HB 1650 Advances in PA: Urge Senate Action
Pennsylvania’s Home Preservation Program Bill (House Bill 1650) passed the House with strong bipartisan support and now moves to the Senate.
The bill would establish a statewide program to fund essential home repairs for low-income homeowners — helping prevent displacement, create workforce opportunities, and preserve affordable housing across the Commonwealth.
Call to Action:
PCRG urges members: contact your State Senators and ask them to support HB 1650, the Argall/Saval companion bill, and to fully fund housing preservation in the state budget.
Find your Senator here.
This legislation could transform housing stability in aging and disinvested communities across Pennsylvania.
State Budget Update: Deadline Missed, Debates Continue, Funding Uncertain
The Pennsylvania General Assembly missed the June 30 deadline to finalize the state budget, leaving several critical funding decisions unresolved.
Key disagreements remain over how to use the Commonwealth’s budget surplus — including whether to support public transit and expand health coverage for low-income residents. Gov. Josh Shapiro and House Democrats are pushing to use reserves to invest in public services.
Senate Republicans are opposed to using the surplus funds and want more conservative fiscal policies.
Debate continues around the regulation and taxation of skill games, which could serve as a new revenue stream.
Budget Breakdown:
The state budget includes two main parts:
General Appropriations Bill – outlines the spending plan.
Code Bils – define how funds are legally used.
Until both are passed, essential programs — including transit and housing initiatives — remain in limbo.
Federal Update: “One Big Beautiful Bill” Passes Senate
On July 1, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the long-awaited federal tax package, informally dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB)”.
This version includes:
A permanent expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which makes it easier to build and preserve affordable housing by offering tax incentives to developers.
A long-term reauthorization of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), which encourages businesses to invest in underserved communities, creating jobs and economic growth.
Introduction of Opportunity Zones 2.0, which updates a program that offers tax breaks for investing in struggling neighborhoods — PCRG advocates for community-centered use.
However, like the House version, the Senate bill excludes the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (NHIA) — a key PCRG legislative priority.
What’s at Stake:
The Senate version also includes $900 billion in new spending but proposes significant cuts to Medicaid and other safety net programs — raising concerns about the long-term impacts on low-income families.
Next Steps:
The House will vote on the Senate version, and if the House votes it down, both chambers will enter negotiations to reconcile differences by the self-imposed, July 4 deadline. PCRG continues to oppose cuts to Medicaid and other programs that undermine housing and health equity.
Contact your representatives and urge them to vote against the Senate bill.
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