Rabb applauds legislation amending second-degree murder sentencing

Rep. Christopher M. Rabb July 24, 2026 | 4:49 PM

HARRISBURG, July 24 – Today, state Rep. Chris Rabb applauds the House passage of H.B. 1042, amending second-degree murder sentencing following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s ruling on Commonwealth v. Lee.

The bill would end the practice of mandatory life sentences for second-degree murder, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision on March 26. The bill would replace the automatic life without parole sentence for second-degree murder with sentencing linked to an offender’s level of culpability. It also lets people serving time in state prison earn vocational training and education credit toward limited sentence reduction, fostering better post-release outcomes, and saves taxpayer money by allowing petitions to release extremely ill people from prison.

“I’m pleased that the General Assembly has fulfilled its constitutional obligation to pass a sentencing framework that reflects individual culpability and aligns our laws with the basic principles of justice,” Rabb said. “Following the Supreme Court’s decree, we’re ending a one-size-fits-all punishment that treats people who never intended to kill the same as those who did. I’d like to thank all the advocates, organizers, researchers and Pennsylvanians impacted directly by this injustice; as they spoke up and refused to accept a system not rooted in fairness.”

Throughout his tenure in the legislature, Rabb has remained a steadfast advocate for reforming the state’s criminal legal system.

Rabb’s bill to end mandatory life without parole for second-degree murder was referred to the House Judiciary Committee in November 2022 and was never brought up for a vote.

House Bill 1042 has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

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