SB 1279 Pennsylvania Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act providing for issuance of housing construction permits by executive agencies, for designation of Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer and for timelines for permits related to housing construction; and imposing duties on the Office of Transformation and Opportunity.

SB 1279, known as the Reduce the Red Tape for Housing Act, aims to streamline housing construction permitting in Pennsylvania by requiring executive agencies to set specific processing timelines and adopt digital application systems. The bill introduces a new role called the Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer to coordinate between state agencies, local governments, and developers, while also allowing developers to hire independent third-party reviewers to expedite approvals. Additionally, the Office of Transformation and Opportunity must evaluate ways to improve the building materials supply chain and report on progress in reducing regulatory hurdles for housing projects.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 14, 2026 Last action Jun 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1588 Printer's No. PN1756 · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill update tracks the legislative history of SB 1279 from its initial introduction to a re-reported amended version. The primary substantive change is the addition of a funding provision requiring the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to reimburse the Office for costs incurred in implementing the new permit issuance rules. The document also reflects procedural updates, including the bill's referral to the Appropriations Committee and the inclusion of the re-reported amendment date.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on allowing executive agencies to issue housing construction permits and setting qualifications for third-party reviewers, but it now explicitly includes a mechanism for the state to cover implementation costs.
FISCAL

Added a requirement for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to reimburse the Office for costs related to implementing the new permit and review processes.

TIMELINE

Updated the bill's procedural history to reflect its re-reporting as amended by the Appropriations Committee on June 1, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Updated the printer's number from 1588 to 1756 to reflect the new version of the bill text.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 3, 2026

How they voted

3020
Passed
Total votes 50
Jun 3, 2026
D Democratic23
4 Yea 19 Nay
82% Nay
R Republican27
26 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Jun 3, 2026
Committee
Referred to Housing & Community Development
lower
Jun 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as amended
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Apr 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Urban Affairs & Housing
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors