Borowski again pushes bill to protect domestic violence survivors; House passes for 2nd time
Rep. Lisa Borowski May 1, 2026 | 3:18 PM
HARRISBURG, April 30 – The House passed on Wednesday, in a bipartisan vote of 118-83, legislation authored by state Rep. Lisa Borowski, D-Delaware, that would help domestic violence survivors and their children escape dangerous living situations.
House Bill 72 would amend the Landlords and Tenants Act to provide for exceptions that give victims of domestic violence or abuse the option to terminate a rental lease early and/or change the locks or means of entry to their housing unit.
“Today’s vote was simple. No one fleeing abuse should be forced to choose between their safety and financial ruin,” Borowski said. “Leaving an abuser cannot be an option limited to people with a savings account that has thousands of dollars to spare, and today’s bipartisan vote reflected that. I’m grateful to see urgency in tackling the most common form of violence in our communities.”
Borowski’s legislation is included as a key component under the “Provide Pathways to Housing Stabilization and Sustainability” goal in Governor Josh Shapiro’s Housing Action Plan, which notes that housing insecurity is one of the leading reasons survivors stay in or return to abusive relationships, and asserts that financial penalties associated with breaking a lease “should not be a consideration as victims look to transition from crisis.”
“The modernization we’re calling for is proven to help prevent people from dying at the hands of abuse. Victims and their children deserve this fair chance to get out safely, without being trapped by the financial burden of a lease that ties them to their abuser,” Borowski continued. “We’ve spent years fine tuning this legislation to make sure it doesn’t create an unfair cost burden for landlords. It’s time to take this commonsense step to protect the vulnerable.”
Prior to yesterday’s vote, Borowski noted in remarks in the House chamber that Pennsylvania is one of only ten states that offers zero protection to people who are being abused by a spouse, partner or family member with whom they share a lease for their home.
“This is not a partisan idea; the vote on H.B. 72 demonstrates that. It’s a basic matter of safety and human decency. I’m proud the House once again came together to move it forward,” Borowski said.
Since 2023, Borowski has worked with multiple stakeholders, including the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission – which has noted that these victims often experience homelessness and housing insecurity because of their efforts to escape their abuser and protect themselves and their children – to craft a proposal that supports victims while considering landlords’ financial interests.
She has also worked with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect, and Alliance for Safety and Justice.
According to the most recent Fatality Report from PCADV in 2024, 106 Pennsylvanians died from domestic violence; 69% of them were killed by a current or former intimate partner, and 66% of them were killed with a gun.