Scott bill halting evictions in extreme weather passes PA House
Rep. Greg Scott October 19, 2026 | 5:06 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 19 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 122-81 to pass H.B. 2023, a bill designed to protect residents facing eviction from losing their homes during times of extreme weather.
The bill, introduced by state Rep. Greg Scott, D-Montgomery, would require a judge to halt the execution of an eviction order on a day-to-day basis when life-threatening weather is forecast.
Weather events considered life-threatening include below-freezing temperatures, winter storm or blizzard warnings, excessive heat warnings and hurricane or tropical storm warnings.
Execution of the eviction order would resume within a defined period after the weather emergency ends.
“Landlords absolutely have the right to evict tenants who fail to pay,” said Scott. “What this bill does is ask us to approach eviction with an element of humanity. Families failing to pay their rent are already struggling and may not have a safe place to go during deadly weather. Pausing evictions keeps more people safe and would ease some of the strain put on our shelter systems when bad weather is forecast.”
The bill was approved by the House Housing and Community Development Committee in February.
“I commend Representative Scott for introducing this bill to provide safety for tenants during difficult weather situations,” said state Rep. Brandon Markosek, chair of the committee.
The protections in H.B. 2023 would apply to individuals and families already enrolled in programs that have income requirements and sometimes work requirements, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
“Pennsylvania's proposed legislation to pause evictions during extreme weather recognizes the vulnerability of low-income tenants and their families. Many households facing eviction already struggle with limited financial resources, unstable employment, health challenges, disabilities or barriers to accessing emergency shelter,” said Carolyn Johnson, chief counsel for Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania. “Being forced from their homes during a blizzard, severe snowstorm, hurricane, tropical storm warning, freezing temperatures or excessive heat can place them at immediate risk of illness, injury or homelessness.”
The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
“This bill is about seeing all of our residents as people first,” said Scott. “I’m looking to my peers in the Senate to send this to the governor’s desk and get this important safety net in place.”