Pennsylvania Bill 671 requires plain language in oil and gas real property contracts and establishes a $10,000 statutory damages penalty for violations

Original title: An Act providing for plain language requirements in oil and gas real property contracts, for remedies and for penalties.

Last action · February 20, 2025: Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 20, 2025Sponsors: Joe Webster and 9 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Would Do

Pennsylvania House Bill 671 requires all oil and gas real property contracts between landowners and energy companies or brokers to meet specific readability and formatting guidelines. Companies that fail to comply face liability for actual losses, $10,000 in , court costs, and attorney fees. The act applies to contracts executed or renewed one year after taking effect.

Why it matters

Landowners entering into oil and gas leases or sales agreements gain the legal right to sue companies for using overly complex or technical contract language, with a 10-year window to file a lawsuit from the execution date.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Landowners

Landowners gain the right to plain language contracts, notarized copies, and statutory damages of $10,000 plus attorney fees for non-compliant agreements.

Directly affected

Oil and gas companies and brokers

Oil and gas land brokers, landmen, oil companies, and gas companies must format contracts to meet readability standards and face financial liability for violations.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What contracts are covered under House Bill 671?

The bill covers written agreements between landowners and oil and gas land brokers, landmen, oil companies, or gas companies for the sale, transfer, conveyance, or lease of real property.

What are the financial penalties if an oil and gas contract violates the plain language rules?

Non-compliant companies are liable for actual losses, $10,000 in , court costs, and reasonable attorney fees.

How long does a landowner have to file a lawsuit under this act?

A lawsuit must be filed within 10 years from the date on which the contract was executed.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

1 action

Feb 20, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 20, 2025

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →