Housing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1297: An Act amending the act of July 10, 1990 (P.L.404, No.98), known as the Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act, further providing for definitions and for powers and duties of board; and providing for bias and discrimination training, for prohibition of appraisal discrimination and for disparate impact study.

HB 1297 amends Pennsylvania's Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act to require bias and discrimination training for appraisers before certification or renewal, covering topics like housing discrimination history, fair housing laws, and implicit bias. The bill prohibits appraisers from basing property valuations on protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, or source of income, with penalties including voided appraisals, license suspension, and fines. It also mandates an annual statewide audit of appraisal practices to identify discrimination patterns and requires the board to report findings to the legislature and state agencies. This directly affects licensed real estate appraisers and aims to address systemic bias in property valuation.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits appraisal discrimination based on protected characteristics, directly preventing housing discrimination and promoting fair access to housing valuation services.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 607: An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in preliminary provisions, providing for effect of declaration of disaster emergency; and imposing a penalty.

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits evictions for disaster-related job loss and unauthorized entry during emergencies, imposing penalties for violations to protect residential tenants under PA's Landlord-Tenant Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Landlords Tenant Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 1620: An Act authorizing the Department of General Services, with the approval of the Governor, to grant and convey to the Philadelphia Housing Authority certain lands situate in the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County.

HB 1620 authorizes the state Department of General Services to transfer specific lands in Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), subject to the Governor's approval. This procedural bill directly affects the PHA by potentially expanding its land holdings for housing purposes. The key mechanism requires formal conveyance of the designated properties through state administrative channels. The bill does not create new programs or funding but facilitates a land transfer process. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as required.)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill authorizes land transfer to PHA for housing development, directly advancing housing authority's capacity to expand housing stock without restrictions.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 62: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, establishing the Redevelopment Authority Startup Loan Program and the Redevelopment Authority Startup Fund.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReallocates $10M from General Fund to fund redevelopment loans, supporting targeted economic development spending within state budget management.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes $10M fund for residential redevelopment loans, enabling housing development in smaller counties through affordable financing for property redevelopment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement State Budget Community Development Mortgages Property Development

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2025

SB 815: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in realty transfer tax, further providing for excluded transactions; and, in local real estate transfer tax, further providing for imposition.

SB 815 adds an exclusion to Pennsylvania’s state real estate transfer tax for first-time home buyers purchasing single-family residences. It directly affects individuals who have never owned a single-family home (including mobile homes or condos) in Pennsylvania or another state and will reside in the property. The bill defines "first-time home buyer" as someone living in Pennsylvania, domiciled in the home, and without prior ownership of similar properties. This exclusion applies only to the state tax, not local real estate transfer taxes, and takes effect 60 days after enactment. The bill is currently pending in committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax relief for first-time home buyers by excluding them from real estate transfer tax, reducing burden on lower/middle-income residents.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExcludes first-time home buyers from real estate transfer tax, reducing purchase costs and promoting affordable homeownership for qualifying buyers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Homeownership Property Taxes

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 22, 2025

HB 1466: An Act amending Title 7 (Banks and Banking) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in mortgage loan industry licensing and consumer protection, further providing for general requirements.

HB 1466 requires mortgage lenders in Pennsylvania to provide mandatory housing counseling to applicants before processing reverse mortgage loans. Specifically, licensees must arrange in-person, phone, or video counseling from a HUD-approved agency, covering reverse mortgage details and alternatives, and issue a certificate documenting the session. This applies to all applicants for reverse mortgages - loans secured by home equity that don’t require repayment until later - and mandates lenders to keep counseling records for the loan’s duration. The bill directly affects mortgage lenders and reverse mortgage applicants, aiming to improve consumer understanding of this complex financial product.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates HUD-approved counseling for reverse mortgage applicants to prevent predatory lending, protecting homeowners from financial harm in housing transactions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mortgages

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 7, 2025

HB 1696: An Act amending the act of December 3, 1959 (P.L.1688, No.621), known as the Housing Finance Agency Law, establishing the Pennsylvania Lease with Guaranteed Purchase Option Home Ownership Program and the Pennsylvania Lease with Guaranteed Purchase Option Home Ownership Program Fund.

HB 1696 updates Pennsylvania's Housing Finance Agency Law to create a new program enabling low-to-moderate income renters to purchase homes through a lease-with-guaranteed-purchase-option model. The program allows tenants to lease a home for a set period, after which they have the right to buy it at a predetermined price. A dedicated "Pennsylvania Lease with Guaranteed Purchase Option Home Ownership Program Fund" will provide financial support to facilitate this initiative. This bill directly affects eligible renters seeking homeownership opportunities and aims to expand access to affordable housing through this specific lease-to-own mechanism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fund for low-income housing program, advancing government spending on affordable housing initiatives within budget framework.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates a new homeownership program for low-to-moderate income renters via lease-to-purchase with a dedicated fund, directly advancing affordable housing access and owner-occupancy opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Housing Finance

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 25, 2025

SB 780: An Act amending Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in uses of property, providing for encampments.

SB 780 creates new rules for managing encampments in Pennsylvania. It defines an "unauthorized encampment" as a temporary structure housing three or more unrelated people on property without consent, where conditions like garbage, drug activity, or unsafe sanitation exist (an "indication of nuisance"). Property owners must remove such encampments within 30 days or face civil penalties up to $250 per day, while municipalities can enforce removal after a nuisance determination. This law directly affects property owners, local governments, and individuals living in encampments, focusing on public health and safety without creating new housing programs.

Topics ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill enables removal of encampments, restricting housing options for homeless populations and prioritizing property rights over housing access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 8, 2025

HB 1705: An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in creation of leases, statute of frauds and mortgaging of leaseholds, providing for website and disclosure of flood risks.

HB 1705 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to require landlords to disclose flood risk information to tenants. It directly affects landlords and tenants by mandating that flood risk data be made available on a public website, rather than solely through lease documents. The key provision creates a new requirement for landlords to provide access to this flood risk information via an online platform, improving transparency about property flood hazards. This change updates how flood risk disclosures are delivered under the existing law.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates landlord disclosure of flood risks to tenants via public website, enhancing tenant transparency and safety under tenant protections per Landlord and Tenant Act amendments.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 316: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization, further providing for municipal permit denial.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnforces collection of unpaid taxes to support municipal budget stability through permit denial for delinquent accounts.75% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingDenies building permits for properties with unpaid debts/violations, restricting housing development on blighted properties per municipal enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes Community Development

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