Local Progress

One of the most powerful people in Pennsylvania - Gov. Josh Shapiro - delivered his 2026-27 budget address on Tuesday. And while it was invigorating to see our state’s housing shortage and possible solutions receive attention from the first-term Democrat, our commonwealth is still a place that prioritizes local control. 

That’s why I am excited to host another policy forum this week in Lansdale with locally elected supervisors, commissioners, and council members from across Montgomery County. From Red Hill to Cheltenham – and in between – the individuals who signed up are a mix of experienced municipal leaders and newcomers who just took their oaths of office in January. 

This convening is occurring at a time when Gov. Shapiro and Montgomery County are poised to release their own Housing Action Plans. Between the state, county, and local governments, 2026 could prove to be a year of marked progress to build more workforce, attainable housing for essential workers, seniors, college students, the disabled – all of us! 

There will be more to come in the months ahead. Thanks to our friends at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania for a timely summary of the governor’s housing agenda. 

Full remarks are here. 

Targeted Investments in Housing & Health

• $1 million to implement a Department of Human Services housing proposal within the Keystones of Health demonstration, aimed at connecting medically compromised individuals with stable housing.

Major Housing & Infrastructure Investment

• A proposed $1 billion housing and infrastructure investment supported through the issuance of general obligation bonds, with proceeds deposited into the Capital Facilities Fund.

  • This program will provide flexible funding for large, transformative infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth, including bringing new energy generation onto the grid, building and preserving housing, and upgrading school and municipal facilities. 

Common-Sense Housing Policy Reforms

The Governor also outlined support for a package of housing legislation designed to improve fairness, stability, and access, including:

• Establishing a statewide cap on rental application fees and prohibiting excessive or duplicative charges

• Affirming a tenant’s right to terminate a lease due to domestic violence

• Sealing eviction records for cases where a tenant was not actually evicted

• Advancing fair-chance housing reforms to limit when and how criminal history may be considered in rental decisions

• Limiting annual lot rent increases to protect residents of manufactured housing communities

• Addressing tangled title issues through a transfer-on-death deed option

• Creating a Deputy Secretary of Housing at DCED to better coordinate statewide housing priorities

• Modernizing the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) to reduce regulatory barriers and support housing development

Targeted Investments in Housing & Health

• $1 million to implement a Department of Human Services housing proposal within the Keystones of Health demonstration, aimed at connecting medically compromised individuals with stable housing.

Major Housing & Infrastructure Investment

• A proposed $1 billion housing and infrastructure investment supported through the issuance of general obligation bonds, with proceeds deposited into the Capital Facilities Fund.

  • This program will provide flexible funding for large, transformative infrastructure projects across the Commonwealth, including bringing new energy generation onto the grid, building and preserving housing, and upgrading school and municipal facilities. 

Common-Sense Housing Policy Reforms

The Governor also outlined support for a package of housing legislation designed to improve fairness, stability, and access, including:

• Establishing a statewide cap on rental application fees and prohibiting excessive or duplicative charges

• Affirming a tenant’s right to terminate a lease due to domestic violence

• Sealing eviction records for cases where a tenant was not actually evicted

• Advancing fair-chance housing reforms to limit when and how criminal history may be considered in rental decisions

• Limiting annual lot rent increases to protect residents of manufactured housing communities

• Addressing tangled title issues through a transfer-on-death deed option

• Creating a Deputy Secretary of Housing at DCED to better coordinate statewide housing priorities

• Modernizing the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) to reduce regulatory barriers and support housing development