Summary of Legislative Activity | October 2026
Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers
Summary of Legislation
October 2026
2025-26 Legislative Session Approaches End
The General Assembly appears to have completed its legislative work, with only procedural votes left for the post-election “sine die” session days, barring unlikely agreement on some big ticket, controversial issues. The 2025-26 session ends officially on November 30. Left undone, unfortunately, was final action on indemnification agreements, as HB1541 was not considered by the full Senate, after emerging from committee in September. There IS support for this issue in the House and Senate, and the results of the November 3 elections could play a part in changing the fortunes of this important legislation, as well as others on the horizon for the construction industry.
On the positive side, several other pieces of legislation were passed this session. Those bills are outlined below.
BOIS Announces Elevator Stakeholder Meetings
The Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety will be holding stakeholder meetings on guidance on the enforcement of the new elevator regulations.
- Elevator webpage: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/programs-services/labor-management-relations/bureau-of-occupational-and-industrial-safety/tpa-elevators
- Regulations webpage: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/resources/compliance-laws-and-regulations/labor-management-relations/bois/ucc-regulations-and-statutes
The Department will host several in-person meetings and one (1) virtual meeting regarding the new regulations:
In Person Meetings:
Philadelphia – Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST. All interested parties are welcome to attend.
Location: International Union of Elevator Constructors, 12273 Townsend Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154
Pittsburgh – Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST. All interested parties are welcome to attend.
Location: Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, 650 Ridge Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Harrisburg – Tuesday, November 10, 2026, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST. All interested parties are welcome to attend.
Location: Forum Auditorium, 500 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Virtual Meeting – Monday, November 16, 2026, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST. You must pre-register for this webinar by 5 pm on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in order to attend; to register, send an email to the Elevator Regulations’ email account with the email subject line, “Request Webinar Registration”.
Registration Board Gets New Members
The PA State Senate has confirmed three new appointees for the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. Justin Fischgrund, PE, (https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/people/faculty/justin-fischgrund/) was appointed to succeed former Board President Jim Szalankiewicz; Jason Floyd, PG replaces Martin Helmke, PG, who had resigned; and Don Housley, PLS, moves into the spot vacated by Scott Reeser. The three new members will serve six year terms. With these appointments, the Board has a full complement of professional members, with all three public member positions vacant.
This Month in the PA Bulletin:
NONE
Legislative Activity
The following bills have been acted upon in the General Assembly this past month.
Bidding / Contracting
NONE
Budget Bills
NONE
Energy Development Bills
NONE
Environmental Building Standards
NONE
Liability
NONE
Local/State Government/Regulations
NONE
Local/Property Tax Reform
NONE
Mandate Waivers
NONE
Mechanic’s Lien
NONE
Permitting
NONE
Prevailing Wage
SB908 RE: Custom Fabrication (by Sen. Frank A. Farry)
Amends the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act, further providing for definitions, for specifications, for prevailing wage and for duty of secretary. Amends the definition of “public work” to include custom fabrication and to exclude rehabilitation of a residential property and school safety and security improvements. Amends the definition of “workman” to include persons performing custom fabrication for a public work project. Defines “custom fabrication,” “school safety and security improvements” and “residential property.” Requires public work contract specifications to state minimum wage rates for workmen engaged in custom fabrication. Subjects custom fabrication contractors and subcontractors to the same compliance, reporting, penalty and enforcement requirements as other contractors and subcontractors. Requires the Secretary of Labor and Industry to apply the prevailing minimum wage rate for the applicable craft or trade in the locality where the public work project is located for custom fabrication work.
Re-reported as committed from House Appropriations Committee, read third time, and passed House, 10/19/2026
Approved by the Governor, 10/22/2026 – Act No. 101 of 2026
Procurement
SB1410 RE: Commonwealth Party Procurement Contract Terms Act (by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill)
Prohibits contract terms that require a Commonwealth party or local agency to indemnify, defend, or hold another entity harmless from liability; to subject the Commonwealth party or local agency to binding arbitration or any other binding dispute resolution process; to designate a venue for legal action or dispute resolution against the Commonwealth party outside the courts of the Commonwealth or a federal court in Pennsylvania, or waives a claim or defense that the forum is not convenient or proper; to require the contract to be governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth or required by federal law; to conflict with applicable federal or state statutes or regulations; to require the Commonwealth party or local agency to pay attorney or collection fees; or to require the Commonwealth party to pay interest or late fees beyond what is authorized under the Fiscal Code..
