Pennsylvania Act 2026-4 — COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEYS ACT - DEFINITIONS

Act text

Session of 2026

No. 2026-04

HB 1934

AN ACT

Amending the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), entitled "A supplement to the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled 'An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the Executive Department thereof and the administrative departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof, including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative officers, and of the several administrative departments, boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards, and commissions; and prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of certain departments, boards and commissions shall be determined,' implementing the addition of section 4.1 to Article IV of the Constitution of Pennsylvania; establishing the Office of Attorney General elected by the citizens and setting forth powers and duties of the Attorney General; creating an Office of General Counsel and providing for legal services for Commonwealth agencies; transferring, reorganizing or reconstituting certain boards, commissions and agencies; placing certain duties upon the courts and district attorneys; repealing certain acts and parts of acts and making appropriations," in general provisions, further providing for definitions.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 102 of the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, is amended by adding a definition to read:

Section 102. Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:

---

"Right to access." The term does not include access for the purpose of satisfying discovery requests propounded on the Office of Attorney General in a civil action, unless the agency in question is a party to the action and is represented by the Office of Attorney General.

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 11th day of February, A.D. 2026.

JOSH SHAPIRO