HB 150 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, repealing provisions relating to transfer of inmates in need of medical treatment and providing for modification of an imposed term of imprisonment for reasons of illness.

HB 150 proposes changes to Pennsylvania's sentencing laws by removing outdated rules about transferring inmates requiring medical care and creating a new process for judges to modify prison terms when an individual's illness prevents them from serving their full sentence. The bill directly affects people incarcerated in Pennsylvania who develop serious medical conditions during their sentence. Key provisions include ending the current transfer system for medical cases and establishing a clear procedure for courts to adjust sentences based on documented health issues. This would allow judges to shorten sentences for health-related reasons without requiring a separate legal process. The bill is currently under review in the Appropriations committee.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Dec 2025

House Passage

Dec 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 17, 2025 Last action Dec 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1386 → Printer's No. PN2066 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill update expands the list of co-sponsors and adds a new section allowing courts to modify prison sentences for inmates with serious illnesses, cognitive impairments, or aging-related health declines. The changes introduce specific medical criteria for sentence modification, establish strict notification and visitation rights for families, and require detailed reporting on petition outcomes.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from temporary deferral of sentences for terminally ill inmates to include a broader category of serious medical conditions and functional impairments, applying to inmates in state correctional facilities.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility criteria allowing sentence modification for inmates diagnosed with serious illnesses that prevent independent daily living, life-threatening treatable conditions, or serious functional/cognitive impairments due to aging.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that facilities notify family members within seven days of a diagnosis and provide them an opportunity to visit unless compelling security reasons exist.

Required courts to issue decisions on sentence modification petitions within 60 days for terminal illness claims and within 30 days for other serious condition claims.

ENFORCEMENT

Established new reporting requirements for the Department of Corrections to track petition numbers, denial reasons, and visitation statistics.

DEFINITION

Replaced vague definitions of 'chronic and debilitating condition' with specific criteria regarding independent performance of activities of daily living.

Floor votes · House Dec 17, 2025

How they voted

111–92

Passed

Total votes 203

Dec 17, 2025

D Democratic102

99 Yea 3 Nay

97% Yea

R Republican101

12 Yea 89 Nay

88% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

upper

Dec 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Dec 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Jul 1, 2025

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as committed

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 52 co-sponsors