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Howard and Pielli to introduce bankruptcy protection expansion bill

Rep. Chris Pielli    February 10, 2026 | 12:28 PM

HARRISBURG, Feb. 10 – State Reps. Kristine Howard and Chris Pielli, both D-Chester, are introducing legislation to strengthen bankruptcy protections for Pennsylvanians.

The legislators noted that many states have chosen to go beyond the minimum federal protections allowed under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code by adopting their own exemption lists to better shield working families from the seizure and sale of property to satisfy unpaid debts. Pennsylvania has not yet expanded its bankruptcy protections beyond the federal baseline.

The bill would establish a state-specific list of exemptions designed to protect residents’ equity in reasonably priced homes and provide fair exemptions for personal property.

“While other states have adopted their own exemptions for state residents seeking bankruptcy protection, Pennsylvania lags behind,” Pielli said. “This list of specific exemptions will ensure that working Pennsylvanians are protected and help prevent some of the worst effects of an economic downturn.”

“The economic outlook is precarious at best for many Pennsylvanians, and I worry that we do not have enough safeguards in place to prevent the cascading effects of an economic downturn,” Howard said. “By providing additional protections for average working citizens, we can help ensure Pennsylvanians do not lose everything.”

The legislation is awaiting assignment of a bill number.

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