The Senate has approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) and Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) to reform the commonwealth’s second‑degree murder sentencing framework in line with recent court rulings.
Senate Bill 1400 updates sentencing and parole procedures to reflect the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Lee. Without legislative action, the commonwealth could be forced to release convicted murderers, creating significant public‑safety risks. This pro‑law‑enforcement, community‑safety measure is supported by Attorney General Dave Sunday, the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association.
“If the House does not pass Senate Bill 1400, convicted murderers could be released into our communities and freely walk our streets. This cannot happen,” said Langerholc. “We in the Senate stood for victims of violent crime, with law enforcement, and for the rule of law.”
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. If the House does not pass Senate Bill 1400 by July 24, 2026, the process could begin to release 1,165 convicted murderers into communities across Pennsylvania.