which protects the right to bear arms. Hensley writes that the lawsuit seeks to overturn the Commonwealth Court’s ruling that upheld the ordinance, emphasizing concerns over local overreach and the broader implications for gun rights in Pennsylvania.
April
Peter Hall, Federal Judge Rules Pa. Ballot Dating Rule Violates Constitutional Right to Political Expression, Pennsylvania Capital-Star (April 1, 2025), Hall writes that United States District Judge Susan Baxter has ruled that Pennsylvania’s requirement for voters to write the date on mail-in ballots infringes on the constitutional right to free expression under the First Amendment. Judge Baxter found that the slight burden on voting rights cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny because there is no evidence the date requirement serves any state interest. Hall writes that Judge Baxter’s ruling joins a web of state court decisions that have so far failed to resolve whether the rule violates the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Eric Scicchitano, Bill Seeking to Limit ‘Acting’ Cabinet Heads Clears Pa. Senate in Split Vote, The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, PA) (April 2, 2025), Scicchitano writes that the Pennsylvania Senate is split along party lines in approving a proposed bill that would restrict how long cabinet officials could lead state agencies in an “acting” role and without formal confirmation. The Pennsylvania Constitution requires that the state Senate confirm department secretaries by at least a two-thirds vote to its fifty members.
May
Peter Hall, Hunting Club asks Pa. Supreme Court to Ban Warrantless Searches by Game Officials, Pennsylvania Capital-Star (April 25, 2025), Peter Hall writes that in 1924, US Supreme Court held that Fourth Amendment protections apply only to “persons, houses, papers, and effects,” and does not apply to open lands not immediately surrounding a home. Seven states have rejected this “Open Fields Doctrine”; Pennsylvania has been challenged to join them. Arguments before the PA Supreme Court revolve around the inclusion of the word “possessions” in Article I, Section 8 of the PA Constitution. Proponents of the doctrine argue the court should uphold a 2007 decision adopting the doctrine while critics argue there exists a reasonable expectation of privacy on private lands and that the inclusion of “possessions” in Article I, Section 8 includes private land.
Sarah Boden, These Primary Judicial Races Could Affect Caregiving Statewide. Four Court Cases Show How, Meadville Tribune (May 20, 2025), Sarah Boden of Spotlight PA details four Pennsylvania court cases to inform voters of issues surrounding caregiving across the commonwealth. Specificality, through cases that address issues of the right to education, school funding, rights of non-biological parents, and cruel punishments in juvenile sentencing, Boden highlights contemporary legal challenges brought before Pennsylvania courts on the issue of caregiving.
Bruce Ledewitz, Fairness and Financial Stability Require a Property Reassessment, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (May 19, 2025), Bruce Ledewitz, in an opinion piece in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, calls for a property tax reassessment for the City of Pittsburgh and for Allegheny County. He explains that due to large downtown property owners successfully appealing property assessments when the value of their buildings decreases, property taxes collected by the city have dramatically fallen. If the city reassesses all property values, it may begin to balance the massive tax losses the city is experiencing. The Pennsylvania Constitution requires all taxes apply equally to all, but each property owner should pay a tax aligned with the value of their property.
June
Jo Ciavaglia, ‘Nobody is Above the Law’ ACLU Sues Bucks County, Sheriff Over ICE Agreement, Intelligencer (June 10, 2025), Jo Cuavaglia writing for Intelligencer reports on the ACLU’s efforts to seek an injunction to invalidate an agreement between ICE and Bucks County. The ACLU maintains that the agreement extends beyond the authority granted to the sheriff under Pennsylvania law and that it violates the Pennsylvania Constitution. The agreement seeks to train a dozen of the county’s deputy sheriffs to act as ICE officers while performing their duties.
Eric Scicchitanto, Bill to Open Civil Courts to Long-Ago Abuse Claims Advance out of the Pa. House, New Castle News (June 10, 2025), Eric Scicchitanto writing for New Castle News reports that two proposals seeking to allow survivors of sexual abuse cases now barred by the statute of limitations to seek a remedy in civil courts. The first bill seeks this end by means of a traditional statute, while the second seeks a constitutional amendment. Both would provide a window for victims to seek a remedy. The earliest the proposal could reach a ballot is spring of 2027.
Alex Rose, Order Sends Redistricting Issue Back to Upper Prov With New Directive, Daily Times, (June 4, 2025), Alex Rose writing for the Daily Times reports that Upper Providence Township must submit a new voting map based on population, following a court order enforcing the Pennsylvania Constitution and Municipal Reapportionment Act. A legal battle began in 2023 when residents challenged a 2022 map drawn using population instead of “electors,” as required by the township’s Home Rule Charter. After rejecting a revised map based on disputed CVAP data, a judge ordered the township to redraw districts using official population data. Officials plan to revise the original map, but it won’t take effect until at least 2026.
