Tag: legislative materials

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TJCTC Updates 9.24.2025

Welcome to the latest edition of TJCTC Updates!

As registration for a new year’s programs is just around the corner, we thought that our Updates could use a refresh as well. You will now see three major headings – Important Updates (legal updates, caselaw, and hot topics), Upcoming Events (live education events and new online courses from TJCTC), and Learning Opportunities (education events from other agencies, articles, board questions of the month, and other online learning).

This Update includes a very special section related to Special Session Bills that were signed into law on 9/17, the very last day of our Legislative Update Programs. Also make sure to take a look at the slate of FY26 programs open for registration in the coming weeks. Finally, take some time to celebrate our US Constitution and find some resources to share with your communities.

Special Session Bill Summaries

There were several bills passed during the 2nd Special Session of the Legislature that impact justice courts and constables last week.  One in particular was HB 16 which related to practices and procedures of the judicial branch. A change that we anticipated related to reinstating the $100 fee for Ch. 55A expunctions was included in this bill. This change means that the $100 fee is now back in effect, and was only not applicable from 9/1/2025-9/16/2025. This is a different effective date than what was in the Legislative Updates. See the summaries below for more information.

Special Session 2 SummariesDownload

Deskbooks, Forms, and Other Materials Updates

We have received lots of questions about updates to our materials, and rest easy, we are working on it! Several updated forms went live on September 1, and we will continue to roll out updated materials as they are completed. 

Note, changes for laws going to effect in January will be implemented and posted in November and December. This includes changes to eviction forms and the Evictions Deskbook. Remember, you can see when a form, chart, checklist or deskbook was updated on the page where you download it.

Visit the TJCTC Website

Registration Coming Soon!

Did you know that we are just days out from registration for the FY26 Academic Year Conferences and Workshops??

Registration will open at 8:00 am (Please don’t wake up at midnight…you will be disappointed!) on the following dates:

Justices of the Peace – September 30, 2025

Court Personnel – early October 7, 2025 & regular October 14, 2025

Constables & Deputies – October 21, 2025

*Note: Only court personnel notified by TJCTC are eligible for early registration. This registration is for court personnel who were unable to attend a conference last year. If anyone who is not eligible registers, they will be removed from the registration list and may not get a slot during regular registration.

Click the buttons below to see the agendas, dates, and locations of programs. 

Justice of the Peace
Court Personnel
Constables & Deputies

Highlight on Evictions & Landlord/Tenant Issues

All conferences this year will feature sessions about evictions and landlord/tenant issues and will be updated with all of the new legislative changes.

There will also be special programming exclusively on these topics. One example is the workshop for justices of the peace:

Justice of the Peace Virtual Evictions Workshop – November 12 – 14, 2025 via Zoom

Legal Question of the Month

Question: New EPO Law. Is 31 Days No Longer an Option? I have read several explanations that are vague and confusing. I did see the 31 day option with a line through it in the new law. I have issued many 31 day EPO’s as a “Cooling off” period. Do I still have the Authority to issue a 31 Day EPO? I think 61 days is a bit too long for many of the EPO’s.

Answer: 

No. The line through 31 in the new law means that it has been deleted. This is the new law for the timeframes of EPOs issued on/after 9/1/25:

✳️ If EPO is issued under 17.292(a) (discretionary if one of the listed offenses) or 17.292(b)(1) (mandatory due to serious bodily injury to the victim of FV offense): Timeframe is now at least 61 but no more than 91 days after issuance (instead of 31 and 61).

✳️ If EPO is issued under 17.292(b)(2) (mandatory due to the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon during the commission of an assault in FV situation): Timeframe is now at least 91 but no more than 121 days after issuance (instead of 61 and 91).

Celebrating Constitution Day

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 was Constitution Day, but the celebration and learning doesn’t have to end.

The National Constitution Center, Duquesne University, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Judicial Independence graciously shared with all state judicial educators a video they produced about the importance of judicial independence in our Constitutional democracy. The video features retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer in a conversation with Duquesne University President Ken Gormley (a leading Constitutional scholar).

