A Legislatively Bipartisan General Assembly?

The first two reports (Dysfunction by Design and Off to a Slow Start) provided anecdotal evidence demonstrating that many bipartisan solutions don’t get votes. This new report carefully analyzes what happens to bipartisan bills in the legislature, providing more detailed data than other readily accessible information published to date

A Benchmark to Help with Statistical Analysis

In order to analyze legislative activity, a benchmark was needed to define “bipartisan.” FDPA volunteers measured bipartisan at three different points in time, using the following criteria:

• At introduction, at least 25% of sponsorships come from members of each party
• At committee vote, at least 25% of the favorable votes come from members of each party
• At final floor vote, at least 25% of the favorable votes comes from members of each party

These stringent criteria exclude many initiatives that have significant support across party lines and misses many bipartisan efforts. However, bills that meet this criteria are unquestionably bipartisan at that point in time. The criteria allow objective analysis of committee and legislative activity.

The report categorizes bills at the three stages and includes detailed committee data plus data for action in each chamber and the general assembly as a whole. The criteria are not perfect; however, FDPA volunteers developed the criteria so data could be synthesized and shared.

Key Findings:

• Status at Introduction: Nearly 2,800 bills were introduced in 2023; 16% met this report’s criteria for “bipartisan” status at introduction.
• Advancement to First Consideration: Of those bills that were introduced as “bipartisan” bills, 65% are still sitting in committee.
• Reporting from Committees: Many introduced bills did not meet the specific bipartisan criteria and nevertheless received a bipartisan committee vote according to the criteria above. 70% of the nearly 600 bills reported from committee received a bipartisan committee vote.
• Final Floor Vote: Nearly 300 bills passed their first chamber with a bipartisan vote. Of those, less than 40% have received a committee vote in their second chamber. Unanimous bills don’t do much better.
• Unanimous votes: 66 House bills received a unanimous House floor vote and 47% have received a Senate committee vote. 93 Senate bills received a unanimous Senate floor vote and 46% have received a House committee vote. That means more than half of the bills passed unanimously in each chamber are still waiting for action in the other.

Statistical Analysis of Each Committee:

Committees vary widely in the number of bills referred to them, the number of times that they meet and the percent of bipartisan bills that they consider and vote upon. The report offers a detailed examination of each committee’s work.

Conclusions:

The following principles recommended by Fair Districts PA are reaffirmed as the basis for a more effective, responsive legislative process:

• Bills with demonstrated bipartisan support must be guaranteed a vote in committee.
• Bills voted out of committee with bipartisan support must be guaranteed a final floor vote on the chamber floor.
• Bills passed in one chamber with bipartisan support should be given consideration in the other chamber.

Read the report

Watch report presentation