Bill > SB963

This bill establishes the Municipal Services Equalization and Tax Fairness Act, which requires municipalities to provide consistent municipal services to common interest communities (such as condominiums, cooperatives, and planned communities) that are equivalent to services provided to non-community dwellings. The bill defines municipal services broadly, including waste collection, snow removal, street lighting, sewer and water line maintenance, emergency services, and other typical municipal services. If a municipality does not automatically provide these services to a community, the community can request negotiations to establish a written agreement specifying the services and reimbursement terms. If negotiations fail, the bill mandates compulsory arbitration through a three-person arbitration board to resolve service and reimbursement disputes. The arbitration process includes specific procedures for selecting arbitrators, conducting hearings, and making binding determinations. The bill applies to various types of municipalities and ensures that communities can receive fair and equivalent municipal services, with a mechanism for resolving potential conflicts. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage, and it does not invalidate existing agreements between municipalities and communities.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=963