This video was specifically produced with education in mind, and is perfect to share with teachers and other community members interested in having a discussion on this topic. Feel free to share this with your community or host a discussion. They also provided discussion questions for high schoolers and college students to get you started.

Watch the Video
Discussion QuestionsDownload
College Discussion QuestionsDownload
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Civil Process Updates 8.29.2025 – IMPORTANT

Important Legislative Updates Taking Effect September 1, 2025! 

There are several legislative updates going into effect on Monday, September 1, 2025, so we wanted to make sure you knew about the new laws and the corresponding forms that we have prepared for your use.

Please read this entire email for all of the details, links to forms and other resources, and helpful information!

SB 1333 – Squatters!

This bill has several parts, most of which will impact constable processes. The main new process assigned to constables goes into effect Monday, September1, 2025.

Removal of Unauthorized Occupants (new procedure!)

This is a new procedure described in new Property Code Chapter 24B where property owners (or their agents) can request immediate removal by sheriff/constable of a person unlawfully occupying a dwelling, if:

  • The property was not open to the public when entered,
  • The property is not the subject of pending litigation between the parties,
  • The owner/agent has directed the person to leave, and they have not done so, and
  • The occupant is not a current/former tenant (under written or oral lease), immediate family, owner, or co-owner.

 Who can file?

The complainant must be:

  • the record owner of the property that is the subject of the complaint or the owner’s agent; and
  • otherwise entitled to the relief sought in the complaint.

What is the procedure?

  1. The owner/agent must file a complaint that is sworn or has an unsworn declaration that includes everything listed in the statute and provide ID (and agent must give documentation of authority to act on owner’s behalf). In the county where the property is located. (This means, any precinct.)
  • The Sheriff or Constable must establish the following:
  • The property was not open to the public when entered,
  • The owner/agent is actually the owner and has entitlement to make the complaint,
  • The property is not the subject of pending litigation between the parties,
  • The owner/agent has directed the person to leave, and they have not done so, and
  • The occupant is not a current/former tenant (under written or oral lease), immediate family, owner, or co-owner.
  • If the Sheriff or Constable determines that at least one of the issues exist the owner will be directed to proceed to the proper JP Court for the necessary eviction process.
  • Then without delay, the Sheriff or Constable must serve notice to immediately vacate (by hand delivery or affixing the notice to the front door or entrance of the dwelling) and restore possession to the owner.  
  • The property owner or owner’s agent may request that the sheriff or constable remain on the property to keep the peace while the owner or owner’s agent:
  • changes any locks; and
  • removes any personal property of an occupant from the dwelling and places the personal property at or near the property line of the owner’s property.

Important Notes:

  • Law enforcement may arrest unauthorized occupants for trespass, outstanding warrants, or other offenses for which there is probable cause.
  • Sheriffs/constables may charge a fee equivalent to executing a writ of possession, plus an hourly rate if asked to remain on-site during removal.
  • Sheriffs/constables are shielded from liability for loss/damage during removal.
  • Owners/agents are generally not liable for property loss/damage from removal, but may be sued for wrongful removal and face damages, court costs, and attorney’s fees.
  • The return of service should be provided to the person that filed the complaint and copy kept in the file at the constable/sheriff’s office.

This bill has other parts, including the creation of new criminal offenses. You can learn more by reading the Civil Process Legislative Update Materials on the TJCTC Legislative Page – https://www.tjctc.org/legislative.html

New Forms 

Click the buttons below or visit the TJCTC Forms Page to access the new forms drafted by TJCTC for this process. Special thank you to Constable Chad Jordan’s Office for collaborating on these forms

Complaint To Remove Person Occupying Dwelling Without Owner’s ConsentDownload
Notice to Immediately Vacate — Unauthorized OccupantsDownload

Other Legislative Materials

Want more information about other legislative changes? Visit the TJCTC Legislative Page to download handouts and other information: https://www.tjctc.org/legislative.html

Registration for Programs is Coming Soon!

Civil Process Conferences will open for registration starting on October 21, 2025. Look for more information soon.

There will also be a special workshop this coming academic year, specifically for constables and deputies where we will do a deep dive into all of the recent changes to evictions and landlord/tenant issues!