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Howard’s concurrent jurisdiction bill passes House

House Bill 469, second of three-bill package to move to state Senate

Rep. Kristine C. Howard    February 4, 2026 | 3:06 PM

HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – State Rep. Kristine Howard, D-Chester, announced the state House of Representatives passed her legislation concerning concurrent jurisdiction by a unanimous vote.

House Bill 469 would amend Act 47 of 1977 to update the process for ceding back jurisdiction to the Commonwealth from the United States in order to establish concurrent jurisdiction regarding military installations. The bill is part of a legislative package with state Reps. Chris Pielli and Dan Williams, both D-Chester, designed to protect military children and families.

“Presently, military bases in Pennsylvania, being on federal land, are only subject to the jurisdiction of the federal government, and unfortunately the federal courts are poorly equipped to address cases involving juveniles, but Pennsylvania’s courts are very accustomed to the unique needs of juveniles,” Howard said. “House Bill 469 gives a clear process by which a base’s commanding officer can give Pennsylvania courts the means to adjudicate such cases, and for that reason, we must pass H.B. 469. Military families should not be deprived of the benefits that Pennsylvania has created for addressing offenses by juveniles simply by virtue of living on base.”

The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.

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