HARRISBURG – Senator Scott Martin (R-13) is continuing his bipartisan push for Pennsylvania to join 48 other States, including all of its neighboring ones, in allowing remote real estate sales and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Martin joined four of his Senate colleagues this week in announcing a bipartisan bill that would require the Department of Community and Economic Development to issue a waiver to Governor Wolf’s business closure order for real estate activities.
Under the bill, social distancing practices would still be in place for real estate transactions in accordance with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. All of Pennsylvania’s neighboring states currently allow the real estate industry to continue to operate safely under social distancing guidelines. The legislation is similar to House Bill 2412, which was approved by the House of Representatives this week.
On April 10, the Wolf Administration issued guidelines that allowed a very narrow scope of real estate activities to take place, but only for transactions begun prior to the pandemic.
“Housing is a critical need for Pennsylvanians, and there is no doubt that the real estate industry could continue to operate with proper safeguards in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Martin said. “I applaud my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for working to ensure these activities can resume safely as soon as possible.”
Martin was the prime sponsor of a bill signed into law earlier this month that allows remote notarizations of documents, clearing a major hurdle for real estate transactions to be completed remotely during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
CONTACT: Terry Trego (717) 787-6535