This bill creates a new grant program and fund to encourage local governments in Pennsylvania to build large-scale workforce housing near major economic development projects. To qualify for funding, counties or municipalities must adopt specific pro-housing policies, such as reducing permit fees, allowing higher-density zoning, and eliminating parking requirements, while also approving a project with at least 50 residential units. The program is designed to help areas that might otherwise struggle to attract housing development by providing financial support to those that streamline their approval processes and infrastructure for new construction.
This bill creates a new grant program in Pennsylvania to encourage the construction of workforce housing in areas that might otherwise resist such development. Local governments can apply for funding if they commit to adopting at least five specific pro-housing policies, such as reducing permit fees, allowing higher-density zoning, or eliminating parking requirements. The program aims to increase home ownership and support major economic projects by providing financial assistance to counties and municipalities that streamline their housing approval processes.
This bill updates Pennsylvania's Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act to clarify what counts as a redevelopment assistance capital project and removes a spending cap on housing construction. It defines these projects as those that generate economic activity, have regional impact, and include at least 50% non-state funding, while explicitly excluding highways, bridges, and waste or water facilities. Additionally, the legislation repeals a specific provision that previously limited the use of funds for building housing units to $50 million. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for borrowing money to fund large-scale community and economic development initiatives.
SB 876 establishes Pennsylvania's Home Preservation Grant Program, which provides funding to local governments (counties, cities, townships) to rehabilitate existing owner-occupied housing. The program requires grants to address habitability, improve energy/water efficiency, or increase accessibility for units owned by households earning no more than 120% of the area median income. Grants cannot exceed $50,000 per unit and may cover up to 10% of funds for administrative costs. Local governments must apply with detailed plans showing how funds will meet these requirements, with applications reviewed by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
HB 1062 creates a statewide system for tracking neighborhood blight by requiring municipalities to collect data on property maintenance violations. It establishes a Property Maintenance Code Serious Violations Registry to list properties with repeated severe maintenance issues and a dedicated funding account to support blight remediation efforts. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania municipalities, property owners, and landlords in areas designated as blighted, providing local governments with standardized data to target enforcement. Key provisions include mandatory data collection by cities/towns, a centralized registry for serious violations, and dedicated funding through the new account to aid property rehabilitation. If enacted, this would standardize blight reporting and funding across Pennsylvania communities.
HB 1574 creates a new loan program and fund to help local redevelopment authorities start community renewal projects. It establishes a Redevelopment Authority Startup Fund to provide low-interest loans for initiatives like rebuilding neighborhoods or revitalizing downtown areas. This directly affects cities and towns with active redevelopment agencies, giving them a new way to finance early-stage projects. The bill amends the Fiscal Code to set up this funding mechanism, changing how these local agencies access capital for urban renewal efforts.
HB 607 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to protect residential tenants during declared disaster emergencies. It prohibits landlords from evicting tenants who lost jobs due to the emergency or entering rental units to show properties without consent during such periods. Violations carry a minimum $500 penalty per occurrence, and the law specifically applies to residential leases, not commercial properties. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and is currently under review by the Housing & Community Development committee.
SB 62 establishes a new $10 million Redevelopment Authority Startup Fund within Pennsylvania's state treasury, funded by a $10 million transfer from the General Fund. It creates a loan program allowing qualified local redevelopment authorities in smaller counties (non-first/second class) to receive startup loans of up to $500,000 at 2% interest, repayable over 10 years. These loans can be used exclusively for purchasing, redeveloping, or remediating residential or commercial properties, but not for operating expenses or debt refinancing. The program aims to support economic development in underserved communities by providing low-cost capital through a revolving fund that replenishes with repayments.
HB 316 allows Pennsylvania municipalities to deny building permits to property owners with specific unpaid debts or unaddressed violations. It directly affects owners of real property, particularly corporations or LLCs, who owe unpaid taxes, water/sewer bills, or have serious uncorrected code violations (like failing to fix blight) after six months of notification. The bill requires municipalities to specify the property address and court details in denial notices, prohibits denying permits needed to correct violations, and imposes a $1,000 fine on corporations that fail to disclose such delinquencies when applying for permits. It aims to prioritize blight remediation by linking permit access to property maintenance compliance.
HB 1446 allows local governments to grant tax exemptions for improvements and redevelopment of vacant or underused properties, directly affecting property owners and developers who redevelop sites like abandoned lots or outdated buildings. It establishes a state-level Economic Development and Mixed-Use Redevelopment Advisory Committee within the State Planning Board to advise on eligible projects and guide implementation. The Department of Community and Economic Development is given authority to manage the program, including setting eligibility rules and overseeing tax exemption approvals. The bill aims to incentivize revitalization of neglected properties by reducing financial barriers for redevelopment. This policy change focuses on concrete tax incentives and administrative structure, not speculative economic outcomes.
