Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility House passes Freeman bill to help with redevelopment

House passes Freeman bill to help with redevelopment

Rep. Robert L. Freeman    November 20, 2025 | 2:57 PM

HARRISBURG, Nov. 20 – The state House of Representatives this week passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Robert Freeman that would provide land banks with the same limited liability protection afforded to redevelopment authorities in revitalizing potentially environmentally contaminated properties such as brownfields.

“Land banks are critical partners in revitalizing communities and returning vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties back to productive use. The risk of environmental liability dissuades land banks from acquiring properties with potential environmental contamination and the requirement for remediation under state law,” said Freeman, D-Northampton.

Freeman’s bill would expand the definition of “economic development agency” under the Economic Development Agency, Fiduciary and Lender Environmental Liability Protection Act of 1995 to include land banks, recognizing their work to return abandoned, tax-delinquent properties to productive use.

"There are numerous former industrial or commercial sites and former manufacturing facilities throughout the state where their future use is clouded by environmental concerns. This change in law would allow land banks to own these properties and develop a re-use plan, removing the fear of environmental liability as a barrier to land banks acquiring and restoring brownfields to productive use,” Freeman said.

To date, 39 land banks have been established throughout the commonwealth.

The bill is supported by the PA Municipal League, PA State Association of Boroughs, PA State Association of Township Commissioners, PA State Association of Housing & Redevelopment Agencies, Housing Alliance of PA and PA Land Bank Network.

House Bill 1713 moves to the state Senate for consideration.