kgordon, Author at Senator Baker

July 23, 2026

PA House Fails Murder Victims’ Families While Jeopardizing the Safety of Commonwealth’s Communities

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Majority Whip Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), Senate Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13), and Senate Judiciary Chair Lisa Baker (R-20) issued the following statement after the House failed to protect Pennsylvania communities today by refusing to allow a vote on bipartisan legislation passed twice by the Senate: [Read More]

July 14, 2026

Pennsylvania Must Act Now to Secure Justice For The Families Of Victims Who Were Brutally Murdered

In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Commonwealth v. Lee ruled that the sentencing law for second degree murder in Pennsylvania is unconstitutional. Fortunately, the court gave legislators a 120-day window to pass legislation rewriting the law to comply with the ruling. [Read More]

July 13, 2026

Baker: Senate Confirms Pennsylvania Parole Board Nominees

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced the Senate voted to confirm the nominations of Suzanne V. Estrella and Stephen R. Zawisky to serve on the Pennsylvania Parole Board. [Read More]

July 11, 2026

Confirmation hearing to consider the nominations of Suzanne V. Estrella, Esquire and Stephen R. Zawisky, Esquire to the Pennsylvania Parole Board

Senate Judiciary Committee | Hearing Room 1, NOB [Read More]

July 10, 2026

Meeting to consider HB 1042

Senate Judiciary Committee | Off the Floor | Rules Room [Read More]

July 1, 2026

Senate Approves Bill to Increase Transparency and Accountability of Taxpayer-Funded Childcare Programs

Legislation to strengthen oversight of Pennsylvania's taxpayer-funded childcare programs was approved by the Senate, according to Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20), who supported the measure. [Read More]

June 25, 2026

Senate Passes Baker, Langerholc Bill to Preserve Accountability in Second-Degree Murder Cases

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-35) and Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday announced the Senate’s approval of their legislation updating Pennsylvania's sentencing laws for second-degree murder in response to a recent court decision. Under Pennsylvania law, second-degree murder — also known as felony murder — applies when a death occurs during the commission of certain felonies, even if the defendant did not directly cause the killing. [Read More]

June 23, 2026

Judiciary Committee Advances Legislation to Address Second-Degree Murder Sentencing Following Court Ruling

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) and Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-35) announced Senate Judiciary Committee passage of legislation they introduced to update Pennsylvania's sentencing laws for second-degree murder in response to a recent court decision declaring the mandatory life-without-parole sentence for that crime unconstitutional. [Read More]

June 22, 2026

Meeting to consider SB 890, SB 1212 and SB 1400; and HB 2443

Senate Judiciary Committee | Room 8E-B, East Wing [Read More]

June 8, 2026

Meeting to consider SB 1335; and HB 1344

Senate Judiciary Committee | Room 8E-B, East Wing [Read More]