HARRISBURG – Bipartisan legislation designed to help local communities fight blight and repair or demolish abandoned properties has been approved, 177-19, today by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, according to State Senator David G. Argall (R-29), the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 900.
Senate Bill 900, the proposed “Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act,” would clarify the identity of property owners and hold them responsible for the municipal costs to secure, remediate or demolish blighted structures.
Argall praised his colleagues for seeing the importance of this legislation and helping to achieve this latest milestone. “I commend my colleagues in the House for lending a much needed hand to communities, large and small, impacted by blighted and dilapidated buildings,” Argall said. “Blight is an obstacle to breathing new life into our older communities and this legislation will help tremendously to overcome this barrier.”
“This legislation was the dream of my predecessor Senator Jim Rhoades when he first introduced this bill (SB 1291) last session, as well as the goal of the Blight Task Force which he created. Many people have worked long and hard to reach this day and I am very pleased that this bill is now this close to becoming law.” Argall added.
Senate Bill 900 moves to the Senate for a final vote before it can be sent to the Governor.