PAR Issues Call-to-Action on House Bill 2412

Editor’s note: This Call-to-Action is no longer active. House Bill 2421 passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf on May 19, 2020.

PAR is asking Realtors® to contact their representatives to urge them to vote “yes” on House Bill 2412, which would allow real estate services to reopen across the state. Rep. Todd Polinchock (R-Bucks), who served as PAR’s president in 2016, is the prime sponsor of the bill and understands the real estate industry and the needs of homebuyers and sellers.

House Bill 2412 does not return real estate to “business as usual.” PAR will be working with the administration to provide recommended safety procedures based on guidelines from the CDC and a member-driven task force. Given that limited in-person real estate has been practiced safely in most other states, PAR believes that Realtors® following recommended safety procedures, could do so in Pennsylvania.

“PAR has continued to advocate that real estate is a life-sustaining business,” said PAR President William Festa. “The outlined regional reopening plan of businesses announced earlier this week will impede consumers’ ability to purchase a home where they want to live. We believe this will be confusing to consumers, particularly those in bordering counties.”

The association has been advocating that the governor reclassify real estate services as life-sustaining, following the change to federal guidelines which included real estate services as essential. Senate Bill 613, which passed the state General Assembly, would have required the state to follow the revised guidelines, however Gov. Wolf vetoed the bill earlier this week.

“The business shut down orders have severely curtailed the practice of real estate in Pennsylvania,” Festa added. “This has led to individuals and families being unable to have access to shelter and many are facing incredible financial difficulties. The business shut down order is truly preventing Pennsylvanians’ ability to gain shelter.”