A Resolution adopting a temporary rule of the Senate relating solely to amendments to the General Appropriation Bill and other appropriation bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, including any amendments offered to or for supplemental appropriations for prior fiscal years.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Martin

Sets a temporary Senate rule for how amendments to the 2026 General and other appropriation bills, including prior-year supplements, are considered.

Reported as committed

Summary of SR 321 (Pennsylvania, 2025-2026)

Purpose and intent

SR 321 is a Senate resolution adopting a temporary rule of the Senate.

The rule concerns amendments to the General Appropriation Bill and other appropriation bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026.

It also covers amendments offered to or for supplemental appropriations for prior fiscal years.

Essentially, the resolution provides a framework or procedural rule governing how amendments to appropriations are to be considered during the specified fiscal year, including any amendments related to prior-year supplemental appropriations.

Key provisions and changes

Temporary rule of the Senate: Establishes a specific rule to govern the process of introducing, debating, and voting on amendments to appropriation bills during the 2026 fiscal year.

Scope of applicability:

General Appropriation Bill amendments.
Other appropriation bills (e.g., supplemental or clarifying appropriation measures for the 2026 fiscal year).
Amendments to supplemental appropriations for prior fiscal years.

Procedural focus likely includes:

Scheduling and order of consideration for amendments.
Rules on germane vs. non-germane amendments for appropriation matters.
Public notice, committee referral, and floor action timings related to appropriation amendments.
Possible limits or allowances for budgetary offsets, reconciliation procedures, or fiscal impact statements tied to proposed amendments.

Temporality: The rule is intended to be temporary (seasonal) to cover the specified fiscal year, implying it would lapse or be reconsidered for subsequent years.

Affected parties and entities

Members of the Pennsylvania Senate who propose, debate, or vote on appropriation amendments.

Legislative staff and committees involved in fiscal matters, budgeting, and appropriation bill drafting.

State agencies and program areas that rely on appropriations, as the rule shapes how amendments to their funding may be proposed and debated.

The public and stakeholders interested in budget transparency and the legislative process for the annual budget and any prior-year supplemental appropriations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Referral: The resolution was referred to the Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee (action history: 2026-05-20).

Sponsor: Co-sponsor Scott Martin (indicating bipartisan or collaborative interest in the procedural framework for appropriations).

Effective period: Covers the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026, with applicability to amendments to the General Appropriation Bill, other appropriation bills, and prior-year supplemental appropriations during that period.

As a temporary rule, it would be in effect for the 2026 session’s appropriation activities and may be revisited or replaced in future sessions.

Notes

The bill functions primarily as a procedural tool to manage the legislative process around budget amendments rather than a substantive change to funding levels or policy programs.

Details such as exact germane requirements, amendment limits, or transcript publication rules would typically be defined within the text of the temporary rule itself; the summary above reflects the bill’s stated purpose and scope based on available information.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize either the procedural implications for budget drafting or the potential impact on transparency and debate, once the full text or further committee notes are available.