Pennsylvania State Senate

The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered every two years such that half of the seats are contested at each election.[2] Even numbered seats and odd numbered seats are contested in separate election years. The president pro tempore of the Senate becomes the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania in the event of the sitting lieutenant governor's removal, resignation or death. In this case the president pro tempore and lieutenant governor would be the same person.[3] The Pennsylvania Senate has been meeting since 1791.

Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania General Assembly
Logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
Founded1790 (1790)
New session started
January 3, 2023
Leadership
Austin Davis (D)
since January 17, 2023
Kim Ward (R)
since November 30, 2022
Majority Leader
Joe Pittman (R)
since November 30, 2022
Minority Leader
Jay Costa (D)
since January 4, 2011
Majority Whip
Ryan Aument (R)
since November 30, 2022
Minority Whip
Christine Tartaglione (D)
since November 30, 2022
Structure
Seats50
Layout of Pennsylvania
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (28)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle II, Pennsylvania Constitution
Salary$102,844/year + per diem[1]
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(even-numbered districts)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(odd-numbered districts)
RedistrictingBipartisan Commission
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Pennsylvania State Capitol
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Website
Pennsylvania State Senate

The president of the Senate is the lieutenant governor, who has no vote except to break a tie vote.

Qualifications

Senators must be at least 25 years of age. They must be a U.S. citizen and a Pennsylvania resident four years, and a resident of that district one year prior to their election and must reside in that district during their term. [4]

Senate leadership

President of the Senate: Austin Davis (D)
President Pro Tempore of the Senate: Kim Ward (R)

Majority party (R) Leadership position Minority party (D)
Joe Pittman Floor Leader Jay Costa
Ryan Aument Whip Christine Tartaglione
Kristin Phillips-Hill Caucus Chairman Wayne D. Fontana
Camera Bartolotta Caucus Secretary Maria Collett
Scott Martin Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent Hughes
Dan Laughlin Policy Committee Chairman Katie Muth
Lisa Baker Caucus Administrator Judy Schwank

Composition

Historical sessions
Main article: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate election
Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Ind Democratic Vacant
1995–1996 session 29 0 21 50 0
1997–1998 session 30 20 50 0
1999–2000 session 30 20 50 0
2001–2002 session 30 20 50 0
2003–2004 session 29 21 50 0
2005–2006 session 30 20 50 0
2007–2008 session 29 21 50 0
2009–2010 session 30 20 50 0
2011–2012 session 30 20 50 0
2013–2014 session 27 23 50 0
2015–2016 session 30 20 50 0
2016–2017 session 31 19 50 0
2017–2018 session 34 16 50 0
2018–2019 session 28 22 50 0
2019–2020 session 29 1 21 50 0
2021–2022 session 28 1 21 50 0

Current session

As of January 3, 2023:

↓
22 28
Democratic Republican
Affiliation Party
(shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Republican Ind Democratic Vacant
End of previous legislature 28 1 21 50 0
January 3, 2023 27 0 22 49 1
February 28, 2023[5] 28 50 0
Latest voting share 56% 0% 44%

Membership

The Senate is made up of 50 members who are elected by district. In 2012, a State Senate district had an average population of 254,047 residents.

