July 12, 2026 · URBAN AFFAIRS AND HOUSING · 1,283 words · 12 speakers · 59 segments
The voting meeting of the Urban Affairs and Housing Committee will come to order. In order to establish a quorum, Ashley will now call the roll. Argel.
Here.
Coleman.
Proxy.
Ferry.
Here.
Fontana.
Here.
Kiefer.
Miller.
Here.
Saval.
Here.
Street.
Here.
Vogel.
Here.
Ward.
Proxy.
Picozzi.
Here. With the quorum established, this committee will now consider Senate Bill 1346, which amends the Pennsylvania Municipality's Planning Code to provide for the creation of accessory dwelling units. Is there a motion to consider the bill?
Moved by Senator Saval.
Is there a second?
Seconded by Senator Argel.
Senator Rothman, would you like to describe your bill?
Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Chairman Ricosi. Thank you, Chairman Saval. Well, as you, I think everyone knows, Pennsylvania, specifically in the United States in general, is in the midst of a housing crisis that is a product of inventory shortage. As supply continues to be an issue, prices continue to skyrocket primarily due to construction and regulatory burdens. The same regulatory issues that can cause prices to rise also hinders the speed at which a housing can be built, and more specifically, where and how it can be built. The reforms in Senate Bill 1346 reduce the regulatory burden in a way that increases housing access to a lower cost. Specifically, the legislation expands access to accessory dwelling units. So someone can build an additional dwelling unit on their property above a garage, in a garage. 38 states have passed legislation dealing with housing, 14 specifically with ADUs. We see them in places like California where they're trying to solve the housing crisis that we have. ADUs are a direct way we can provide more housing options, increase supply, and free up existing supply for buyers and renters alike At a time when young people increasingly find housing unattainable this legislation makes a core tenet of the American dream attainable Pennsylvania can follow the proven lead of other states and attract and retain young people and reverse the brain drain and the demographic crisis we have in our Commonwealth I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who helped champion this legislation, including my co-prime sponsor, Senators Saval and Kearney.
And thank you, Chairman Picozzi, for moving this important piece of legislation. Thank you, Senator Rothman. I want to recognize that Senator Kiefer is here with us. Are there any other questions or comments on the bill?
Senator Saval. Thank you, Chairman McCosey. Thank you, Senator Rothman, for your championing this issue and issues of housing affordability more generally. It has been an honor to work with you and Senator Carney on this legislation. I want to encourage also an affirmative vote from my colleagues. This is, I think, a critical piece of legislation that would ease the affordability issues that we are dealing with with regards to housing in the Commonwealth. It will allow the adoption of more types of housing in more places, in particular for property owners to be able to develop housing on their property as they see fit in ways that also encourage an overall growth in the supply of housing, which is the surest way to reduce the overall cost of housing across the Commonwealth. So I am excited to move this bill forward. Again, I want to thank you and Senator Carney and thank Chairman Picozzi and the staff of this committee for their support of this or their work on this legislation. So I appreciate you. Thanks.
Thank you, Chairman Saval.
Senator Fontana? Thank you. Certainly in favor of doing this. I'm just curious about how it affects local ordinances or local regulations.
The property would still have to be in compliance, so it would be a residential use. It would just allow more density.
If you have an accessory dwelling unit you not creating another You not making a one unit a two unit It an accessory to the existing one unit I guess my thought can local governments stop it
If they don't want it, if there's a municipality or a city or a county that doesn't want to do it, are they able not to do it or does this circumvent that, I guess is my question. Because there's certainly areas, certain folks, you know, areas that may not, Some councils may say, no, I don't want to do that, even though I think they should. I'm just worried about obstacles that might jump up going forward.
So, with your permission, Senator Rothman,
so what essentially this creates is standards around the adoption of those accessory dwelling units. It does create standard – it reduces certain standards by which such accessory dwelling units can be denied, but there are still standards by which they can be reviewed. And so there's – so in other words, I think while it eases the construction of ADUs, there are also – it just fundamentally creates standards across the Commonwealth. Again, for the municipality's planning code, to be clear. So it gives the municipalities the ability to opt in, I would think.
The question in my mind is can they stop it if they want to? I guess that's what I'm wondering, but something we can look into, I'm sure. Thank you.
So the municipalities have to create, I mean, they must adopt an ordinance to permit the development of at least one accessory dwelling unit for areas that are zoned, single family. and there are specific guidelines on where they can create restrictions and where they can't. So, for example, they can establish a height limitation, but there are restrictions on where they can do that So there Essentially yeah Thank you Senator Ferry Yeah and I have some of the similar concerns because this is by right
so there will be limited to no local input or control on this, and I understand it seems to minimus one additional unit. I believe it's capped at 850 square feet, if I'm reading that correctly, or a percentage of dwelling, whichever is less the existing dwelling. I'm just kind of concerned a little bit of the impact it could have in the character of a community. You buy a house somewhere and all your neighbors put an accessory unit surrounding you. It may change where you would have chosen to buy a home. I recognize the housing shortage. I sat here with Chairman Saval last session and chaired this committee, and it was something that I think is important. It was something we were trying to come up with some creative ideas, and I recognize this may have some impact on this. I'm going to be a no vote on this, especially in light of getting noticed last night about this. You know, we're here on a weekend. We're working on the budget. Did not afford a lot of opportunities to talk to stakeholders and, you know, learn more about the issue. You know, I know where the housing advocates are, and I appreciate their thoughts on this. But I think we also have to be respectful to our municipalities as well. So, Mr. Chair, I'm going to be a no vote on this at this time.
Are there any further questions or comments? Seeing none, Ashley, please call the roll. Argel?
Aye.
Coleman?
Proxy, yes.
Yes.
Ferry?
No. No.
Fontana?
Aye. Aye. Kiefer?
Aye.
Aye.
Miller?
Aye. Aye.
Saval?
Aye. Aye.
Street?
Aye. Aye.
Vogel?
Aye. Aye.
Ward?
Proxy, aye. Aye. Picozzi. Aye. Aye. The ayes have it, and Senate Bill 1346 is reported out of committee. That concludes today's agenda. The Urban Affairs and Housing Committee stands in recess until the call of the chair.