PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRINTER'S NO. 447
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 464
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DAVIDSON, MAYES, D. MILLER, HILL-EVANS, OTTEN,
FREEMAN, PROBST, PIELLI, GUENST, KHAN, CARROLL, SAPPEY,
T. DAVIS, HOWARD, MADDEN, CERRATO, SANCHEZ, WAXMAN, DALEY,
HADDOCK, DONAHUE, SCHLOSSBERG, DEASY, BOYD, CURRY AND
SHUSTERMAN, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
2 of Pennsylvania, further providing for courts to be open and
3 suits against the Commonwealth.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby resolves as follows:
6 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
7 Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
8 That Section 11 of Article I be amended to read:
9 § 11. Courts to be open; suits against the Commonwealth.
10 (a) All courts shall be open; and every man for an injury
11 done him in his lands, goods, person or reputation shall have
12 remedy by due course of law, and right and justice administered
13 without sale, denial or delay. Suits may be brought against the
14 Commonwealth in such manner, in such courts and in such cases as
15 the Legislature may by law direct.
16 (b) An individual for whom a statutory limitations period
 1 has already expired, or whose claim would otherwise be barred or
2 limited by a statutory cap on damages, sovereign immunity or by
3 governmental or official immunity, shall have a period of two
4 years, without bar or limitation by such caps or immunities,
5 from the time that this subsection becomes effective to commence
6 an action arising from childhood sexual abuse, in such cases as
7 provided by law at the time that this subsection becomes
8 effective.
9 Section 2. The following procedure applies to the proposed
10 constitutional amendment in this joint resolution:
11 (1) Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of
12 the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
13 proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
14 requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
15 of Pennsylvania.
16 (2) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of
17 the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
18 proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
19 requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
20 of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
21 submit the amendment to the qualified electors of this
22 Commonwealth at the first general or municipal election which
23 meets the requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
24 Constitution of Pennsylvania.
20250HB0464PN0447 - 2 -