A Win for Hunters and Farmers: House, Senate Approve Rothman Bill, States News Service (June 26, 2025), The States News Service reports of the Senate passing Senate Bill 518, which removes arguably unconsitutional provisions from Title 34 of the Game Code. The bill seeks to remove sections that require individuals to answer questions from Game Commission representatives, which proponents claim violates Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution. The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk for final approval.
Eric Scicchitano, Property Tax Breaks Grow for Veterans Under Pa. House Proposal, Meadville Tribune (June 18, 2025), Eric Scicchitano of the Meadville Tribune reports that lawmakers advanced a bill within the House that would expand existing property tax breaks for military veterans. The proposal would extend eligibility for the Pennsylvania Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption Program from those with 100% disability to those with at least 50% disability. The proposal would require a constitutional amendment.
July
Jeff Horvath, Gaughan, County Object to AI Used in McGloin Vacancy Ruling, The Times-Tribune (June 27, 2025), Jeff Horvath writing for the Scranton Times-Tribune reports of a case arising from Lackawanna County where two judges relied on and cited Google’s generative AI chatbot, Gemini in a legal opinion. The judges used Gemini to highlight the virtues of home rule governance when ruling that the county’s Home Rule Charter—allowing the local Democratic Committee to fill a vacant county commissioner seat—supersedes a PA Supreme Court rule that would give that authority to the court. The decision is being appealed, and the appellants are requesting that the Supreme Court intervene.
Steve Bohnel, Mon Valley Sues Governor, State AG: Plaintiff: Current System Violates PA. Constitution, Pittsburgh-Post Gazette (July 17, 2025),Steve Bohnel writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee is suing Gov. [first name] Shapiro and AG [first name] Sunday, challenging Pennsylvania’s “base year” property assessment system as unconstitutional. The suit argues frozen assessments disproportionately overtax low-value properties, under-tax high-value properties, and violate the Uniformity Clause. Plaintiffs seek an injunction requiring statewide reassessments.
Ed Mahon, Why a Powerful Pa. Board is Shielded From the State’s Public Records Law, Cumberlink.com (July 7, 2025), Ed Mahon writing for Spotlight PA reports that the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust, which oversees $2 billion in opioid settlement funds, is shielded from the state’s Right-to-Know Law after rulings by the Office of Open Records and Commonwealth Court. Critics, including media advocates, former officials, and families of overdose victims, argue this secrecy undermines accountability over life-saving resources. Officials defend the exemption as cost-saving and legally necessary.
Lany Davis, Why Democrats Should Want Independents Voting in Their Primaries, newsmax.com (July 31, 2025), Lany Davis of newsmax.com calls for open primaries in Pennsylvania. He highlights a legal argument: taxpayer-funded primaries must be “free and equal” to comply with constitutional requirements, and excluding independent violates that principle. Davis explains that Independents now make up 43% of the electorate, and Democrats who have seen their party shrink should utilize independents to bolster their election chances.
August
Ian Karbal, Philadelphia-Area House Members to Introduce Bills to Improve Security for Pa. Lawmakers, Pennsylvania Capital-Star (August 20, 2025), Ian Karbal of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that, after a string of high-profile incidents of political violence, a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to announce a series of bills aimed at protecting lawmakers. Two of the four measures address the immediate safety of lawmakers while the others relate to limiting public exposure and what happens to a legislator’s office when they die in office. Three of the bills would advance as normal legislation, while the one regulating succession would require a constitutional amendment. This fourth bill would allow lawmakers to name three successors each in the event of their death, one of whom could be chosen by the House speaker to serve temporarily until a special election is held.
September
Jordi Reese & Doug Webster, The State Legislature’s Three Big, Disabling, Chosen Dysfunctions, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Sept. 2, 2025), Reese and Webster highlight what they believe to be the biggest dysfunctions of the budget-passing process: Gut and Replace Amendments and the speed of the final vote. These factors make a complete understanding of the budget almost impossible, and the Senators and Representatives do not know what they are voting for. The authors urge for transparency and write “without transparency, dysfunction.”
Kate Huangpu, Pa. Won’t Take Part in the National Rush to Redraw Congressional Maps, The Tribune-Review (Sept. 2, 2025), Huangpu reports that Pennsylvania officials have no interest in joining a growing number of states redrawing congressional lines. While there are no constitutional barriers to redistricting, the state would face significant political obstacles. With a divided government, bipartisan agreement is unlikely, making any effort to redraw districts realistically impossible.