Pennsylvania SB 1279: An Act providing for issuance of housing construction permits by executive agencies, for designation of Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer and for timelines for permits related to housing construction; and imposing duties on the Office of Transformation and Opportunity.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1588 PRINTER'S NO. 1756
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1279
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY PHILLIPS-HILL, DUSH, ROTHMAN, PICOZZI AND STEFANO,
APRIL 14, 2026
SENATOR MARTIN, APPROPRIATIONS, RE-REPORTED AS AMENDED,
JUNE 1, 2026
AN ACT
Providing for issuance of housing construction permits by
executive agencies, for designation of Commonwealth Housing
Regulatory Compliance Officer and for timelines for permits
related to housing construction; and imposing duties on the
Office of Transformation and Opportunity.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Reduce the
Red Tape for Housing Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Housing development project." A new construction or
substantial renovation of a residential real estate project.
"Office." The Office of Transformation and Opportunity
established by Executive Order 2023-05.
"Permit related to housing construction." A permit or
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approval required by law or regulation to be issued by an
executive agency that is involved in a housing development
project to a housing developer, contractor or subcontractor in
order to commence, continue or support a housing development
project.
"Third-party reviewer." An independent contractor engaged by
the housing developer of a housing development project to
inspect, review and provide an independent evaluation, including
recommendation for approval or denial, of an application for a
permit related to housing construction.
Section 3. Housing construction permits.
Each executive agency that issues permits related to housing
construction shall:
(1) Designate a point of contact for coordination and
efficient processing of permits related to housing
construction.
(2) No later than 120 days after the effective date of
this paragraph, submit to the Office of the Governor and the
office updated permit application processing procedures with
timelines for permits related to housing construction.
(3) No later than 90 days after the effective date of
this paragraph, draft and submit to the Office of the
Governor for review and approval standards and procedures for
applicants for permits related to housing construction
projects to hire third-party reviewers to help expedite
permitting timelines at the applicant's expense, including:
(i) Registration procedures and required
qualifications for third-party reviewers.
(ii) Rules governing conflicts of interest for
third-party reviewers.
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(iii) Procedures for review and approval or denial
of recommendations made by third-party reviewers.
(iv) Provisions requiring an executive agency to
follow recommendations made by third-party reviewers,
except in cases of clear error, serious deficiency or
conflict of interest.
(4) Upon approval by the Office of the Governor,
complete implementation of the new third-party permitting
standards and procedures for permits related to housing
development projects no later than 180 days after the
effective date of this paragraph.
(5) No later than 90 days after the effective date of
this paragraph, provide to the Office of the Governor a
written enumeration and assessment of additional potential
legislative, regulatory and administrative actions to
increase efficiency in permitting processes.
(6) For permit applications that require review by
multiple executive agencies or by different levels of
government, to the extent allowed by law, engage in
simultaneous, rather than sequential, review of the permit
applications.
(7) No later than 90 days after the effective date of
this section, provide written recommendations to the Office
of the Governor for ways to increase predictability and
transparency related to applications for permits related to
housing construction.
(8) Fully digitize permit applications and permit fee
payments within the extent of budgetary authority no later
than 180 days after the effective date of this section.
(9) Seek every opportunity to provide transparency in
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the permit application process and, whenever possible, reduce
processing times.
Section 4. Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer.
(a) Designation.--The office shall designate a Commonwealth
Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer to facilitate navigation
through Federal, State and local permitting processes and act as
a liaison between the office, executive agencies, local
governments and planning and zoning authorities, housing
developers and other stakeholders and local communities.
(b) Duties.--The Commonwealth Housing Reg