HB 129 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of December 17, 1968 (P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, further providing for definitions.

HB 129 updates specific definitions within Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (enacted in 1968). It clarifies terms used in the law to improve consistency in how consumer protection rules are applied. This change directly affects businesses operating under the law and consumers seeking to understand their rights under the statute. The bill focuses solely on refining terminology, not altering substantive consumer protections or enforcement mechanisms.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jul 2025

House Passage

Jul 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Jul 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1875 → Printer's No. PN2061 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill update clarifies the definition of 'negative option plans' to explicitly include automatic renewals and continuity plans, while tightening disclosure requirements for sellers. It extends the notification deadline for renewals from 30 days to 35 days for contracts lasting three months or more and changes the effective date of the act from 60 days to 180 days. Additionally, the bill adds new exemptions for services regulated by federal or state utility commissions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to more clearly define prohibited practices and to include specific exemptions for regulated utility services and franchise holders.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'negative option plan' was updated to explicitly list automatic renewals, continuity plans, and free-to-pay conversions as examples of prohibited practices.

REQUIREMENT

The required notification period for automatic renewals was increased from 30 days to 35 days for renewal periods of three months or longer.

TIMELINE

The date the law takes effect was changed from 60 days to 180 days after enactment.

ELIGIBILITY

New exemptions were added for businesses regulated by the FCC, FERC, or the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and for services related to natural gas and electric utility restructuring.

Floor votes · House Jun 30, 2025

How they voted

203–0

Passed

Total votes 203

Jun 30, 2025

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican101

101 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure

upper

Jul 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Jul 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Jun 30, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (203-0)

house

Jun 30, 2025

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Jun 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Jun 10, 2025

Committee

Re-committed to Rules

lower

Jun 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Committee

Referred to Communications & Technology

lower

1 primary · 18 co-sponsors