HB 214 amends Pennsylvania's realty transfer tax code to exclude first-time home buyers from paying the state transfer tax on purchases of single-family residences. It defines "first-time home buyer" as someone who has never owned any single-family home (including manufactured homes or condos) in Pennsylvania or another state, resides in the property, and is domiciled there. The exclusion applies only when all individuals named on the deed qualify as first-time buyers. Local governments (like cities or townships) cannot apply this exclusion to their separate real estate transfer taxes, which remain applicable. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
SB 745 amends Pennsylvania's Manufactured Home Community Rights Act to strengthen tenant protections and clarify rent increase rules for manufactured home residents. The bill requires community owners to allow resident associations and group meetings, mandates 180 days' notice for rent/fee increases (up from 60 days), and caps annual increases based on the regional consumer price index (max 4% or 2% if CPI is low). It also creates a process for owners to seek temporary 2% surcharges for extraordinary operating costs, requiring detailed financial disclosures and resident input before implementation. These changes directly affect manufactured home residents and community owners across Pennsylvania.
HB 1250 amends Pennsylvania's Manufactured Home Community Rights Act to protect residents in manufactured home communities. It requires community owners to allow resident associations and group meetings, and mandates 90-day advance notice for rent increases. The bill caps annual rent hikes at 2-4% (based on regional inflation data), prohibits increases during unresolved health/safety violations, and requires clear disclosure of all fees in leases. These changes directly affect approximately 150,000 manufactured home residents and community owners across Pennsylvania, aiming to prevent exploitative rent practices and stabilize housing costs.
HB 614 establishes Pennsylvania's Shared Housing and Resource Exchange Program, designed to help residents aged 60 or older who need housing find shared living arrangements with approved hosts. The Department of Aging will operate the program, requiring hosts to have at least two bedrooms (with one exclusively for the participant), charge no more than 30% of the participant's gross monthly income in rent, and sign a home-sharing agreement. The department will match participants with hosts based on location, lifestyle, and preferences, then facilitate the agreements. The program will be funded by state appropriations and take effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 510 amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Financial Recovery Act to require receivers managing financially distressed municipalities to consult the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) before selling, leasing, or disposing of water or wastewater systems. The PUC must analyze within 90 days whether the transaction would raise residential utility rates by 25% or more, and if so, the receiver cannot proceed. This rule directly affects receivers and financially distressed municipalities when handling public utility assets. The bill establishes a clear procedural safeguard to prevent significant rate increases for residents during asset transactions.
HB 1328 creates a new program providing property tax and rent rebates to eligible Pennsylvania veterans. It directly affects veterans honorably discharged from U.S. armed forces (including National Guard) within the past three years who live in Pennsylvania. The bill establishes income-based rebates: $650 for households earning $0-$8,000, $500 for $8,001-$15,000, $300 for $15,001-$18,000, and $250 for $18,001-$35,000 annually. A new Veterans Property Tax Rebate Account will fund these rebates, which apply to real property taxes or rent payments exceeding 15% of household income.
HB 914 amends Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to limit annual rent increases for regulated rental units, directly affecting tenants and landlords in these properties. It establishes an annual rent increase allowance calculated as the lesser of CPI-U plus 3% or 6% of base rent (excluding discounts), effective July 1-June 30 each year. Landlords may not exceed this allowance plus any unused "banked amount" when raising rent on lease renewals or new leases, with a 10% cap on increases. For capital improvements costing 40%+ of a unit's value, landlords can petition courts for additional rent increases to cover actual costs, but only if proven necessary for a "fair return" on investment. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency administers the annual allowance calculation and public publication.
HB 841 requires Pennsylvania state agencies to complete an annual survey of all Commonwealth-owned real property by March 1 each year. Agencies must identify surplus land and, in consultation with the Department of Community and Economic Development, assess each surplus parcel's potential for affordable housing development for very low-income, low-income, and middle-income households. The Department of Community and Economic Development will compile these surveys, report to the legislature, and evaluate whether surplus properties can be transferred to other agencies for more appropriate use. This bill amends the Administrative Code of 1929 to establish these annual requirements for managing state-owned property.
HB 1778 establishes a pilot program called the Essential Energy Stability Fund to provide limited financial assistance for utility bills to eligible low-income households during off-season periods (outside regular peak billing cycles). The fund would use a dedicated state appropriation to help households manage unexpected energy costs when they might face financial strain. This temporary program is designed to test whether targeted off-season support can improve energy affordability for vulnerable residents. The bill focuses on concrete funding for direct assistance, not broader policy changes.
HB 275 establishes the Pennsylvania Affordable Homeownership Subsidy Program to help low-to-moderate-income households buy homes. It provides grants (capped at $125,000 per county applicant) for specific projects like homebuyer assistance, property acquisition, and homeownership education, targeting households earning 60%-120% of the area median income (as defined by HUD). The Department of Community and Economic Development will administer the program, set application guidelines, and submit annual reports to the General Assembly on program outcomes. The bill requires sufficient state funding to activate the program, with an effective date 180 days after enactment.
