House passes landslide and sinkhole insurance program to create dedicated state fund

The Pennsylvania House on Sept. 29 passed House Bill 589, establishing a state landslide and sinkhole insurance program that supporters said will be financed by premiums and administered as a dedicated fund to assist homeowners and municipalities after land-movement damage.

Supporters said the bill creates a state-run, self-sustaining insurance mechanism modeled on Pennsylvania's mine-subsidence program that would pay claims for damage caused by landslides and sinkholes. Representative Kinkade, who sponsored the bill, told colleagues it is —this is a bill that has been a long time in the making.— She said Southwestern Pennsylvania has had especially high rates of landslides and that affected homeowners can lose their homes through no fault of their own.

The bill passed final passage on a roll call of 152 yeas and 51 nays. The clerk recorded the tally as 152-51.

Why it matters: Backers said private insurance markets often do not offer coverage for land movement, leaving affected homeowners and local governments to rely on emergency state funding. Representative Kinkade argued the proposed fund would be self-sustaining over time, with premiums supporting claims and the program eventually repaying initial seed funding. Representative Gaydos, also speaking in support, said the program will be administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development rather than the Department of Environmental Protection and described the fund as a —dedicated fund— that can provide more accountable, expedited assistance.

Details from debate and text: Representative Kinkade said the state already runs a mine-subsidence insurance program and that this bill —seeks to set up an insurance fund that would be self sustaining.— Gaydos said landslides'and sinkholes'can take out roads and prevent people from getting to work, and that a dedicated program could better serve affected communities.

What the House did: The House voted to pass HB 589; the clerk recorded final passage and the House will send the bill to the Senate for concurrence.

Context and next steps: Supporters framed the program as modeled on a 60-year-old mine-subsidence program and said the structure is intended to avoid private-market withdrawals that leave homeowners without coverage. The transcript did not specify the bill's initial seed amount, premium schedules, or the timetable for implementation; those details would be set in implementing language and administrative rules or subsequent fiscal documents.

Ending: With final passage by the House, HB 589 now moves to the Pennsylvania Senate. The transcript did not record any Senate action, enactment date, or implementation timeline.