Pennsylvania legislature passes law reversing mineral rights court decision

The Pennsylvania legislature has passed a law that effectively reverses a state Supreme Court decision regarding mineral rights. The ruling follows a long-standing legal dispute led by the Proctor family trust, which claimed ownership of mineral rights beneath state game lands.

While the state Supreme Court ruled in May 2025 that the trust held these rights, the legislature passed new legislation during a rapid budget session to transfer those rights to the state. The Shapiro administration noted that this change could affect up to 1 million acres of state park and forest land. These mineral rights and their associated royalties represent a significant source of funding for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.