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HB 631

A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for an economic bill of rights.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and 9 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania joint resolution proposing constitutional amendment establishing economic bill of rights, requiring voter approval and potentially creating enforceable protections around unspecified economic security guarantees.

Referred to Commerce
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 631

Legislative bill overview

HB 631 is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to add an "economic bill of rights" to Pennsylvania's state constitution. The amendment would establish new constitutional protections related to economic security and opportunity, though the specific rights enumerated are not detailed in the bill summary provided.

Why is this important

Constitutional amendments represent fundamental changes to state governing documents and are extraordinarily difficult to pass, requiring approval by voters in a general election. If successful, this would create enforceable constitutional protections around economic issues, potentially opening new avenues for litigation and limiting legislative flexibility on economic policy matters.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition and scope: The bill lacks detail on which specific economic rights would be protected (employment, housing, food security, healthcare, living wage, etc.), making it difficult to assess full implications before passage
  • Implementation costs: New constitutional economic rights could mandate state spending obligations or restrict revenue-raising measures, with unclear fiscal impacts on the state budget
  • Judicial interpretation: Constitutional economic rights would likely require courts to define terms and enforce protections, expanding judicial authority over economic policy traditionally handled by elected legislators and raising questions about judicial capacity and proper separation of powers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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