HB 1307 allows homeless minors aged 16 or older who are self-supporting without parental financial or physical support to legally enter contracts for housing, employment, medical care (including domestic violence services), bank accounts, and automobile insurance. It requires parental consent (expressed or implied through actions like barring the minor from home or refusing support) or provider verification that returning home would cause harm. Minors’ consent for these services is binding like an adult’s and cannot be disaffirmed later, with providers protected from liability if they follow the consent procedures. The bill directly affects vulnerable homeless youth in Pennsylvania seeking independent access to essential services.
HB 844 creates Pennsylvania's Housing Construction Loan Program and a dedicated Housing Construction Loan Fund under the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. The program provides loans to eligible builders (those operating in Pennsylvania for at least three years) for constructing new homes sold to low- and moderate-income households, and to those households for financing such homes. Key provisions limit loans to 80% of a county’s median home price, cap terms at 15 years, and require all sales to remain affordable to target households. Funds for the program come from state appropriations, grants, and loan repayments, managed through the State Treasury.
HB 1003 establishes Pennsylvania's Veterans' Housing Assistance Program to provide rental assistance to homeless or at-risk veterans. It directly affects veterans who served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces and are identified as homeless or facing imminent homelessness by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The program provides rental vouchers (financial assistance) to cover monthly rent and utilities, while the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency coordinates housing ombudsman services to negotiate leases and resolve credit issues, and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs identifies eligible veterans and sets implementation guidelines. Veterans must apply through the Department or Agency and may be required to participate in supportive services like mental health counseling or job training to receive assistance.
HB 303 amends Pennsylvania's sales tax code to exclude construction materials and services purchased by contractors for affordable housing projects from state sales tax. It directly affects construction contractors working on housing defined as "affordable" under existing law (section 1902-A), covering projects involving construction, remodeling, repair, or maintenance. The bill adds a new tax exclusion (section 204(77)) to the 1971 Tax Reform Code, removing sales tax liability for these specific materials and services. This policy change takes effect 60 days after enactment.
This Pennsylvania bill prohibits real estate service agreements that unfairly bind future property owners, create liens, or allow silent assignment without owner notification. It makes such agreements unenforceable, bans their recording (with misdemeanor penalties), and allows consumers to sue for damages - $5,000 minimum or actual losses, $15,000 for seniors over 60. The law directly affects homeowners and buyers who sign real estate service contracts, ensuring transparency and preventing deceptive terms. It also provides remedies including debt forgiveness, attorney fees, and court orders to void invalid agreements.
HB 225 establishes tax-advantaged savings accounts in Pennsylvania for first-time home buyers. It allows individuals who haven’t owned a home in the past three years to open accounts with financial institutions, designating themselves or another person as the "qualified beneficiary" for down payments and closing costs on a single-family residence. Account holders can deduct up to $5,000 annually (or $10,000 for joint filers) from their taxable income, with a lifetime cap of $150,000 total contributions across all accounts. The bill directly affects eligible Pennsylvania residents seeking to purchase their first home, providing a state-level tax incentive to save for homeownership.
HB 584 creates a program to help Pennsylvania homeowners address lead paint hazards in older homes. It establishes a Lead Abatement Grant Program, where municipalities receive competitive grants to fund lead hazard control work (like paint removal or soil cleanup) for single-family homes and rental properties. The program prioritizes low-income households (under 50% of median income) and homes with children under six. Funding comes from a 50¢ surcharge on each gallon of architectural paint sold to consumers, deposited into a dedicated Lead Abatement Assistance Fund. The surcharge applies to standard interior/exterior paint for homeowners or businesses, not industrial or aerosol products.
HB 2023 amends Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 to update eviction procedures. It directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords seeking to regain property by requiring courts to hold hearings before eviction judgments, setting specific deadlines for issuing writs of possession, and clarifying how tenants must pay rent during the legal process. The bill adds new procedural requirements for each step in eviction cases, including detailed rules for rent payments to prevent or resolve disputes. These changes aim to standardize and clarify the eviction process without altering core tenant or landlord rights. The bill is currently referred to the Housing & Community Development committee.
SB 34 authorizes Pennsylvania to sell approximately 1.71 acres of land at 2100 West Girard Avenue in Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) for $50,000. The bill requires PHA to develop the property exclusively as senior housing and mixed-income affordable housing within five years (with a possible 10-year extension), including a certificate of occupancy for each component. If development isn’t completed on time or the property is used for other purposes (like licensed facilities), the land must revert to the state. This transfer affects PHA’s housing projects and future residents of the planned development.
HB 1650 establishes Pennsylvania's Home Preservation Grant Program, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development. It provides grants to local governments (counties, cities, townships) to fund repairs and improvements on existing owner-occupied homes, targeting households earning 80-120% of the area median income. Grants can cover up to $50,000 per unit for habitability fixes, energy/water efficiency upgrades, or accessibility modifications, with local governments allowed to use up to 10% of funds for administration. Applications must demonstrate experience in housing rehabilitation and include plans for using funds per the bill's requirements, with priority given to projects leveraging additional funding sources.