Reported as committed from House State Government Committee, read first time, and laid on the table, and Removed from table, 10/19/2026
Re-referred to House Appropriations Committee, 10/20/2026
Re-reported as committed from House Appropriations Committee, read third time, and passed House,
10/21/2026
Approved by the Governor, 10/22/2026 – Act No. 114 of 2026
Professional Licensure
HB2645 RE: Home Inspector Licensing (by Rep. Tina M. Davis)
An Act amending the act of February 19, 1980 (P.L.15, No.9), known as the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, providing for continuing education for licensed home inspectors and further providing for administration and enforcement; in qualifications and applications for licenses and registration certificates and providing for home inspector license and home inspector-in-training registration
Referred to Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, 10/13/2026
SB1260 RE: Electrical Services Licensure Act (by Sen. Devlin J. Robinson)
An Act providing for licensure of electrical contractors, electricians, residential electricians, apprentice electricians and probationary electricians; establishing the State Board of Electrical Licensure; providing for powers and duties of the board; establishing fees, fines and penalties; and making an appropriation.
Re-reported as amended from House Appropriations Committee, read third time, and passed House, 10/19/2026
Referred to Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 10/19/2026
Re-reported on concurrence, as committed from Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, and Senate concurred in House amendments , 10/21/2026
Approved by the Governor, 10/22/2026 – Act No. 108 of 2026
Separations Act
NONE
School Construction
HB2860 RE: RACP for Schools (by Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D)
Amends the Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act, in capital facilities, further providing for definitions and for administration of redevelopment assistance capital projects. Includes a public school entity with a school remediation under the definition of “applicant” and adds a definition for “public school entity.” Creates an exemption for school remediation projects and defines “school remediation project.” Adds that notwithstanding any other provision of law, an applicant that is a public school entity shall comply with all of the requirements of subchapter (d) of Article VII of the Public School Code.
Referred to House Commerce Committee, 10/19/2026
State/Local Taxes
NONE
Transportation/Highways
SB205 RE: Supplemental Funding for Municipal Highway Maintenance (by Sen. Greg Rothman)
Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in supplemental funding for municipal highway maintenance, further providing for supplemental funding for municipal highway maintenance; and, in taxes for highway maintenance and construction, further providing for imposition of tax. Permits a county to use money for the construction and maintenance of bridges owned by municipalities in the county.
Reported as committed from House Transportation Committee, read first time, laid on the table, and Removed from table, 10/19/2026
Read second time, and re-referred to House Appropriations Committee, 10/20/2026
Re-reported as committed from House Appropriations Committee, read third time, and passed House, 10/21/2026
Approved by the Governor, 10/22/2026 – Act No. 91 of 2026
Worker’s Comp
NONE
Workforce Development
NONE
Upcoming meetings of Interest
Some House Committee meetings and session can be viewed online at: https://www.pahouse.net/LegisTrak/CommitteeMeetings
Senate Committee meetings and session can be streamed at: https://www.pasenategop.com/watch/
2026 House Session Schedule (Subject to Change)
November 9, 10
2026 Senate Spring Session Schedule
November 17, 18
State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists Meeting Schedule
PUBLIC WELCOME
All Board meetings are held in person and remotely via Teams. In-person meetings will be held at a new location: 2525 N. 7th Street, Harrisburg, PA, unless otherwise indicated.
Remaining 2026 dates: December 2
2027 dates: January 13, March 10, May 12, July 14, September 15, November 17
2028 dates: January 12, March 8, May 10, July 12, September 13, November 15
State Geospatial Coordinating Board
2026 GeoBoard Quarterly Meetings: November 12
HYBRID virtual conference & in person at: Pennsylvania Geological Survey 3240 Schoolhouse Rd, Middletown, PA 17057
L&I: UNIFORM CONSTRUCTION CODE REVIEW AND ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS
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Support reducing the length of liability for a construction project
The Pennsylvania Statute of Repose establishes the time frame following the completion of a construction project during which legal claims can be filed against architects, engineers, and contractors. The longstanding Statute of Repose for contractors and designers has been challenged in court. One of these cases involves a project that was completed more than 40 years ago. Design professionals have personal liability for projects where they have responsible charge or personally supervise. {MORE}
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