Munroe bill making reverse mortgage contracts readable passes PA House

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    October 28, 2025

HARRISBURG, Oct. 28 – A bill that could safeguard seniors from misleading reverse mortgage contracts passed the PA House today by a vote of 104-99.

The bill, H.B. 1882, introduced by state Rep. Brian Munroe, D-Bucks, would create better transparency in the reverse mortgage process by requiring a larger, 16-point font size throughout contracts and disclosures. Larger font sizes increase readability for people with vision challenges due to age or optical conditions and are already a recommendation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“We shouldn’t be asking our senior citizens to ‘always read the fine print’,” said Munroe. “The fine print doesn’t need to exist. By requiring the ADA-recommended 16-point font size in reverse mortgage contracts, we would lower the risk of seniors being taken advantage of, or of signing a contract they don’t fully understand. Small print can and does obscure confusing and sometimes exploitative terms, and reverse mortgages are more often sought by our aging residents.”

In addition to requiring a larger font size, H.B. 1882 would require that branch managers are also licensed as mortgage originators. The requirement would prepare branch managers to better guide interested consumers in choosing the reverse mortgage that makes the most sense for their situation.

“A responsible lending process should always include guidance from a licensed professional,” said Munroe. “Required licensure for branch managers is an important part of ensuring consumers have the most thorough and transparent understanding of what they’re agreeing to with a lender.”