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Pennsylvania State Senate#Current session

{{Short description|Upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}

{{Infobox legislature

| background_color = {{party color|Republican Party (US)}}

| name = Pennsylvania State Senate

| legislature = Pennsylvania General Assembly

|coa_pic=Other seal of the Pennsylvania Senate.svg| term_limits = None

| new_session = January 7, 2025

| session_room = Senate Chamber, Pennsylvania State Capitol Building.jpg

| house_type = Upper house

| body = Pennsylvania General Assembly

| leader1_type = President

| leader1 = Austin Davis (D)

| election1 = January 17, 2023

| leader2_type = President pro tempore

| leader2 = Kim Ward (R)

| election2 = November 30, 2022

| leader3_type = Majority Leader

| leader3 = Joe Pittman (R)

| election3 = November 30, 2022

| leader4_type = Minority Leader

| leader4 = Jay Costa (D)

| election4 = January 4, 2011

| term_length = 4 years

| authority = Article II, Pennsylvania Constitution

| salary = $102,844/year + per diemThe Pennsylvania Manual, pp. 3–7.

| members = 50

| structure1 = PA_Senate_25.svg

| structure1_res = 250px

| structure1_alt = Layout of Pennsylvania

| political_groups1 =

Majority

  • {{color box|{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}}} Republican (27)

Minority

  • {{color box|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}}} Democratic (23)

| last_election1 = November 5, 2024
(odd-numbered districts)

| next_election1 = November 3, 2026
(even-numbered districts)

| redistricting = Bipartisan Commission

| meeting_place = State Senate Chamber
Pennsylvania State Capitol
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

| website = [http://www.pasen.gov/index.cfm Pennsylvania State Senate]

|coa_alt=Seal of the Pennsylvania State Senate|logo_pic = Logo_of_the_Pennsylvania_State_Senate.svg

|logo_res =200px

|logo_alt=Logo of the Pennsylvania State Senate|foundation = {{start date and age|1790}}

}}

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.Article II, section 3, Pennsylvania Constitution. Even- and odd-numbered district 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.Article IV, section 14, Pennsylvania Constitution. The Pennsylvania Senate has been meeting since 1791.

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.{{cite web |title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=0}}{{cite web |title=Article II. The Legislature |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=00&div=0&chpt=2}}{{cite web |title=§5. Qualifications of Members |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=00&div=0&chpt=2&sctn=5&subsctn=0}}

Senate leadership

= Officers =

class="wikitable"

|+

!Position

!Officer

President of the Senate

|{{party shading/Democratic}}|Austin Davis

President pro tempore

|{{party shading/Republican}}|Kim Ward

Secretary & Parliamentarian

|Michael Gerdes

Chief Clerk

|Donetta D’Innocenzo

= Caucus Leadership =

class="wikitable"
Majority party (R)

| style="width:300px; text-align:center;"| Leadership position

| Minority party (D)

{{party shading/Republican}}| Joe Pittman

| style="text-align:center;" | Floor Leader

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Jay Costa

{{party shading/Republican}}| Wayne Langerholc

| style="text-align:center;" | Whip

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Christine Tartaglione

{{party shading/Republican}}| Kristin Phillips-Hill

| style="text-align:center;" | Caucus Chairman

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Maria Collett

{{party shading/Republican}}| Camera Bartolotta

| style="text-align:center;" | Caucus Secretary

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Steve Santarsiero

{{party shading/Republican}}| Scott Martin

| style="text-align:center;" | Appropriations Committee Chairman

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Vincent Hughes

{{party shading/Republican}}| Lisa Baker

| style="text-align:center;" | Caucus Administrator

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Judy Schwank

{{party shading/Republican}}| Dave Argall

| style="text-align:center;" | Policy Committee Chairman

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Nick Miller

Composition

=Historical sessions=

{{Main|2022 Pennsylvania Senate election}}

class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align:center"
style="vertical-align:bottom;"

!rowspan=3|Affiliation

! colspan="3" |Party

(shading indicates majority caucus)

