Pennsylvania HB 2160: An Act amending the act of June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), known as the Community and Economic Development Enhancement Act, renaming the Department of Community and Economic Development to the Department of Housing and Community Development; and making a repeal and editorial changes.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2803
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2160
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY SCOTT AND SANCHEZ, JANUARY 28, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
JANUARY 28, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), entitled "An
act to enhance community and economic development in this
Commonwealth by restructuring certain administrative
functions and entities; changing the name of the Department
of Commerce to the Department of Community and Economic
Development; transferring functions of the Department of
Community Affairs into the Department of Community and
Economic Development and other agencies; providing for a
Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs and Development in the
Department of Community and Economic Development;
establishing the Center for Local Government Services and the
Local Government Advisory Committee; establishing the Small
Business Advocacy Council; conferring powers and duties on
the Legislative Reference Bureau; and making repeals,"
renaming the Department of Community and Economic Development
to the Department of Housing and Community Development; and
making a repeal and editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The title and sections 101 and 102 of the act of
June 27, 1996 (P.L.403, No.58), known as the Community and
Economic Development Enhancement Act, are amended to read:
AN ACT
To enhance [community and economic] housing and community
development in this Commonwealth by restructuring certain
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administrative functions and entities; changing the name of
the [Department of Commerce to the] Department of Community
and Economic Development to the Department of Housing and
Community Development; transferring functions of the
Department of Community Affairs into the Department of
[Community and Economic] Housing and Community Development
and other agencies; providing for a Deputy Secretary for
[Community Affairs and] Housing and Community Development in
the Department of [Community and Economic] Housing and
Community Development; establishing the Center for Local
Government Services and the Local Government Advisory
Committee; establishing the Small Business Advocacy Council;
conferring powers and duties on the Legislative Reference
Bureau; and making repeals.
Section 101. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the [Community
and Economic] Housing and Community Development Enhancement Act.
Section 102. Declaration of purpose.
It is the purpose of this act to more effectively address the
problems of Pennsylvania's communities by recognizing that
[community development and economic] housing and community
development are inextricably linked, by expanding and providing
for the more efficient delivery of local services, by effecting
the maximum feasible coordination of [community and economic]
housing and community development resources to restore and
maintain the vigor of our communities, by advancing the economic
well-being of communities through the maximization of [community
and economic] housing and community development resources, by
promoting housing and community revitalization in conjunction
with economic development activities, by providing greater
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opportunity for local jurisdictions to be fully represented in
State government and by providing a one-stop agency to carry out
the [community and economic] housing and community development
programs which are of vital importance to all areas of this
Commonwealth.
Section 2. The definitions of "department" and "secretary"
in section 103 of the act are amended to read:
Section 103. 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:
* * *
"Department." The Department of [Community and Economic]
Housing and Community Development of the Commonwealth.
"Secretary." The Secretary of [Community and Economic]
Housing and Community Development of the Commonwealth.
* * *
Section 3. Sections 104, 301 heading, (a) introductory
paragraph, (b) and (c), 302 heading and introductory paragraph,
305(a), 306(a), 502, 901, 1103(b), 1104, 1107 and 2103(c) of the
act are amended to read:
Section 104. Name change.
To reflect the enhancement and consolidation of [community
and economic] housing and community development functions, the
[Department of Commerce shall hereafter be known as the]
Department of Community and Economic Development shall hereafter
be known as the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Section 301. To Department of [Community and Economic] Housing
and Community Development.
(a) Transfers.--The following functions of the Department of
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