Housing

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 843: An Act amending the act of November 24, 1976 (P.L.1176, No.261), known as the Manufactured Home Community Rights Act, further providing for closure of manufactured home communities.

HB 843 amends Pennsylvania's Manufactured Home Community Rights Act to strengthen residents' ability to purchase their community when it faces closure. It requires community owners to provide 120 days' written notice to residents, local authorities, and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency before closing, with residents given at least 180 days to vacate. The bill mandates that owners negotiate in good faith with resident associations representing 25% of spaces or nonprofits acting on residents' behalf, and establishes a process for residents to match competing offers or use a mutually agreed appraiser to set purchase prices if negotiations fail. This ensures residents can prevent displacement by buying the community, with the option to assign purchase rights to local housing authorities to maintain affordable housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStrengthens tenant protections by requiring 120-day notice, 180-day vacate period, and good-faith negotiation for manufactured home communities facing closure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 743: An Act amending Title 68 (Real and Personal Property) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in land banks, further providing for acquisition of property and providing for municipal acquisition of real property.

This bill allows land banks to acquire blighted or abandoned properties under specific conditions. Municipalities must verify properties have been vacant/blighted for 5 years (with exceptions for unimproved land), have building code violations or tax delinquency, and send three certified mail notices to owners. Property owners can appeal by submitting a redevelopment plan with financing, architectural details, or developer contracts; if approved, they get 6-month extensions but must meet redevelopment timelines. Land banks must pay owners the property's appraised value minus fines or liens, directly affecting land banks, municipalities, and owners of distressed properties.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables land banks to acquire blighted properties for redevelopment, advancing housing development and urban renewal by clearing vacant/abandoned sites.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Property Development Property Taxes

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 87: An Act amending the act of May 28, 1937 (P.L.955, No.265), referred to as the Housing Authorities Law, providing for training requirement for members of authority.

SB 87 requires members of Pennsylvania's housing authorities to complete an 8-hour mandatory training program within 180 days of taking office or reappointment. The training, developed by the Department of Community and Economic Development and covering topics like fair housing, budgeting, ethics, and building codes, must be provided at no cost to authorities. This applies to all current and new housing authority members, including those appointed after the law takes effect. The program aims to improve governance and accountability for local housing authorities managing public housing projects. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates fair housing training for housing authority members, strengthening tenant protection compliance and anti-discrimination practices.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 670: An Act amending the act of May 28, 1937 (P.L.955, No.265), referred to as the Housing Authorities Law, providing for public housing safety committees; further providing for requirements regarding tenants and landlords in cities of the first class; and providing for background checks for landlords.

Senate Bill 670 amends the Housing Authorities Law to establish new procedures for public housing applicants with criminal records and expands requirements for landlords in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. It creates Public Housing Safety Committees, comprising the Authority's Executive Director, District Attorney, and President Judge, to review applicants with certain criminal offenses on a case-by-case basis, evaluating potential threats to resident safety. The bill also broadens requirements for all Housing Authorities (previously limited to first-class cities) to ensure compliance with federal criminal activity rules for tenants and to deny Housing Choice Voucher Program approval to landlords with delinquent property taxes. Additionally, it requires law enforcement agencies to provide background checks to landlords in the Housing Choice Voucher Program upon request.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands landlord requirements in Housing Choice Voucher Program and creates safety committees for tenant protection, strengthening tenant rights within affordable housing programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 1037: An Act amending the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, in subdivision and land development, further providing for contents of subdivision and land development ordinance.

HB 1037 amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to allow municipalities to permit the replacement of demolished one- or two-family homes with structurally similar residential buildings using the original property's setback standards. This provision directly affects homeowners seeking to rebuild single-family or duplex properties and local governments issuing building permits. The key mechanism requires municipalities to provide these original setback standards to applicants when approving such replacements, streamlining the rebuilding process while maintaining consistent lot coverage. The bill does not change zoning requirements but offers flexibility for residential reconstruction within existing development patterns.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables rebuilding single-family homes under original setback standards, directly facilitating housing development without restricting density or requiring new approvals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Zoning

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 570: An Act providing for middle-income, low-income and very-low-income housing units in new residential development projects.

