HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania lawmakers have approved new requirements for how local governments advertise proposed ordinances, aiming to prevent vague notices that can lead to legal challenges and public confusion.
What This Means for You
- Public notices for local laws would need clearer summaries of what is changing
- Residents could more easily find full ordinance details online or at township offices
- The changes aim to reduce legal disputes over unclear or incomplete notices
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday passed legislation introduced by state Rep. Christina Sappey that would standardize what must be included in public notices for proposed ordinances in second class townships — municipalities that are typically rural or suburban and make up about 44% of the state’s population.
The bill responds to a recent case in Lancaster County where a shade tree ordinance — a local law regulating the planting, maintenance, or removal of trees — was overturned because the public notice describing it was considered too ambiguous.
What the Bill Requires
Under the proposal, public notices must include clearer summaries of key elements of a proposed ordinance.
Specifically, summaries would need to state whether the ordinance involves:
- Creating, changing, or repealing a tax, fee, or other charge
- Establishing or modifying rules that could result in civil or criminal penalties
- Approving spending, restricting how funds are used, or committing money to specific purposes
The bill also requires notices to direct residents to where they can review the full ordinance, including the township office and a publicly accessible website if one exists.
“This legislation also would require advertisements to include references to the township office where copies of the proposed ordinance may be viewed, and to the publicly accessible website where the full text of the ordinance may be viewed,” Sappey said.
If a notice meets these requirements, it would be considered legally sufficient if challenged in court.
Scope and Local Impact
Second class townships are the most common form of local government in Pennsylvania, with about 1,454 municipalities statewide, including 56 in Chester County.
The bill’s requirements would apply broadly across those communities, affecting how residents are informed about proposed local laws.
Related Legislation and Next Steps
The House also passed a companion bill that would apply similar public notice requirements to boroughs, third class cities, and counties.
Both measures now move to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.
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