HARRISBURG, PA – March 31, 2025 – A group of Pennsylvania Senators has reintroduced a set of bills designed to reduce the barriers transgender Pennsylvanians face when legally changing their names. Known as the Name Change Reform Package, the legislative effort championed by Senators Amanda M. Cappelletti, Katie Muth, Tim Kearney, and Lindsey Williams, includes five bills aimed at making the process more accessible, affordable, and secure—particularly for transgender individuals, who often face significant hurdles under the current system.
“At the end of the day, this is about treating people like people,” said Senator Tim Kearney. “Trans individuals already face incredible challenges just trying to live authentically. Our job as legislators should be to make things easier, not harder. That’s exactly what SB510, and this entire package is designed to do.”
Today, on Trans Day of Visibility, the senators joined their colleagues in the House and stood with advocates at a rally hosted at the state Capitol. The rally served as a timely and powerful call to action, highlighting the significant challenges facing the transgender community under the current political climate. As efforts to roll back protections and limit rights continue at the federal level, the Name Change Reform Package stands as a clear example of the senators’ ongoing commitment to support trans Pennsylvanians through inclusive, forward-thinking policy at the state level.
“Transgender people have the right to live freely and safely – and that includes having legal documents that reflect their authentic selves,” said Senator Cappelletti. “I’m proud to work with my Democratic colleagues in the Senate, Senators Muth, Kearney, and Lindsey Williams, on the Name Change Reform Legislative package which is aimed at removing barriers transgender individuals, gender non-confirming individuals, and members of the LGBTQ community face when changing their name in the Commonwealth. We will keep up the fight for these bills and other policies that uplift and support the trans community across Pennsylvania.”
Sponsored by Senators Amanda M. Cappelletti, Katie Muth, Tim Kearney, and Lindsey Williams, the package includes:
- SB510 – Grants to LGBTQ Organizations
- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 510 (2025-2026) proposes creating the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Program to help individuals—particularly those in the transgender community—afford the legal costs of changing their names.
- SB477 – Removal of Sex Designation from Certain State Documents
- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 477 (2025–2026) proposes removing the requirement to include a person’s sex designation on certain state forms and documents. By allowing more inclusive and accurate identification options, the goal is to protect privacy and reduce barriers for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
- SB521 – Elimination of the Publication Requirement for Name Changes
- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 521 (2025–2026), sponsored by Senator Katie Muth, aims to remove the requirement to publish a name change in a newspaper. This change would protect privacy and safety—especially for transgender individuals—by eliminating a public step in the legal name change process that can expose people to discrimination or harm.
- SB448 – Administrative Name Change Streamlining
- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 448 (2025–2026), sponsored by Senator Amanda Cappelletti, focuses on streamlining the administrative name change process. The bill aims to make the process faster, more efficient, and less burdensome by cutting through unnecessary red tape and simplifying paperwork requirements—making it easier for people to change their names legally.
- SB437 – Navigating PA’s Name Change Process
- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 437 (2025–2026), sponsored by Senator Lindsey Williams, aims to make the name change process easier to understand and navigate. It would require the state to provide clear, accessible information and guidance to help people through each step of legally changing their name—especially those who may face barriers like language access or legal complexity.
Each bill targets specific obstacles in the name change process, from reducing unnecessary costs and public exposure to removing outdated requirements that can endanger trans individuals.
The senators emphasized that while comprehensive reform is still needed, these measures represent critical first steps in improving safety, privacy, and dignity for Pennsylvania’s trans community.
“As many basic human rights continue to be under attack in Washington, it is more important than ever for our Commonwealth to ensure that our transgender community is guaranteed the right to safe and authentic gender expression,” Senator Muth said. “This package of legislation will finally remove some of the barriers and discrimination our LGBTQ+ community members continue to face when seeking to legally change their name. I am proud to work with my Senate Democratic colleagues on this important issue.”
“The current name change process is complicated, time-consuming, expensive, and opens trans and nonbinary people up to discrimination and threats,” said Senator Williams. “My office is proud to have helped numerous individuals navigate a name change, and while we work to make the process better for everyone, we are here to be a continuing resource for the LGBTQ+ community, trans kids, and their families. If you or anyone you know is looking for help, please contact one of my offices. We would be honored to serve you, regardless of where you live in Pennsylvania.”
For more information about this press release, contact Senator Tim Kearney’s office at 610-544-6120.
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