HB 72 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, providing for tenants' rights in cases of violence.

HB 72 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to create new protections for tenants facing domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking. It defines "eligible tenants" as those who are victims themselves or have an immediate family/household member (living with them or within 1,000 feet) who is a victim of these specific violent acts. The bill requires landlords to provide safety options like changing locks or relocating tenants without penalty upon verification from an "attesting third party" (such as a police officer or victim advocate). This directly affects renters in these situations by ensuring they aren't unfairly evicted or penalized for seeking safety due to violence.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action May 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN3175 → Printer's No. PN3296 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision expands the definition of eligible victims to include immediate family members (parents, guardians, siblings, etc.) and clarifies that 'household members' include those with written landlord authorization. It also updates the required documentation for lease termination to include specific verification forms for death or stalking, and adjusts the notice period from 120 days to 90 days for eligible tenants seeking early release due to domestic violence.

Scope change

The bill now applies to a broader range of victims by explicitly including immediate family members and authorized household members, rather than limiting eligibility only to the primary tenant or a victim residing in the same unit.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the definition of 'eligible tenant' to include those with immediate family members who are victims, regardless of whether the family member lives in the same dwelling unit, provided specific conditions regarding the crime location or victim status are met.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'immediate family member' to include parents, stepparents, legal guardians, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren, clarifying that age does not limit this status.

Clarified the definition of 'household member' to explicitly require written authorization from the landlord for non-traditional residents to be included.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the required notice period for lease termination from 120 days to 90 days for eligible tenants.

Updated the list of acceptable documentation for lease termination to include specific verification of death or stalking incidents and clarified the role of an 'attesting third party' in verifying the tenant's claims.

Printer's No. PN0060 → Printer's No. PN3175 · 10 edits

MAJOR

This bill update significantly expands protections for tenants fleeing domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking by clarifying eligibility criteria, adding new definitions for 'crime' and 'murder,' and strengthening landlord restrictions. Key changes include expanding the definition of 'eligible tenant' to cover victims killed in crimes occurring within 25 miles of their home, explicitly defining 'murder' under state law, and prohibiting landlords from retaliating against tenants or charging early termination fees when victims exercise their right to break a lease for safety reasons.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a broader range of victims, specifically those whose family members were killed in crimes occurring within 25 miles of their residence, and to cover a wider array of criminal acts including those charged or convicted but not yet adjudicated.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new category for 'eligible tenant' to include individuals whose immediate family member was killed in a crime that occurred within 25 miles of the tenant's dwelling unit.

Modified the definition of 'victim' to include individuals against whom an act was committed regardless of whether the responsible party was arrested, charged, or convicted.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'crime' to include acts of domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, or crimes under the Crime Victims Act.

Added a specific definition for 'murder' referencing Pennsylvania's murder statute (18 Pa.C.S. § 2502).

Added a definition for 'household member' to clarify that it includes individuals authorized by the landlord in writing to reside in the unit.

Modified the definition of 'immediate family or household member' to include dependents regardless of age and to clarify the inclusion of domestic partners.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that valid notices for lease termination must be sent via certified mail, priority mail, email, or other written communication specified in the lease.

Modified documentation requirements for lease termination to explicitly exclude 'ex parte' court orders from being accepted as proof of victimization.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new provision explicitly prohibiting landlords from requiring documentation or charging early termination fees if they choose to allow a tenant to terminate a lease early for any reason.

Expanded the list of prohibited landlord retaliatory actions to include increasing rent, decreasing services, or threatening lease termination based on a tenant's exercise of rights under the bill.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2026

How they voted

118–83

Passed

Total votes 201

Apr 29, 2026

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican99

16 Yea 83 Nay

83% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 1, 2026

Committee

Referred to Urban Affairs & Housing

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Jan 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary

lower

1 primary · 27 co-sponsors