HB 2192 — An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, establishing the Commonwealth Housing Council; and providing for duties of council.

PRINTER'S NO.   2856

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2192
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY SMITH-WADE-EL, INGLIS, KHAN, SCOTT, SOLOMON,
        POWELL, DAVIDSON, FREEMAN, HOHENSTEIN, HANBIDGE, RIVERA,
        OTTEN, WAXMAN, D. WILLIAMS, HILL-EVANS, MAYES, SANCHEZ,
        CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, MADDEN AND K.HARRIS, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
        FEBRUARY 3, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
 2      "An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
 3      executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
 4      Executive Department thereof and the administrative
 5      departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
 6      including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
 7      Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
 8      authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
 9      departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
10      duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
11      officers, and of the several administrative departments,
12      boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
13      Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
14      and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
15      certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
16      other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
17      and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
18      prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
19      of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
20      certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
21      determined," establishing the Commonwealth Housing Council;
22      and providing for duties of council.
23      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
24   hereby enacts as follows:
25      Section 1.    The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
26   as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding an
 1   article to read:
 2                              ARTICLE XXVIII-J
 3                        COMMONWEALTH HOUSING COUNCIL
 4   Section 2801-J.    Scope of article.
 5      This article establishes the Commonwealth Housing Council.
 6   Section 2802-J.    Definitions.
 7      The following words and phrases when used in this article
 8   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 9   context clearly indicates otherwise:
10      "Council."     The Commonwealth Housing Council established
11   under section 2803-J.
12   Section 2803-J.    Establishment of council.
13      The Commonwealth Housing Council is established.
14   Section 2804-J.    Purpose of council.
15      The council shall coordinate with executive departments and
16   agencies regarding the Commonwealth's housing policies.
17   Section 2805-J.    Membership of council.
18      The council shall consist of the following members:
19          (1)   The Secretary of Community and Economic Development
20      or a designee.
21          (2)   The Secretary of Human Services or a designee.
22          (3)   The Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Housing
23      Finance Agency or a designee.
24          (4)   The Secretary of the Budget or a designee.
25          (5)   A member of the Senate appointed by the President
26      pro tempore of the Senate.
27          (6)   A member of the Senate appointed by the Minority
28      Leader of the Senate.
29          (7)   A member of the House of Representatives appointed
30      by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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 1        (8)    A member of the House of Representatives appointed
 2    by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
 3        (9)    The mayor of a city of the first class or a designee
 4    with experience in housing.
 5        (10)   The county executive of a county of the second
 6    class or a designee with experience in housing.
 7        (11)   One member representing county government with
 8    experience in housing appointed by the Governor from a list
 9    of 16 individuals provided by the county commissioners or
10    county executives of Adams, Berks, Centre, Cumberland,
11    Dauphin, Fulton, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster,
12    Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder, Union and York Counties.
13        (12)   One member of county government with experience in
14    housing appointed by the Governor from a list of 18
15    individuals provided by the county commissioners or county
16    executives of Bradford, Carbon, Clinton, Columbia,
17    Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour,
18    Northumberland, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Sullivan,
19    Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming Counties.
20        (13)   One member of county government with experience in
21    housing appointed by the Governor from a list of six
22    individuals provided by the county commissioners or county
23    executives of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery
24    and Northampton Counties.
25        (14)   One member of county government with experience in
26    housing appointed by the Governor from a list of 13
27    individuals provided by the county commissioners or county
28    executives of Armstrong, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield,
29    Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer,
30    Venango and Warren Counties.

