Rapp: House Majority’s Delay Jeopardizes PA Communities

July 24, 2026

HARRISBURG - Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) says legislation addressing the sentencing of second-degree murders will miss a court-ordered deadline due to partisan politics, and there's a possibility convicted killers could be let loose.

Exactly 120 days ago, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided in the case Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Derek Lee that requiring automatic life-without-parole sentences for second-degree murder violates the state Constitution. The ruling gave lawmakers 120 days to revise the sentencing rules. That deadline is today, July 24. If the Legislature fails to enact reforms, hundreds of people already convicted of second-degree murder could face resentencing or potential release.

Second-degree murder covers situations where someone takes part in inherently dangerous felonies, like robbery, rape, or arson, that result in a person's death. Under long-standing Pennsylvania law, even participants who did not directly inflict the fatal injury can be held fully accountable for the outcome because they willingly joined in the crime. Roughly 1,100 inmates are currently serving life sentences in Pennsylvania for second-degree murder convictions.

"The House majority had almost a month to amend the Senate bill on this issue, but they waited until the day before the deadline to make changes," Rapp said. "This gives the Senate no time to look over the amendments and get something on the governor's desk."

Rapp opposed the legislation because of the changes added by Democrats, including broad new medical parole options for inmates and revised sentencing guidelines that eliminate mandatory minimums, leaving sentencing entirely up to the judges.

"These sentences pertain to violent criminals - rapists, arsonists and others - who bear responsibility for someone's death," said Rapp. "Victims' families deserve some peace of mind that these criminals remain behind bars for a very long time."

House Bill 1042 has been returned to the state Senate for further review.

Representative Kathy Rapp
65th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jake Gillespie
717.772.9834
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