HB 1631 — An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judgments and other liens, providing for bankruptcy exemption.

PRINTER'S NO.   1981

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 1631
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, HILL-EVANS, MAYES, OTTEN, SANCHEZ AND
        D. WILLIAMS, JUNE 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, JUNE 23, 2025


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
 2      Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judgments and other
 3      liens, providing for bankruptcy exemption.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.     Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 8105.    Bankruptcy exemption.
 9      In any bankruptcy proceeding filed in this Commonwealth under
10   11 U.S.C. (relating to bankruptcy), an individual or married
11   couple filing jointly may choose the Federal exemptions
12   contained in 11 U.S.C. § 522(d) (relating to exemptions) or the
13   following:
14             (1)   Up to $650,000 in aggregate equity of a primary
15      residence. The amount under this paragraph shall be adjusted
16      to reflect any upward changes in the Consumer Price Index for
17      All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
18      Delaware and Maryland area as of the effective date of this
 1    paragraph.
 2        (2)   Personal property not exempted under paragraph (3),
 3    a total value of $50,000 for individual filers and $100,000
 4    for married couples filing jointly, plus the aggregate of any
 5    prior year's expenses for nondischargeable debts, utilities
 6    bills and phone and Internet service payments. The base
 7    amounts under this paragraph shall be adjusted to reflect any
 8    upward changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
 9    Consumers (CPI-U) for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware
10    and Maryland area as of the effective date of this paragraph.
11        (3)   The following are exempt in total:
12              (i)    All property exempt from judgment under section
13        8124 (relating to exemption of particular property).
14              (ii)    Health aids, including wheelchairs, canes,
15        hearing aids or other medically necessary items.
16              (iii)    Current wages.
17              (iv)    Alimony, support and maintenance subject to 23
18        Pa.C.S. (relating to domestic relations).
19              (v)    Up to two burial plots, as defined in 9 Pa.C.S.
20        § 101 (relating to definitions).
21              (vi)    Social Security benefits.
22              (vii)    College savings plans.
23              (viii)    Unemployment benefits arising under the act
24        of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1),
25        known as the Unemployment Compensation Law.
26              (ix)    Workers' compensation arising under the act of
27        June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers'
28        Compensation Act.
29              (x)    Medical assistance, as defined in section 1401
30        of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the

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 1        Human Services Code.
 2             (xi)    All benefits arising under a Federal program,
 3        including, but not limited to, Temporary Assistance for
 4        Needy Families, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
 5        Program, Women Infants and Children, Children's Health
 6        Insurance Program, Section 8 housing vouchers, Low-Income
 7        Home Energy Assistance Program, Weatherization Assistance
 8        Program and Federal Student Aid, including grants, loans
 9        and work-study programs.
10             (xii)    Tax refunds.
11             (xiii)    Court-ordered restitution payments.
12             (xiv)    Benefits arising under the act of June 24,
13        1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and
14        Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act.
15             (xv)    Benefits arising under 38 U.S.C. (relating to
16        veterans' benefits), or excluded by 51 Pa.C.S. Ch. 99
17        (relating to veterans' benefit payment exclusion).
18             (xvi)    Awards for the loss of future earnings,
19        recovery for wrongful deaths or compensation received as
20        the result of a civil remedy.
21    Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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