Legislative Bill Summary – Pennsylvania
HB 2346 (Session 2025-2026)
Overview
HB 2346 is a Pennsylvania bill proposed to amend Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. The bill makes changes to two areas within family law:
1) Property rights, specifically relating to the equitable division of marital property.
2) Alimony and support.
The act has been referred to the Judiciary Committee as of March 31, 2026. The bill has multiple co-sponsors: Jason Ortitay, Maureen Madden, Scott Conklin, Lee James, Lindsay Powell, and Joe Ciresi.
1) Main Purpose and Intent
- To modify the statutory framework governing how marital property is equitably divided between divorcing spouses.
- To update or refine rules governing alimony (spousal support) and related support obligations.
- The overarching aim is to clarify standards, procedures, or calculations used in property division and support decisions to reflect contemporary considerations or policy priorities in family law.
2) Key Provisions and Changes (expected areas of change)
While the exact text of HB 2346 is not provided in the summary, the bill sits in two statutory chapters with targeted amendments. Typical elements in this kind of bill may include:
- Equitable Division of Marital Property
- Revisions to how marital assets and debts are identified, valued, and divided upon divorce.
- Potential changes to factors the court must consider when determining an equitable distribution (e.g., contributions of each spouse, duration of the marriage, economic circumstances, conduct, and any prenuptial or postnuptial agreements).
- Adjustments to the treatment of specific asset categories (e.g., retirement accounts, real estate, business interests) and how they are valued or allocated.
- Clarifications to timelines, process for property division, and whether mediation or negotiated settlements should be encouraged or required in certain circumstances.
- Alimony and Support
- Revisions to spousal support calculation, duration, modification, or termination criteria.
- Provisions addressing when alimony may be modified due to changes in income, employment, or remarriage of the recipient.
- Possible changes to the interplay between child support and alimony, including priority of support obligations.
- Clarifications on payment methods, enforcement mechanisms, and remedies for nonpayment.
Note: The precise numeric formulas, thresholds, or enumerated factors would be defined in the bill’s text. The above describes typical elements found in amendments addressing these chapters.
3) Who and What Would Be Affected
- Divorcing or Separated Spouses in Pennsylvania: The primary beneficiaries or affected parties are individuals undergoing divorce who are subject to property division and alimony determinations.
- Judges and Family Court Practitioners: Courts and attorneys would apply the revised standards and procedures when adjudicating marital property division and support orders.
- Retirees, Business Owners, and Asset Holders: Persons with complex assets (e.g., pensions, real estate, closely held businesses) may see changes in valuation methods and distributive outcomes.
- Children and Household Members indirectly affected through the impact on overall household financial arrangements, including child support considerations that may interact with alimony provisions.
4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Referral: HB 2346 was referred to the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee on March 31, 2026.
- Legislative Process: As with other bills, passage would require committee review, potential amendments, and floor votes in both chambers, followed by gubernatorial approval or veto.
- Effective Date: The bill’s effective date (when new provisions take effect) would be specified in the bill text, potentially with transitional provisions for ongoing cases or a phased implementation.
5) Context and Considerations
- The bill has bipartisan and multi-member sponsorship, indicating broad legislative interest in updating domestic relations provisions.
- Changes to equitable distribution and alimony can significantly affect divorce settlements, long-term financial security, and enforcement practices.
- Readers should consult the full bill text for exact language, definitions, criteria to be used by courts, and any transitional provisions.
If you’d like, I can pull the bill’s text and provide a line-item breakdown of the exact amendments to each section of Title 23, including any new definitions, factors, or formulas introduced.
