Pennsylvania SB 876: An Act providing for the Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 990
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 876
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ARGALL, SAVAL, BARTOLOTTA, TARTAGLIONE, MALONE,
HAYWOOD, FONTANA, HUGHES, COMITTA, KEARNEY, COSTA,
L. WILLIAMS, STREET, KANE, CAPPELLETTI AND VOGEL,
JUNE 24, 2025
REFERRED TO URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, JUNE 24, 2025
AN ACT
Providing for the Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program;
and imposing duties on the Department of Community and
Economic Development.
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 Pennsylvania
Home Preservation 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:
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
"Local government." Any county, city, home rule
municipality, town, borough or township in this Commonwealth.
"Program." The Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program
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established under section 3.
"Unit." An owner-occupied residential property.
Section 3. Establishment.
The Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program is
established in the department for the purpose of providing
grants to local governments to improve existing housing stock in
this Commonwealth.
Section 4. Eligible applicants.
Consistent with section 10, a local government or a
combination of local governments, as determined by the
department, that have experience creating or implementing
programs that restore or rehabilitate existing housing stock,
shall be eligible to apply for a grant under this act. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to prohibit a local
government that receives a grant from the program from
subgranting the money to another entity approved by the
department to perform any of the purposes specified in section
5. A local government that subgrants money received under the
program to another entity shall notify the department. The
department shall maintain a list of the applicants and
subgrantees' public contact information on the publicly
accessible Internet website of the department.
Section 5. Eligible uses.
Money awarded under the program shall be used to create or
implement programs that will restore or rehabilitate existing
housing stock in this Commonwealth under section 6. Eligible
applicants may use up to 10% of the grant award for
administration-related expenses, including personnel expenses.
The department may award additional grant money for the
administration of applications submitted jointly by two or more
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local governments.
Section 6. Requirements.
Grants under this act may not exceed $50,000 per unit owner
and must be used to:
(1) Address habitability concerns of units, improve
energy or water efficiency of units or to make units
accessible for individuals.
(2) Fund repairs for a unit owner whose household income
does not exceed 80% to 120% of the area median income, as
determined by the department.
Section 7. Grant application.
A local government may apply to the department for a grant on
an application form as prescribed by the department. The
application shall be posted on the department's publicly
accessible Internet website and shall contain the following:
(1) The geographic boundary of the applicant's program.
(2) A description of how the grant money will be
utilized.
(3) A description of how the receipt and utilization of
grant money will meet the requirements of section 6 of this
act.
(4) An affirmation demonstrating recent experience in
the administration of programs that restore or rehabilitate
existing housing stock.
(5) Additional funding sources that will be utilized, if
any, to further support the grant.
(6) Any other information as required by the department.
Section 8. Department review.
The department shall review and approve grant applications on
a schedule and in a manner as determined by the department.
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Section 9. Grant funds.
Grants under the program shall be made from funds
appropriated by the General Assembly for the program and other
Federal or State funds the department may receive for the
program. The department may use up to 3% of funds appropriated
for the administration of the program.
Section 10. Limitations.
Grant awards under the program shall be competitive and based
on the need for funds demonstrated by eligible applicants.
Counties must have encumbered 75% of all available funds from
county allocations of the Whole-Home Repairs Program in order to
be eligible for program funding.
Section 11. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 30 days.
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