!rowspan=3|Total

!

style="height:5px"

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}" |

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" |

| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}" |

|style="background: black"|

Republican

!Ind

!Democratic

!Vacant

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|1995–1996 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|29

| rowspan="14" |0

|21

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|1997–1998 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|30

|20

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|1999–2000 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|30

|20

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2001–2002 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|30

|20

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2003–2004 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|29

|21

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2005–2006 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|30

|20

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2007–2008 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|29

|21

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2009–2010 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|30

|20

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2011–2012 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|30

|20

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2013–2014 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|27

|23

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2015–2016 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|30

|20

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2016–2017 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|31

|19

!50

|0

nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |2017–2018 session

| {{party shading/Republican}} |34

|16

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2018–2019 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|28

|22

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2019–2020 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|29

| {{Party shading/Independent}} |1

|21

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2021–2022 session

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |28

| {{Party shading/Independent}} |1

|21

!50

|0

nowrap style="font-size:80%"|2023–2024 session

|{{party shading/Republican}}|28

|0

|22

!50

|0

=Current session=

{{Main|2024 Pennsylvania Senate election}}

As of May 5, 2025:

style="width:50%; text-align:center"

|+ ↓

style="color:white"

| style="background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; width:46%" | 23

| style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; width:54%" | 27

style="color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic

| style="color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |Republican

class="wikitable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center"
style="vertical-align:bottom;"

!rowspan=3|Affiliation

!colspan=3|Party

(shading indicates majority caucus)

!rowspan=3|Total

!

style="height:5px"

| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}" |

| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent}}" |

| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}" |

|style="background: black"|

Republican

!Ind

!Democratic

!Vacant

nowrap="" style="font-size:80%" |End of previous legislature

| {{Party shading/Republican}} |28

|0

|22

!50

|0

colspan="6" |
January 7, 2025

| {{Party shading/Republican}} rowspan=2 |27

|rowspan=2|0

|22

!49

|1

May 5, 2025

|23

!50

|0

Latest voting share

! {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{percentage|27|50|1}}

! colspan=2|{{percentage|23|50|1}}

! colspan="2" |

Membership

The Senate comprises 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=

class="sortable wikitable"
District

!Senator

! Party

! Residence

! Counties represented

! First elected

! Term ends

1

|{{Sortname|first=Nikil|last=Saval|link=}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20202028
2

|{{Sortname|first=Christine|last=Tartaglione|link=}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia19942026
3

|{{Sortname|first=Sharif|last=Street|link=}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20162028
4

|{{Sortname|first=Art|last=Haywood|link=Arthur L. Haywood III}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

PhiladelphiaMontgomery, Philadelphia20142026
5

|Joe Picozzi

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia20242028
6

|{{Sortname|first=Frank|last=Farry|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Langhorne BoroughBucks20222026
7

|{{Sortname|first=Vincent|last=Hughes|link=}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

PhiladelphiaMontgomery, Philadelphia19942028
8

|{{Sortname|first=Anthony|last=Williams|link=Anthony H. Williams}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

PhiladelphiaDelaware, Philadelphia19982026
9

|{{Sortname|first=John|last=Kane|link=John I. Kane}}

{{party shading/Democratic}} | DemBirminghamChester, Delaware20202028
10

|{{Sortname|first=Steve|last=Santarsiero}}

{{party shading/Democratic}} | DemLower Makefield TownshipBucks20182026
11

|{{Sortname|first=Judy|last=Schwank}}

{{party shading/Democratic}} | DemFleetwoodBerks20112028
12

|{{Sortname|first=Maria|last=Collett}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

Lower Gwynedd Township

|Montgomery

20182026
13

|{{Sortname|first=Scott|last=Martin|link=Scott Martin (Pennsylvania politician)}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

West Lampeter TownshipBerks, Lancaster20162028
14

|{{Sortname|first=Nick|last=Miller|link=Nick Miller (politician)}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

