HB 1176 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in intestate succession, further providing for shares of others than surviving spouse; and, in dispositions independent of letters, family exemption, probate of wills and grant of letters, further providing for payments to family and funeral directors.

HB 1176 amends Pennsylvania's intestate succession laws (when someone dies without a will) to adjust how assets are distributed to non-spouse relatives, such as children or parents. It specifically modifies the shares allocated to these individuals beyond the surviving spouse's portion. The bill also updates procedures for payments to family members and funeral directors during estate administration. These changes directly affect Pennsylvania residents who die without a will and their non-spouse heirs. The law became effective upon the Governor's approval on November 24, 2025 (Act No. 50 of 2025).
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Nov 2025
House Passage
Nov 2025
Senate Passage
Nov 2025
Signed into Law
Nov 2025
Introduced Apr 9, 2025 Signed Nov 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN2382 Printer's No. PN2599 · 7 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Pennsylvania's intestate succession laws to modernize how estates are distributed when there is no will, and expands protections for families and funeral directors. Key changes include increasing the cash threshold for immediate family access to bank accounts from $10,000 to $20,000 and raising the unclaimed property threshold from $11,000 to $20,000. Additionally, the law now allows estates to pass to an 'Endowed Community Fund' if no relatives exist, with a new requirement that such funds must undergo an annual independent financial audit.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of eligible recipients for unclaimed property and bank deposits to include a broader range of family members (specifically siblings) and introduces a new category of recipient (Endowed Community Fund) for estates with no surviving relatives.
FISCAL

Increased the maximum amount of funds in a bank account that can be immediately paid to family members without court intervention from $10,000 to $20,000.

Raised the threshold for unclaimed property held by the State Treasurer that can be distributed to family members from $11,000 to $20,000.

ELIGIBILITY

Added siblings as eligible recipients for immediate payment of bank deposits and unclaimed property, alongside spouses, children, and parents.

Created a new eligibility category for estates to pass to an 'Endowed Community Fund' if no surviving relatives exist.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that any Endowed Community Fund receiving an estate must be subject to an annual independent financial audit.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'Endowed Community Fund' to explicitly include the annual audit requirement.

TIMELINE

Adjusted the effective date for the amendment of Section 3101(e)(1)(i) (unclaimed property) from 60 days to 180 days.

Floor votes · Senate Nov 18, 2025 · House Oct 1, 2025

How they voted

490
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 50
Nov 18, 2025
D Democratic23
22 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican27
27 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
12
Committee
14
Amendments
1
Nov 24, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor
lower
Nov 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendments
lower
Nov 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported on concurrence, as committed
lower
Nov 19, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules
lower
Nov 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Nov 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Nov 17, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Nov 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amended on third consideration
upper
Oct 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Oct 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
upper
Oct 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Oct 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Sep 30, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Sep 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jul 14, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Rules
lower
Jul 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Jun 30, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Judiciary
lower
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported with request to re-refer to Judiciary
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Finance
lower
1 primary · 25 co-sponsors

Sponsors