HB 2192

                                                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:
2ARTICLE XXVIII-J
3COMMONWEALTH 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.
20260HB2192PN2856  - 2 -
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.
20260HB2192PN2856  - 3 -
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.
20260HB2192PN2856  - 4 -
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
28units.
29(ii)    Building new affordable units.
30(iii)    Building enough housing needed to meet demand
20260HB2192PN2856  - 5 -
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
20260HB2192PN2856  - 6 -
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.
20260HB2192PN2856  - 7 -