Bipartisan Davis Bill to Fight Property Blight Passes House

State Rep. Tina Davis announced on Tuesday that the House has passed her bipartisan legislation, which would establish the Redevelopment Authority Startup Loan Program to combat property blight and spur revitalization in communities across the Commonwealth. The bill now heads to the Senate for its consideration.

“This is a major step forward in giving our local communities the tools they need to address blight and revitalize neighborhoods,” Davis said. “I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who supported this legislation. This is a smart, sustainable investment in Pennsylvania’s future.”

House Bill 1574 —co-sponsored by lawmakers from both parties—would create a revolving loan fund under the Department of Community and Economic Development. The fund would provide low-interest, long-term loans—up to $500,000—to county redevelopment authorities to acquire, rehabilitate and return blighted residential or commercial properties to productive use.

The program is modeled after a highly successful initiative in Bristol Township, Bucks County, which, following a 2016 startup investment, has already led to the rehabilitation of 35 residential properties and sparked over 100 additional private-sector redevelopment projects—all without requiring further government funding.

“This bill leverages what we’ve learned in Bristol Township and scales it to benefit communities statewide,” said Davis, D-Bucks. “By offering startup loans that are repaid and reinvested, we’re ensuring this program continues to serve Pennsylvanians for years to come.”

State Rep. Joe Hogan, R-Bucks, the bill’s prime co-sponsor, added, “I’m excited to see this program move forward through the legislative process. This is an incredibly successful program in parts of Bucks County that cleans up neighborhoods, adds quality housing back to the community, and helps ease the tax burden on homeowners. Once signed into law, every community in Bucks will be able share in these benefits.”

Credit: PA General Assembly

Key features of House Bill 1574 include:

• Loans capped at $500,000 per county redevelopment authority.
• Interest rates not to exceed 2% with repayment terms of up to 10 years.
• Loans to be used for property acquisition, redevelopment, remediation or related administrative costs.
• Priority consideration for counties with existing municipal blight programs.
• A pilot program available through full use of funds or until Jan. 1, 2028, whichever comes first.

Each eligible county classification—Second Class A through Eighth Class—may receive at least one loan, provided applications are submitted and meet program requirements. If no redevelopment authority applies in a classification, loans may be directed to qualified land banks.

“This is about empowering local leaders and breathing new life into neighborhoods that have been left behind,” Davis said. “I look forward to working with the Senate to get this bill to the governor’s desk.”