HB 2282 — An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judgments and other liens, providing for bankruptcy exemption.

PRINTER'S NO.   2988

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 2282
                                                 Session of
                                                   2026

     INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        HANBIDGE, WAXMAN, ABNEY, FLEMING, SANCHEZ AND MAYES,
        MARCH 11, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, MARCH 12, 2026


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
 2      Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judgments and other
 3      liens, providing for bankruptcy exemption.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.     Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 7   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 8   § 8105.    Bankruptcy exemption.
 9      (a)    Choice.--In a bankruptcy proceeding filed in this
10   Commonwealth under 11 U.S.C. (relating to bankruptcy), an
11   individual or married couple filing jointly may choose the
12   Federal exemptions contained in 11 U.S.C. § 522(d) (relating to
13   exemptions) or the following:
14             (1)   Up to $650,000 in aggregate equity in real or
15      personal property used as a primary residence by the debtor
16      or a dependent of the debtor or in a cooperative that owns
17      property that the debtor or a dependent of the debtor uses as
18      a primary residence. The debtor's exemption in the property
 1    shall be determined as of the date the bankruptcy petition is
 2    filed. If the value of the debtor's interest in the property
 3    on the petition date is less than or equal to the amount that
 4    can be exempted under this paragraph, the debtor's entire
 5    interest in the property is exempt, including the debtor's
 6    right to possession and interests of no monetary value. Any
 7    appreciation in the value of the debtor's exempt interest in
 8    the property during the bankruptcy case shall be exempt, even
 9    if in excess of the amount under this paragraph.
10        (2)     Personal property not exempted under paragraph (3),
11    a total value of $50,000 for individual filers and $100,000
12    for married couples filing jointly, plus the aggregate of the
13    payments due in the year before the bankruptcy petition for
14    taxes, domestic support obligations or educational debts that
15    are not dischargeable, utility bills and phone and Internet
16    services.
17        (3)     Twenty thousand dollars for individual filers or
18    $40,000 for married couples filing jointly in equity in
19    vehicles.
20        (4)     The following types of property, including the right
21    to receive the property and property traceable to the
22    property, are exempt in total:
23              (i)    All property exempt from judgment under section
24        8124 (relating to exemption of particular property).
25              (ii)    Health aids, including wheelchairs, canes,
26        hearing aids or other medically necessary items for the
27        debtor or a dependent of the debtor.
28              (iii)    Current wages and benefits from employment.
29              (iv)    Alimony, support and maintenance subject to 23
30        Pa.C.S. (relating to domestic relations).

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 1             (v)    Up to two burial plots, as defined in 9 Pa.C.S.
 2        § 101 (relating to definitions).
 3             (vi)    Social Security benefits.
 4             (vii)    College savings plans.
 5             (viii)    Unemployment benefits arising under the act
 6        of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1),
 7        known as the Unemployment Compensation Law.
 8             (ix)    Workers' compensation arising under the act of
 9        June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers'
10        Compensation Act.
11             (x)    Medical assistance, as defined in section 1401
12        of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the
13        Human Services Code.
14             (xi)    All benefits arising under a Federal program,
15        including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the
16        Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Women Infants
17        and Children, Children's Health Insurance Program,
18        Section 8 housing vouchers, Low-Income Home Energy
19        Assistance Program, Weatherization Assistance Program and
20        Federal Student Aid, including grants, loans and work-
21        study programs.
22             (xii)    Tax refunds.
23             (xiii)    Court-ordered restitution payments.
24             (xiv)    Benefits arising under the act of June 24,
25        1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and
26        Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act.
27             (xv)    Benefits arising under 38 U.S.C. (relating to
28        veterans' benefits), or excluded by 51 Pa.C.S. Ch. 99
29        (relating to veterans' benefit payment exclusion).
30             (xvi)    Awards for the debtor or a dependent of the

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 1          debtor received as the result of a civil remedy,
 2          including for the loss of future earnings, recovery for
 3          wrongful deaths, medical payments and pain and suffering.
 4    (b)   Adjustment of dollar amount.--
 5          (1)   On April 1, 2026, and April 1 in each third calendar
 6    year thereafter, the Supreme Court shall adjust each dollar
 7    amount under this section to reflect any increase in the
 8    Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by
 9    the United States Department of Labor for the three-year
10    period ending on December 31 of the preceding year.
11    Adjustments required by this paragraph shall be rounded to
12    the nearest $25.
13          (2)   The Supreme Court shall transmit notice of the
14    dollar amount to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
15    publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
16    Bulletin.
17          (3)   The Supreme Court may publish the notice in another
18    manner that the court concludes would be reasonably likely to
19    inform persons who are affected by the adjustment of the
20    dollar amounts.
21    Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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