HB 570 requires developers of new residential projects with 30 or more units to include affordable housing units. Specifically, projects must reserve 5% of units for very-low-income households (earning 50% or less of the area median income), 10% for low-income households (up to 80% of median income), and 10% for middle-income households (80-120% of median income). Developers must meet phased completion targets as market-rate units are finished - such as 10% affordable units when 25% of market units are complete - and municipalities may withhold certificates of occupancy if requirements aren’t met. The bill directly affects developers of qualifying new residential projects in Pennsylvania, aiming to increase housing options for lower-income residents.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 5-20% affordable housing units in new developments for low/middle-income households, directly advancing affordable housing access per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Property Development Zoning

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 546: 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 residential rental property rate increases; and establishing the Rent Control Advisory Board.

SB 546 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to regulate rent increases for residential properties. It limits annual rent hikes to the greater of 10% or the county's annual area median income increase, requires landlords to disclose rent discounts separately, and prohibits more than one increase per year for the same tenant without agreement. The bill establishes a Rent Control Advisory Board (appointed with tenant, developer, housing, and government representatives) to monitor implementation, issue annual reports, and track county median income data. It directly affects all residential landlords and tenants in Pennsylvania by setting clear rent increase rules and creating oversight for enforcement. Violations require landlords to pay three months' rent plus damages to affected tenants.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingLimits rent hikes to 10% or median income increase, prohibits multiple annual increases, requires rent discount disclosure - directly strengthens tenant protections and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 1020: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization, further providing for definitions and providing for vacant and blighted property registration; and imposing penalties.

HB 1020 creates a system for Pennsylvania municipalities to register vacant and blighted properties and impose annual fees on owners who fail to bring properties into compliance with municipal codes. Properties remain on the registry until owners fix issues or sell to compliant buyers, with fees starting at $500 in year one and rising to $5,000 after nine years. Exemptions include properties under active renovation (within 12 months of a permit), those actively marketed for sale/rent (with time limits), and government-owned properties. This directly affects property owners in municipalities that adopt the registration program, requiring them to pay escalating fees if properties remain unaddressed.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill incentivizes property maintenance to revitalize neighborhoods, reducing blight and supporting housing development through municipal enforcement of compliance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Renters

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Nov 19, 2025

HB 1664: An Act providing for the redevelopment of older buildings; and establishing the Older Building Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program and the Older Building Redevelopment Fund.

HB 1664 establishes a state grant program and a dedicated fund to provide financial assistance for renovating or redeveloping older buildings. The Older Building Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program would offer grants to property owners and developers to update aging commercial or residential structures, with funding sourced from the newly created Older Building Redevelopment Fund. This bill directly affects owners of older buildings seeking to redevelop properties that may lack modern infrastructure. The program aims to support local revitalization efforts through state-funded grants, though the bill remains pending after being laid on the table.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated state fund and grant program to allocate budget resources for building redevelopment, directly funding property owner renovations through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes state grants/fund for renovating older residential/commercial buildings, directly funding housing redevelopment to modernize aging structures and increase housing stock availability.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Historic Preservation

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 702: An Act amending the act of June 27, 2006 (1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1873, No.1), known as the Taxpayer Relief Act, in senior citizens property tax and rent rebate assistance, further providing for definitions.

HB 702 amends the definition of "claimant" in Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to clarify eligibility for senior citizens' property tax and rent rebate assistance. The bill specifies three qualifying categories: individuals aged 65 or older (or with a spouse aged 65+), widows or widowers aged 50 or older, and permanently disabled persons aged 18 or older during the tax year. This change directly affects seniors, widows/widowers, and disabled residents applying for the rebate program by providing clearer eligibility standards. The amendment updates existing definitions without creating new benefits or altering funding. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies eligibility for senior/disabled tax rebates, expanding access to existing relief program. Directly provides tax benefit to vulnerable groups, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingClarifies eligibility for senior/disabled rent/property tax rebates, directly reducing housing costs for vulnerable groups under existing assistance program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Property Taxes Renters

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