SB 1148 — An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for unlawful discriminatory practices.

PRINTER'S NO.   1388

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 1148
                                               Session of
                                                 2026

     INTRODUCED BY KANE, CAPPELLETTI, TARTAGLIONE, MALONE, KEARNEY,
        KIM, HUGHES, COLLETT, HAYWOOD, COSTA, VOGEL, COMITTA, STREET,
        SCHWANK AND SAVAL, JANUARY 20, 2026

     REFERRED TO URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, JANUARY 20, 2026


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), entitled
 2      "An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination
 3      because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or
 4      national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor
 5      organizations and others as herein defined; creating the
 6      Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's
 7      Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing
 8      for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of
 9      an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for
10      judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties,"
11      further providing for unlawful discriminatory practices.
12      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13   hereby enacts as follows:
14      Section 1.    Section 5(h)(3.1) of the act of October 27, 1955
15   (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations
16   Act, is amended to read:
17      Section 5.    Unlawful Discriminatory Practices.--It shall be
18   an unlawful discriminatory practice, unless based upon a bona
19   fide occupational qualification, or in the case of a fraternal
20   corporation or association, unless based upon membership in such
21   association or corporation, or except where based upon
22   applicable security regulations established by the United States
 1   or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
 2      * * *
 3      (h)    For any person to:
 4      * * *
 5      (3.1)    Refuse to permit, at the expense of a person with a
 6   handicap or disability, reasonable modifications of existing
 7   premises occupied or to be occupied by such person if such
 8   modifications may be necessary to afford such person full
 9   enjoyment of the premises, except that, in the case of a rental,
10   the landlord [may] shall, where it is reasonable to do so, make
11   a modification at the landlord's expense or grant permission for
12   a renter modification at the renter's request if the renter
13   agrees to restore the interior of the premises to the condition
14   that existed before the modification, with reasonable wear and
15   tear excepted. In the case of a rental, the landlord shall
16   extend the protections granted under this subsection to any
17   existing renter who either is a person with a handicap or
18   disability or becomes a person with a handicap or disability
19   after the start date of the renter's term pursuant to the lease
20   or rental agreement. A lease or rental agreement:
21      (i)    Shall permit the renter to terminate the lease or rental
22   agreement with no additional fee, cost or penalties if the
23   landlord refuses to make a reasonable accommodation under this
24   subsection within thirty days or grant a renter's reasonable
25   accommodation request under this subsection within ten days, as
26   the case may be.
27      (ii)    Shall permit the renter to terminate the lease or
28   rental agreement with no additional fee, cost or penalties if
29   the renter's handicap or disability becomes more severe and the
30   renter needs to move to a new residence that will help the

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 1   renter treat and manage a handicap or disability.
 2      (iii)   May not waive any of the rights under this paragraph
 3   by a provision of a lease or rental agreement and the landlord
 4   may not charge any fee, service charge or additional rent to the
 5   renter for exercising the renter's right under this paragraph.
 6      * * *
 7      Section 2.   The amendment of section 5(h)(3.1) of the act
 8   shall apply to a lease or rental agreement executed or renewed
 9   on or after the effective date of this section.
10      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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