Pennsylvania legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Pennsylvania HB1492: An Act amending the act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, providing for use of criminal records to screen tenants; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; and imposing penalties.
Status: In committee, March 25, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to the rights, obligations and liabilities of landlord and tenant and of parties dealing with them and amending, revising, changing and consolidating the law relating thereto," providing for use of criminal records to screen tenants; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; and imposing penalties.
From the amended text, October 29, 2025:
An act relating to the rights, obligations and liabilities of landlord and tenant and of parties dealing with them and amending, revising, changing and consolidating the law relating thereto," providing for use of criminal records to screen tenants; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; and imposing penalties. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. The act of April 6, 1951 (P.L.69, No.20), known as The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, is amended by adding an article to read: ARTICLE II-A USE OF CRIMINAL RECORDS TO SCREEN TENANTS Section 201-A. Definitions. The following words and phrases when used in this article shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Applicant." An individual who is considered, or requests to be considered, for tenancy within a rental dwelling unit. "Commission." The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. "Criminal record." Information about an individual collected by criminal justice agencies consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, criminal complaints or other formal criminal charges, and any disposition arising therefrom, including acquittal, sentencing, correctional supervision, release or conviction, including: (1) A sentence arising from a verdict or plea of guilty or nolo contendere. (2) A sentence of incarceration. (3) A suspended sentence. (4) A sentence of probation. …