List of current members
District Senator Party Residence Counties represented First elected Term ends
1 Nikil Saval DemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20202024
2 Christine Tartaglione DemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia19942026
3 Sharif Street DemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20162024
4 Art Haywood DemPhiladelphiaMontgomery, Philadelphia20142026
5 Jimmy Dillon DemPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia2022[note 1]2024
6 Frank Farry RepLanghorne BoroughBucks20222026
7 Vincent Hughes DemPhiladelphiaMontgomery, Philadelphia19942024
8 Anthony Williams Dem/Fwd[note 2]PhiladelphiaDelaware, Philadelphia19982026
9 John KaneDemBirminghamChester, Delaware20202024
10 Steve SantarsieroDemLower Makefield TownshipBucks20182026
11 Judy SchwankDemFleetwoodBerks20112024
12 Maria Collett DemLower Gwynedd Township Montgomery20182026
13 Scott Martin RepWest Lampeter TownshipBerks, Lancaster20162024
14 Nick Miller DemAllentownLehigh, Northampton20222026
15 John DiSanto RepSusquehanna TownshipDauphin20162024
16 Jarrett Coleman RepUpper Macungie TownshipBucks, Lehigh20222026
17 Amanda Cappelletti DemEast Norriton TownshipDelaware, Montgomery20202024
18 Lisa Boscola Dem/Fwd[note 3]Bethlehem TownshipLehigh, Northampton19982026
19 Carolyn Comitta DemWest ChesterChester20202024
20 Lisa Baker RepLehman TownshipLuzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming20062026
21 Scott Hutchinson RepOil CityButler, Clarion, Forest, Venango, Warren20122024
22 Marty FlynnDemScrantonLackawanna, Luzerne2021[note 4]2026
23 Eugene Yaw RepLoyalsock TownshipBradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union20082024
24 Tracy Pennycuick Rep HarleysvilleBerks, Montgomery20222026
25 Cris Dush RepPine Creek TownshipCameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter20202024
26 Tim Kearney DemSwarthmoreDelaware20182026
27 Lynda Culver RepSunburyColumbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder20232024
28 Kristin Phillips-Hill Rep York Township York20182026
29 Dave Argall RepRush TownshipCarbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill20092024
30 Judy Ward RepHollidaysburg Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin20182026
31 Mike Regan RepCarroll TownshipCumberland, York20162024
32 Pat Stefano RepBullskin TownshipBedford, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland20142026
33 Doug Mastriano RepGreene TownshipAdams, Franklin20192024
34 Greg RothmanRepSilver Spring TownshipCumberland, Dauphin, Perry County20222026
35 Wayne Langerholc RepJohnstownCambria County, Centre, Clearfield20162024
36 Ryan Aument RepEast Hempfield TownshipLancaster20142026
37 Devlin Robinson RepBridgevilleAllegheny, Washington20202024
38 Lindsey Williams DemWest ViewAllegheny20182026
39 Kim Ward RepHempfield TownshipWestmoreland20082024
40 Rosemary Brown RepEast StroudsburgLackawanna, Monroe, Wayne20222026
41 Joe Pittman RepIndianaArmstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Westmoreland20192024
42 Wayne Fontana DemPittsburghAllegheny20052026
43 Jay Costa DemForest HillsAllegheny19962024
44 Katie Muth DemEast Vincent TownshipBerks, Chester, Montgomery20182026
45 Jim Brewster Dem McKeesport Allegheny2010 2024
46 Camera Bartolotta RepMonongahelaBeaver, Greene, Washington20142026
47 Elder Vogel RepNew Sewickley TownshipBeaver, Butler, Lawrence20082024
48 Chris Gebhard RepNorth Cornwall TownshipBerks, Lancaster, Lebanon2021[note 5]2026
49 Dan Laughlin RepMillcreek TownshipErie20162024
50 Michele Brooks RepJamestownCrawford, Lawrence, Mercer20142026
  1. John Sabatina resigned on December 31, 2021. Dillon was elected in a special election on May 17, and seated on June 7.
  2. Affiliated with the Forward Party.
  3. Affiliated with the Forward Party.
  4. John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.
  5. Dave Arnold died January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.

Standing committees
Committee NameMajority chairMinority chair
Aging & Youth Judy Ward Maria Collett
Agriculture & Rural Affairs Elder Vogel Judy Schwank
Appropriations Scott Martin Vincent Hughes
Banking & Insurance John DiSanto Sharif Street
Communications & Technology Tracy Pennycuick Jimmy Dillon
Community, Economic & Recreational Development Chris Gebhard Anthony H. Williams
Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Patrick J. Stefano Lisa Boscola
Education Dave Argall Lindsey Williams
Environmental Resources & Energy Eugene Yaw Carolyn Comitta
Finance Scott Hutchinson Nick Miller
Game & Fisheries Greg Rothman Jim Brewster
Health & Human Services Michele Brooks Arthur L. Haywood III
Intergovernmental Operations Jarrett Coleman Christine Tartaglione
Judiciary Lisa Baker Steve Santarsiero
Labor & Industry Devlin Robinson John I. Kane
Law & Justice Mike Regan Jim Brewster
Local Government Rosemary Brown Tim Kearney
Rules & Executive Nominations Joe Pittman Jay Costa
State Government Cris Dush Amanda Cappelletti
Transportation Wayne Langerholc Marty Flynn
Urban Affairs & Housing Frank Farry Nikil Saval
Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparednesss Doug Mastriano Katie Muth

Past composition of the Senate
Main article: Political party strength in Pennsylvania

See also

References
  1. The Pennsylvania Manual, pp. 3–7.
  2. Article II, section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution.
  3. Article IV, section 14, Pennsylvania Constitution.
  4. "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania"."Article II. The Legislature"."§5. Qualifications of Members".
  5. Jones, Matt (February 15, 2023). "Schlegel-Culver to be sworn in to Senate Feb. 28". The Standard-Journal. Retrieved February 24, 2023.

Sources
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