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 1            (15)   One member of county government with experience in
 2      housing appointed by the Governor from a list of 12
 3      individuals provided by the county commissioners or county
 4      executives of Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria,
 5      Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington and
 6      Westmoreland Counties.
 7   Section 2806-J.     Administration of council.
 8      (a)     Organization.--The Governor shall select a member of the
 9   council to serve as chairperson. The members of the council
10   shall select from among themselves any other officers as the
11   council deems necessary.
12      (b)     Quorum.--A majority of the members of the council shall
13   constitute a quorum. A majority of the members of the council
14   shall be necessary to take an action of the council. The number
15   required for a majority of the members of the council under this
16   subsection shall be reduced if there is a vacancy on the
17   council.
18      (c)     Meetings.--The council shall hold its first meeting
19   within 90 days of the effective date of this subsection. The
20   council shall meet no less than once a quarter.
21      (d)     Initial appointments and vacancies.--
22            (1)    An appointing authority under section 2805-J shall
23      appoint initial members to the council within 60 days of the
24      effective date of this subsection.
25            (2)    A member of the council shall serve a term of three
26      years and may be reappointed for no more than two consecutive
27      terms.
28            (3)    A member of the council appointed under section
29      2805-J(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) shall serve a
30      term concurrent with the appointing authority.

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 1            (4)   If a vacancy occurs on the council, the designating
 2      or appointing authority shall fill the vacancy in accordance
 3      with section 2805-J.
 4      (e)   Administrative support.--The Office of the Budget shall
 5   provide administrative services and staff to the council.
 6      (f)   Compensation.--The members of the council shall not
 7   receive compensation for service on the council.
 8      (g)   Cooperation.--Each executive department or agency shall
 9   cooperate with the council in fulfilling the council's duties
10   under section 2807-J.
11   Section 2807-J.        Duties of council.
12      (a)   Housing strategies.--The council shall develop the
13   Commonwealth's comprehensive housing strategy that may be used
14   by executive departments or agencies.
15      (b)   Duties.--The council shall have the following duties:
16            (1)   Developing a unified set of housing-related goals
17      and priorities that serve as a framework for executive
18      departments or agencies in the development of housing plans.
19            (2)   Working in collaboration with executive departments
20      or agencies to develop a uniform set of housing goals,
21      benchmarks and priorities for this Commonwealth that
22      coordinate and complement Federal and State funding to
23      maximize the availability of housing throughout this
24      Commonwealth.
25            (3)   Developing and updating a State plan no less than
26      once every five years for the following purposes:
27                  (i)    Preserving rental and homeownership affordable
28            units.
29                  (ii)    Building new affordable units.
30                  (iii)    Building enough housing needed to meet demand

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 1        at all income levels.
 2              (iv)    Building a broad range of housing types that
 3        can meet a broad range of housing needs.
 4              (v)    Housing for the homeless, seniors, veterans,
 5        individuals with disabilities and other disadvantaged
 6        groups.
 7              (vi)    Housing stability programs and services.
 8              (vii)    Strategies for expanding access to housing.
 9        (4)   Creating and maintaining a consolidated inventory
10    and resource guide for housing programs and services provided
11    by executive departments or agencies.
12        (5)   Implementing national best practices research that
13    may be relevant to this Commonwealth and seeking to benchmark
14    the Commonwealth's housing programs and outcomes against
15    other states.
16        (6)   Conducting research or collecting data relating to
17    the needs, demands and conditions of affordable and workforce
18    housing and access to affordable and workforce housing.
19        (7)   Ensuring that the Commonwealth's comprehensive
20    housing strategy is developed with the consideration for the
21    needs of rural, suburban and urban areas in this Commonwealth
22    and provides the greatest access to safe and affordable
23    housing throughout this Commonwealth.
24        (8)   Recommending strategies for incentivizing local
25    adoption of housing policies needed to meet housing demand
26    and the goals outlined in the State plan.
27        (9)   Serving as a coordinating resource to ensure that
28    executive departments or agencies are communicating and
29    coordinating effectively in order to maximize the collective
30    impact of their work regarding the Commonwealth's

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 1      comprehensive housing strategy.
 2            (10)   Working in collaboration with executive departments
 3      or agencies to advance the Commonwealth's comprehensive
 4      housing strategies.
 5            (11)   Providing regular updates to the Governor, the
 6      executive departments or agencies and the General Assembly
 7      about the Commonwealth's long-term and short-term housing
 8      goals.
 9      (c)   Access to work of council.--The council shall provide
10   information about the council's work to the Governor and the
11   General Assembly and post any relevant information, including
12   the council's State plan under subsection (b)(3), on a publicly
13   accessible Internet website.
14      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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