The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania House Bill 986 Prohibits Unfair Real Estate Service Agreements and Establishes Civil and Criminal Penalties
Last action · May 13, 2025: Referred to URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, May 12, 2025Sponsors: Morgan Cephas and 11 others
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What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 986 declares certain long-term or binding real estate service agreements void and unenforceable, prohibits recording them in public land records, and sets civil damages and third-degree misdemeanor penalties for violations, taking effect in 60 days.
Homeowners targeted by misleading real estate service contracts gain the right to sue providers for actual damages or statutory minimums of $5,000 (and $15,000 for seniors 60 and older) without being required to repay any money received from the provider.
- House Bill 986 was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during the 2025-2026 legislative session. context
- The Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law serves as Pennsylvania's primary consumer protection statute prohibiting deceptive business practices. context
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.
Consumers
Consumers gain the right to void unfair real estate service agreements, sue providers for statutory or actual damages, and retain any money previously paid by the provider.
Real estate service providers
Real estate service providers are prohibited from executing or recording unfair service agreements and face civil liability and misdemeanor charges for violations.
Property owners 60 years of age or older
Older property owners are eligible for higher statutory minimum damages of $15,000 in civil actions against violating service providers.
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 makes a real estate service agreement unfair under this bill?
What are the financial penalties for a real estate provider who uses these agreements?
Is recording an unfair real estate service agreement a crime?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
11 actions- May 13, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING, May 12, 2025
- May 13, 2025SenateIn the Senate
- May 7, 2025HouseFloorThird consideration and final passage, May 7, 2025 (153-50)
- May 7, 2025HouseCommitteeRe-reported as committed, May 7, 2025
- May 6, 2025HouseRe-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, May 6, 2025
- May 6, 2025HouseFloorSecond consideration, May 6, 2025
Show 5 earlier actions
- May 5, 2025HouseRemoved from table, May 5, 2025
- Apr 8, 2025HouseLaid on the table, April 8, 2025
- Apr 8, 2025HouseIntroducedFirst consideration, April 8, 2025
- Apr 8, 2025HouseCommitteeReported as committed, April 8, 2025
- Mar 20, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, March 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 →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 7 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Introduction of Specific Statutory Damages for Seniors
The bill scales statutory damages upward for property owners aged 60 or older, setting a distinct protection tier of $15,000 compared to the baseline $5,000 amount.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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