The speaker of the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives says his bill to cut 50 seats from the chamber will be debated next week, which would be the first step in the lengthy process of amending the state constitution.

Republican Speaker Sam Smith of Jefferson County said Friday his main objective is to improve communications and deliberations in the 203-member House that he leads.

Smith says it would make the chamber more efficient and give individual members a greater ability to influence decisions.

The bill in its current form wouldn't change the state Senate, which currently has 50 seats.

Smith says his bill could get a final House vote on Wednesday, but that's not a sure thing. The proposal has 76 co-sponsors.