Our Top Priorities, Legislation Moving Now, and Bills to Watch

This information is up to date as of January 2026

Our Top Priorities

Eviction Records Order of Limited Access

Open eviction records prevent tenants from obtaining safe, affordable housing due to the automatic screening process removing any rental applicant with an eviction filing. Prior financial hardship should not be a permanent obstacle to obtaining a basic human need. Each year, about 20,000 Pennsylvania renters acquire eviction records without ever being evicted—their cases are withdrawn, settled, dismissed, or found for the defendant.

HB 1095, Fair Housing Access: Sealing Eviction Records to Protect Tenants & Communities, has received final passage in the House and has been referred to the Judiciary Committee in the Senate.

A Companion Bill has been introduced in the Senate and has been referred to the Judiciary Committee:
SB 549 | Fair Records for Renters

Learn more: Limited Access Fact Sheet

Homelessness Prevention/ Eviction Prevention Funding

310 eviction filings occur every day in Pennsylvania. In cases where tenants are behind in paying their rent, resolving the conflict outside of court and without an eviction can benefit both the tenant and landlord.

We seek to create a state funding resource for preventing homelessness by resolving eviction filing complaints between tenants and landlords when tenants are behind on paying rent.

The goal is to reduce the likelihood of at-risk tenants ever coming into contact with the homelessness service system by expanding programs that assist both landlords and tenants to resolve disputes due to non-payment of rent. The proposed program would include landlord tenant dispute interventions, resource navigation, and direct assistance.

Learn more here:
Homelessness Prevention Proposal: Statement of Need
Homelessness Prevention Proposed Program Structure
Add your organization to our sign-on letter for Homelessness Prevention Funding
See the full list of supporters here

Land Use / Zoning Reform

Modernizing local zoning laws remains essential to increasing housing supply, lowering costs, and creating homes near jobs, schools, and transit.

Through our work with the PA Housing Choices Coalition, the Housing Alliance will continue advocating for statewide and local solutions that make it easier for communities to build the housing Pennsylvanians need.

What’s Next for PHARE

The Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund supports the creation, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable homes across the Commonwealth. For more than a decade, the Housing Alliance has championed steady increases to PHARE funding so communities have the resources they need to meet local housing needs.

We continue to advocate for increases to PHARE in the annual state budget process.

In 2024, Governor Shapiro signed legislation that will increase funding for PHARE by $10 million each year until the fund reaches $100 million in the year 2027. Notably, the legislation has eliminated the long-standing funding formula that often limited the allocation to PHARE. This means that the PHARE program will now steadily increase from its current $60 million cap to $100 million and receive $100 million each year going forward. Read about our recent PHARE victory here.

HB 643 – Bringing More Affordable Housing to PA, was introduced by State Representative Sean Dougherty to increase the cap on Realty Transfer Tax (RTT) revenue deposited into the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) Fund. The bill raises the current $100 million limit by $10 million beginning in FY 2028–29, establishing a new annual cap of $110 million for that year and each fiscal year thereafter.

The bill passed the House on April 24 and is now under consideration in the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee

PA Home Preservation and Repair Program

With one of the oldest housing stocks in the country, and nearly half of homes built before 1970, thousands of Pennsylvanians are living in inadequate housing. From failing roofs to broken furnaces and unsafe electrical systems, the need is widespread and growing.

We can do something about it.

HAP has been advocating for $50 million for home preservation and repair program. The program is no longer called “Whole Home Repairs Program” and is instead called “PA Home Preservation Program.”

HB 1650 has received final passage in the House and has been referred to Urban Affairs and Housing Committee in the Senate.

Senators Dave Argall (R-Schuykill) and Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) and Representatives Lindsay Powell (D-Allegheny), Brandon Markosek (D- Allegheny) and Tim Twardzik (R-Schuykill) circulated the co-sponsorship memo “PA Home Preservation Program.”

PA Home Preservation Program | In the Senate, Referred to the Committee on Urban Affairs and Housing.

Check out our new report: Repaired Homes, Rebuilt Communities: Why Home Repair Matters in Pennsylvania

Legislation to Watch

Senate Bills

Redevelopment, Blight, and Land Banks

SB 6 – Transparency in Permitting | In the House, Referred to Committee
SB 62 – Redevelopment Authority Loan Pilot Program | Re-referred to Committee
SB 214 – Establishing a Fund for Municipal Property Maintenance Code Enforcement | Referred to Committee
SB 345 – Supporting the County Demolition Funding Program | Re-referred to Committee
SB 979 – Reinvestment in Housing Legislation | Reported from Committee

Affordable Housing

SB 609 – Optional Affordable Housing Trust Fund (Act 137) Enhancements | Referred to Committee
SB 673 – Public Database of Affordable Housing | Referred to Committee
SB 815 – First-Time Homebuyer Realty Transfer Tax Exemption | Re-referred to Committee

Eviction Prevention

SB 549 – Fair Records for Renters | Referred to Committee
Co-Sponsorship Memo – Protecting Tenants Who Are Victims of Violent Crime and Abuse

Preservation

SB 876 – PA Home Preservation Program | Referred to Committee
Manufactured Homeowner Equity Preservation Package
- SB 745 – The first bill imposes an of-right annual rent increase based upon the Consumer Price Index with an opportunity to justify higher increases. | Referred to Committee
- SB 746 – The second bill provides advance 90-day notice and an opportunity for residents to purchase their community if the owner desires to sell or close it. | Referred to Committee

Zoning

(No current Senate bills or memos directly related to zoning or land use.)

House Bills

Blight and Land Banks

HB 273 – Municipal Code Enforcement Grant Program | In the Senate, Referred to Committee
HB 369 – Permitting Municipalities of Any Size to Establish a Land Bank | In the Senate, Referred to Committee
HB 743 – Giving Municipalities More Tools to Redevelop Blighted or Vacant Properties | In the Senate, Referred to Committee
HB 858 – Eliminating Blight and Revitalizing Communities | In the Senate, Re-referred to Committee
HB 1020 – Vacant Property Registration Act | Reported from Committee
HB 1062 – Blighted Property Database | In the Senate, Referred to Committee
HB 1214 –Tax Relief Through Abatements for Dwelling Construction and Improvement | Re-referred to Committee
HB 1446 – Investing in the Future Redevelopment of Shopping Malls | Reported from Committee
HB 1713 – Environmental Liability Exemption for Land Banks | In the Senate, Referred to Committee
HB 1874 – Flexibility for Redevelopment Authorities in TRIDs | In the Senate, Referred to Committee