City Council returned from its winter recess on January 22nd with two major pieces of legislation set for a final passage vote:
Approval of the Mayor’s H.O.M.E Initiative funding was signed into law, and resources will soon be deployed in creating and preserving 30,000 units of housing across the city.
Councilmember Gauthier’s bill to prohibit the incineration of Philadelphia’s waste. The City currently contracts out the disposal of its waste, with the city’s trash being sent to landfills, incinerated, or recycled. Currently, approximately 37% of Philadelphia’s trash is burned in neighboring Delaware County—specifically the City of Chester. Councilmember Gauthier pointed to environmental justice and health concerns as the primary motivators behind the legislation. While the Parker administration has lauded the goals of the bill, it expressed concerns about the practicality and financial consequences. After robust public comment, councilmembers ultimately requested that Councilmember Gauthier hold the bill for more consideration.
Other Noteworthy Legislation:
Majority Leader Gilmore Richardson introduced a bill that would change the realty transfer tax by removing liens from consideration for direct heirs. She also proposed a resolution for a hearing on the process to resolve tangled titles. The Government Affairs Committee voted in support of both measures and will offer testimony in the coming weeks.
The City Launched a Free Business Tax Preparation Program, offering free business tax preparation assistance —local, state, and federal—to small businesses earning less than $250,000 in revenue. Services will be available both virtually and in person through selected tax professionals across the city who speak multiple languages. Real estate agents and brokers are eligible as long as their primary source of income is not from property rentals.
State
The Pennsylvania House returned to session January 28th. With the 2026 general elections approaching, political control of the General Assembly is firmly in play.
Governor Shapiro’s 2026 Budget Address is scheduled for February 3rd—many speculating that housing will be a priority for FY 2027.
To find more information on everything relating to legislative priorities, please visit PAR’s website.
Federal
Which Policies Will Drive Home Sales? NAR members engaged in dialogue with policymakers on solutions to expand housing affordability and support the dreams of would-be home buyers and sellers.
Congress Releases Final Funding Levels for HUD, Preserving Key Housing Programs: Congressional appropriators released a $460 billion minibus appropriations package for fiscal year 2026 that includes the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill, largely rejecting the administration’s proposals to eliminate several critical housing programs.
