An Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to the City of Hermitage, certain lands situate in Hickory Township, Mercer County.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Parke Wentling

Authorizes the state to convey specific Mercer County lands to the City of Hermitage with governor approval, after required procedures.

Re-committed to Rules

Purpose of the Bill

HB 2606 seeks to authorize the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS), with the Governor’s approval, to grant and convey to the City of Hermitage certain lands located in Hickory Township, Mercer County. The bill’s overarching aim is to facilitate the transfer of specific public lands from state ownership to a local municipality.

Key Provisions

Authorizes Conveyance: The bill grants statutory authority for DGS, with gubernatorial approval, to grant and convey identified parcels of land to the City of Hermitage.

Lands Affected: The parcels covered by the authorization are described as situated in Hickory Township, Mercer County. The exact description, boundaries, and parcel identifiers would be specified in the conveyance documents.

Condition and Timing: The conveyance would occur only after compliance with applicable state procedures and approvals, including any necessary reviews or determinations required by law (e.g., appraisal, compliance with environmental or land-use regulations).

Governing Authority: The Department of General Services would manage the process of conveyance, subject to the Governor’s approval, and consistent with state real estate and public land-transfer statutes.

Who is Affected

State: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania would transfer ownership of the specified state lands.

Local Government: The City of Hermitage would become the owner of the conveyed parcels.

Residents and Stakeholders: Potential beneficiaries or impacts would depend on the land’s intended use by Hermitage (e.g., public facilities, economic development, parks). The bill itself does not specify end-use, leaving that to subsequent actions by the city.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

Legislative Process: The bill must pass both houses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and receive the Governor’s signature or veto override to become law.

Conveyance Process: After enactment, DGS would undertake the required steps for conveyance, including any appraisals, approvals, and compliance with state land-transfer procedures. The timeline would depend on administrative steps and any due diligence findings.

Oversight: Once conveyed, the land use would fall under Hermitage’s jurisdiction and local zoning and planning processes, subject to applicable state and local laws.

Additional Notes

Sponsor: Co-sponsor Parke Wentling.

The bill is specific to one geographic area (Mercer County) and one entity (City of Hermitage), indicating a targeted transfer rather than a broad land-reform measure.

This summary captures the bill’s core intent and probable effects based on the provided text. For precise parcel descriptions, conditions, and any accompanying fiscal impacts, refer to the bill’s full text and any accompanying fiscal notes or legislative analysis.