SB 1279
An Act providing for issuance of housing construction permits by executive agencies, for designation of Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer and for timelines for permits related to housing construction; and imposing duties on the Office of Transformation and Opportunity.
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This act, titled the ‘Reduce the Red Tape for Housing Act,’ aims to streamline the process of obtaining housing construction permits in Pennsylvania. It directs executive agencies to establish clear permit processing procedures, including the potential use of third-party reviewers to expedite timelines. The act also designates a Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer to coordinate permitting efforts across state and local governments and track housing development progress. Finally, it imposes duties on the Office of Transformation and Opportunity to identify and recommend further efficiency improvements in the permitting process.
Key provisions
- Executive agencies must designate a point of contact for housing permit coordination.
- Agencies must submit updated permit application procedures and timelines to the Governor within 120 days.
- Agencies can utilize third-party reviewers to expedite permitting, with established registration and conflict-of-interest rules.
- The Office of Transformation and Opportunity must identify additional legislative, regulatory, and administrative actions for efficiency.
- Executive agencies must engage in simultaneous permit reviews when multiple agencies are involved.
- Agencies must digitize permit applications and payments within 180 days.
- A Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer will be designated to facilitate permitting navigation.
- Specific deadlines are set for completeness reviews (10 business days) and technical reviews (30 business days).
Who is affected
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Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Patrick Stefano
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