Allegheny County Council introduces referendum on chief executive term limits and multiple ordinances; most items sent to committee
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Summary
Allegheny County Council introduced a referendum to place term limits on the county chief executive on the May 19, 2026 primary ballot and read several other ordinances (on immigrant access to county services, jail code changes, procurement, tax exemptions and ethics). Council staff said each item will be referred to relevant committees for review.
Allegheny County Council opened its meeting with a series of ordinance introductions that the presiding officer and council staff said would be referred to committee for further consideration.
Council staff read an ordinance proposing a referendum to amend Article 35B of the Allegheny County Home Rule Charter to place term limits on only the county chief executive and place that question on the May 19, 2026 primary ballot. The clerk identified Council Members Katina, Hallam, Griswag, Rose and Madonna Emerling as sponsors; the presiding officer said the item will go to the committee on government reform.
Staff also read an ordinance to create a new Part 13 of the administrative code to codify the county's practice of providing county services "without regard to refugee or immigration status." That measure was listed as sponsored by Council Members Hallam, Bada, Madonna Emmerling, Schulman, Grisbeck and Rose; the presiding officer said it will be sent to government reform.
Other items introduced and referred to committee included: an amendment to the Allegheny County Jail provisions in Chapter 205 described by staff as codifying existing federal-law provisions at the county level; an amendment to clarify formal procurement and selection standards for large county contracts (new article 903); a proposed tax-exemption program for long-time owner-occupants of residential properties (new article 13); an update to the county ethics code replacing Article 1013; and authorization to rename Youghiogheny River Bridge No. 1 (Suitorsville Bridge) in Elizabeth Township/Suitorsville Borough. Council staff read sponsor names and basic summaries into the record and indicated committee referrals for each item.
None of the ordinances were adopted at the meeting; council members did not take final votes during this session. The presiding officer repeatedly directed the items to the relevant committees for detailed review and potential future action.