Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 13 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 1216 — An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, in creation of leases, statute of frauds and mortgaging of leaseholds, providing for residential rental application fees.

Last action — Referred to URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, March 18, 2026

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 18, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 14 sponsors

    1 primary, 13 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (13 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Rental Application Fee Cap

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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The bill establishes regulations on residential rental application fees and the assessment of applicants' criminal histories.

  • The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951

    Section 207. Residential Rental Application Fees.--(a) A landlord or a landlord's agent may not charge a fee in connection with an application to enter into a rental agreement for a residential dwelling unit in an amount greater than the lesser of: (1) the actual cost of a background check conducted under subsection (b); or (2) fifty dollars ($50). (b) A landlord or a landlord's agent may use a fee under subsection (a) only to conduct a background check of an applicant. A background check under this subsection shall be limited to a criminal history record information check and a credit check. (c) A landlord may not adopt or enforce a policy that excludes all applicants with a criminal history. In determining whether an applicant's criminal history indicates a demonstrable risk to the safety of residents or property, a landlord shall make an individualized assessment and consider all of the following: (1) The nature and gravity of the offense. (2) The duration of time that has elapsed since the conviction. (3) The duration of time that has elapsed since the expiration or completion of the sentence. (d) Any attempted waiver of this section by an applicant or tenant by contract or otherwise shall be void and unenforceable. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or require a person to charge a fee in connection with an application to enter into a rental agreement for commercial or other nonresidential property.

    This adds a new section regulating application fees and guidelines for evaluating applicants with criminal histories.

Action History

  1. Referred to URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, March 18, 2026

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 13 co-sponsors · 239 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (13)

Not signed on (239)

239 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

housing
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 1216 do?
Rental Application Fee Cap
Who sponsors SB 1216?
SB 1216 is sponsored by Lindsey M. Williams (Democratic), Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Daniel Laughlin (Republican), Jay Costa (Democratic), Vincent J. Hughes (Democratic), Art Haywood (Democratic), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Nikil Saval (Democratic), Carolyn T. Comitta (Democratic), Timothy P. Kearney (Democratic), Steven J. Santarsiero (Democratic), James Andrew Malone (Democratic), Maria Collett (Democratic), and Amanda M. Cappelletti (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 1216?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 18, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 1216?
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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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