Standing Committee Records are the workforce of the House Archives and the backbone of Pennsylvania’s legislative system. It is in Standing Committees that bills are discussed, researched, dissected and sometimes, if deemed worthy, rebuilt and/or approved. As a result of House Rule 48 in 1978, Standing Committee Chairmen are required to deposit their records with the House Archives at the end of every two-year session.
Because each Standing Committee has a different Chairperson, the types and volume of record varies greatly, as does the research quality. Many of these collections are veritable treasure troves providing valuable insight into the original need for a bill, the support and/or opposition of the bill by Pennsylvania’s citizens and interest groups, the amount of research performed by the staff, 
and the reasons why a bill did or did not progress to be voted on the House Floor. Other collections contain attendance records, voting records and House Blue Backs (House Bills that were not voted out of a Committee). Notes describing the specific content and arrangement of each collection will, as much as possible, direct researchers to the depth of material available.
If you are looking for Committee Records that are listed below, but are not available in our Online Collections, please contact the House Archives for access.
The following list indicates the Standing Committee Records available through the House Archives:
- Aging and Youth Committee, 1991-2000
- Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, 2001-present
- Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, 1979-present
- Appropriations Committee, 1977-present
- Business and Commerce Committee, 1977-1992
- Business and Economic Development Committee, 1993-1994
- Children and Youth Committee, 2001-present
- Commerce Committee, 2003-present
- Commerce and Economic Development, 1995-2002
- Conservation Committee, 1979-1994
- Consumer Affairs Committee, 1977-present
- Consumer Protection Committee, 1971-1976
- Education Committee, 1973-present
- Environmental Resources and Energy, 1995-present
- Federal State Relations, 1977-1994
- Finance Committee, 1979-present
- Game and Fisheries Committee, 1981-present
- Gaming Oversight Committee, 2007-present
- Health and Human Services Committee, 1995-present
- Health and Welfare Committee, 1973-1994
- Insurance Committee, 1979-1980, 1983-present
- Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, 1995-present
- Judiciary Committee, 1979-present
- Labor Relations Committee, 1979-present
- Liquor Control Committee, 1973-1974, 1977-present
- Local Government Committee, 1969-1976, 1979-1980, 1983-present
- Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, 1983-1994
- Mines and Energy Management Committee, 1975-1976, 1979-1988
- Mines and Minerals Committee, 1973-1974
- Professional Licensure Committee, 1985-present
- Rules Committee, 1993-present
- State Government Committee, 1979-present
- Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, 1993-present
- Transportation Committee, 1975-1976, 1979-present
- Urban Affairs Committee, 1981-present
- Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, 1995-present
- Youth and Aging Committee, 1989-1990
* Some records on the Committee on Agriculture and Dairy Industries, 1968 and Committee on Agriculture, 1973-1976 are located in former Representative Reno Thomas Papers.