AllentownLehigh, Northampton20222026
15

|Patty Kim

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

HarrisburgDauphin20242028
16

|{{Sortname|first=Jarrett|last=Coleman|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Upper Macungie TownshipBucks, Lehigh20222026
17

|{{Sortname|first=Amanda|last=Cappelletti}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

East Norriton TownshipDelaware, Montgomery20202028
18

|{{Sortname|first=Lisa|last=Boscola}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

Bethlehem TownshipLehigh, Northampton19982026
19

|{{Sortname|first=Carolyn|last=Comitta}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

West ChesterChester20202028
20

|Lisa Baker

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Lehman TownshipLuzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming20062026
21

|{{Sortname|first=Scott|last=Hutchinson}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Oil CityButler, Clarion, Forest, Venango, Warren20122028
22

|{{Sortname|first=Marty|last=Flynn}}

{{party shading/Democratic}} | DemScrantonLackawanna, Luzerne2021John Blake resigned on February 15, 2021. Flynn was elected in a special election on May 18.2026
23

|{{Sortname|first=Eugene|last=Yaw}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Loyalsock TownshipBradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga, Union20082028
24

|{{Sortname|first=Tracy|last=Pennycuick}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

HarleysvilleBerks, Montgomery20222026
25

|{{Sortname|first=Cris|last=Dush}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Pine Creek TownshipCameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter20202028
26

|{{Sortname|first=Tim|last=Kearney|link=Tim Kearney (politician)}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

SwarthmoreDelaware20182026
27

|{{Sortname|first=Lynda|last=Culver|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

SunburyColumbia, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder20232028
28

|{{Sortname|first=Kristin|last=Phillips-Hill|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

|York Township

|York

20182026
29

|{{Sortname|first=Dave|last=Argall|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Rush TownshipCarbon, Luzerne, Schuylkill20092028
30

|{{Sortname|first=Judy|last=Ward|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Hollidaysburg

|Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin

20182026
31

|Dawn Keefer

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

DillsburgCumberland, York20242028
32

|{{Sortname|first=Pat|last=Stefano|link=Patrick J. Stefano}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Bullskin TownshipBedford, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland20142026
33

|{{Sortname|first=Doug|last=Mastriano|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Greene TownshipAdams, Franklin20192028
34

|{{Sortname|first=Greg|last=Rothman|link=}}

{{party shading/Republican}} | RepSilver Spring TownshipCumberland, Dauphin, Perry County20222026
35

|{{Sortname|first=Wayne|last=Langerholc|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

JohnstownCambria County, Centre, Clearfield20162028
36

|{{Sortname|first=James Andrew|last=Malone|link=}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

East PetersburgLancaster2025Ryan Aument resigned December 31, 2024 to become State Director to U.S. Senator Dave McCormick. Malone was elected in a special election on March 25, 2025, and was sworn in on May 5, 2025.2026
37

|{{Sortname|first=Devlin|last=Robinson|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

BridgevilleAllegheny, Washington20202028
38

|{{Sortname|first=Lindsey|last=Williams|link=}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

West ViewAllegheny20182026
39

|{{Sortname|first=Kim|last=Ward|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Hempfield TownshipWestmoreland20082028
40

|{{Sortname|first=Rosemary|last=Brown|link=Rosemary Brown (American politician)}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

East StroudsburgLackawanna, Monroe, Wayne20222026
41

|{{Sortname|first=Joe|last=Pittman|link= Joe Pittman (politician)}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

IndianaArmstrong, Indiana, Jefferson, Westmoreland20192028
42

|{{Sortname|first=Wayne|last=Fontana|link=Wayne D. Fontana}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

PittsburghAllegheny20052026
43

|{{Sortname|first=Jay|last=Costa|link=}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

Forest HillsAllegheny19962028
44

|{{Sortname|first=Katie|last=Muth|link=}}

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

East Vincent TownshipBerks, Chester, Montgomery20182026
45

|Nick Pisciottano

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Dem

|West Mifflin

|Allegheny

2024

| 2028

46

|{{Sortname|first=Camera|last=Bartolotta|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

