Pennsylvania Realtors® Advocate for Homeownership Issues at Capitol

Over 200 Pennsylvania Realtors® attended more than 120 meetings with legislators at the Capitol in Harrisburg yesterday to advocate for the passage of several bills to advance issues important to the real estate industry during PA Realtor® Day on the Hill. 

“The saying, ‘If real estate is your profession, then politics is your business,’ resonates more strongly today than ever,” says President Bill Lublin. “It takes a little effort to meet with a legislator and explain our positions on regulation and legislation, but it is far more effective than complaining about unjust laws and regulations. It was a Philadelphian, Margaret Mead, who said, ‘Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” 

“As a former Washington lobbyist myself, I know firsthand the critical role Realtor® engagement plays in the development and passage of legislation affecting our Realtor® profession, as well as current and future Pennsylvania homeowners,” adds Mark Kibbe, chair of PAR’s Legislative Committee. 

“Effective legislative engagement can be in the form of Realtors® directly contacting their individual legislators or by interaction via PAR’s stellar advocacy team. Realtors® are able to share with policymakers the real-world impact on homeowners of existing and proposed legislation. Realtors® work with buyers and sellers of real estate every day and are able to share with policymakers the challenges they face in purchasing a home to help develop legislative ideas on how to lessen those barriers to homeownership. They can also discuss working with business owners and developers who buy and sell commercial real estate and how regulations and legislation can affect these transactions. Effective information sharing with legislators is very often the determining factor in whether legislation will ultimately be effective.” 

Realtors® discussed several pieces of legislation that PAR supports, including: 

SB 838 – Private Licensed Schools Act Amendment 

Senate Bill 838 amends the Private Licensed Schools Act of 1986 to exempt real estate and appraiser schools from the definition of “private licensed schools,” ensuring real estate and appraisal education providers are not subject to a duplicative regulatory process by the commonwealth. 

HB 1095 – Eviction Sealing 

House Bill 1095 creates a mechanism to seal eviction records after seven years or when the tenant wins on the merits of the case, a period in line with other financial standards. Currently, eviction records remain on an individual’s record permanently. 

HB 30 – Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act Amendments 

This bill allows for appraisers-in-training to operate under the supervision of a certified appraiser “per assignment,” instead of only one assigned supervisor. It also lowers the years of experience required from five to three, mirroring changes encouraged at the federal level. 

HB 1048 – Infrastructure Improvement Authorization 

HB 1048 amends the Municipal Code to authorize municipalities to use public funds and workers to replace/repair private water and sewer laterals connected to public systems, allowing municipalities to adopt uniform, comprehensive programs for infrastructure improvements. 

HB 300/SB 150 – The Fairness Act 

These bills make changes to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include sexual orientation, gender identity or expression as a protected class alongside race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, national origin and disability. This would prohibit discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in the spaces of housing and employment. 

HB 818/SB 803 – First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account 

These bills create a First-Time Homebuyers Saving Account program in Pennsylvania, which would be overseen by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and mirror the state’s 529 college savings program, helping first-time homebuyers overcome obstacles to homeownership. 

SB 815/HB 214 – State Realty Transfer Tax Exemption for First-Time Homebuyers 

SB 815/HB 214 exempts the state portion of the Realty Transfer Tax for first-time homebuyers. The definition of first-time homebuyers is very narrow, limiting it to the first time buying a home ever. It allows first-time homebuyers to keep more money in their pockets for other up-front costs. 

PAR’s Legislative Priorities 

Whether on the Hill or in their communities every day, Realtors® make a difference. Learn more about PAR’s legislative priorities.