MonongahelaBeaver, Greene, Washington20142026
47

|{{Sortname|first=Elder|last=Vogel|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

New Sewickley TownshipBeaver, Butler, Lawrence20082028
48

|{{Sortname|first=Chris|last=Gebhard|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

North Cornwall TownshipBerks, Lancaster, Lebanon2021Dave Arnold died January 17, 2021. Gebhard was elected in a special election on May 18.2026
49

|{{Sortname|first=Dan|last=Laughlin|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

Millcreek TownshipErie20162028
50

|{{Sortname|first=Michele|last=Brooks|link=}}

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Rep

JamestownCrawford, Lawrence, Mercer20142026

{{Reflist|group=note}}

Standing committees

Current committees, majority chairs, minority chairs, and vice chairs include:{{Cite web |title=Senate Committee List {{!}} 2025–2026 Session – PA State Senate |url=https://www.palegis.us/senate/committees/committee-list |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Senate Committee List {{!}} 2025–2026 Session – PA State Senate |language=English}}

class="wikitable"
Committee NameMajority chairMinority chair

!Vice chair

Aging & Youth

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Wayne Langerholc

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Maria Collett

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Judy Ward

Agriculture & Rural Affairs

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Elder Vogel

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Judy Schwank

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Michele Brooks

Appropriations

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Scott Martin

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Vincent Hughes

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Elder Vogel

Banking & Insurance

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Chris Gebhard

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Sharif Street

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Lisa Baker

Communications & Technology

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Tracy Pennycuick

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Nick Miller

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Kristin Phillips-Hill

Community, Economic & Recreational Development

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Rosemary Brown

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Anthony H. Williams

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Chris Gebhard

Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Patrick J. Stefano

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Lisa Boscola

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Frank Farry

Education

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Lynda Schlegel Culver

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Lindsey Williams

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Doug Mastriano

Environmental Resources & Energy

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Gene Yaw

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Carolyn Comitta

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Scott Hutchinson

Finance

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Scott Hutchinson

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Nick Pisciottano

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Jarrett Coleman

Game & Fisheries

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Greg Rothman

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Lisa Boscola

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Dan Laughlin

Health & Human Services

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Michele Brooks

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Art Haywood

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Lynda Schlegel Culver

Institutional Sustainability & Innovation

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Frank Farry

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Tim Kearney

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Dave Argall

Intergovernmental Operations

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Jarrett Coleman

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Christine Tartaglione

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Cris Dush

Judiciary

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Lisa Baker

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Amanda Cappelletti

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Gene Yaw

Labor & Industry

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Devlin Robinson

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |John I. Kane

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Camera Bartolotta

Law & Justice

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Dan Laughlin

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Wayne D. Fontana

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Joe Picozzi

Local Government

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Dawn Keefer

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Patty Kim

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Rosemary Brown

Rules & Executive Nominations

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Joe Pittman

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Jay Costa

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Wayne Langerholc

State Government

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Cris Dush

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Steve Santarsiero

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Patrick J. Stefano

Transportation

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Judy Ward

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Marty Flynn

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Devlin Robinson

Urban Affairs & Housing

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Joe Picozzi

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Nikil Saval

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Dawn Keefer

Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparednesss

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Doug Mastriano

| {{party shading/Democratic}} |Katie Muth

| {{party shading/Republican}} |Tracy Pennycuick

Past composition of the Senate

{{Main|Political party strength in Pennsylvania}}

See also

{{Portal|Pennsylvania|Politics}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

Sources

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=0 The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]
  • [http://www.pasen.gov/index.cfm Pennsylvania State Senate]
  • [http://www.votesmart.org/officials/PA/L/pennsylvania-state-legislative Pennsylvania State Senate information and voting records]

{{Pennsylvania Senate}}

{{Pennsylvania State Senate}}

{{United States legislatures}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|40|15|52.9|N|76|53|1.9|W|display=title|region:US-PA_type:landmark}}

*

Category:State upper houses in the United States