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After amendments and debate, House agrees to bill limiting HOA restrictions on rooftop solar
Summary
Lawmakers debated and voted on several amendments to HB1239, which prevents homeowners associations from broadly banning rooftop solar; some amendments were withdrawn or failed, one amendment passed 149–53, and the bill was agreed to as amended.
The House took up House Bill 1239 on June 30, a measure that prohibits homeowners associations from restricting the installation of rooftop solar energy systems.
Representative Gaydos, who offered several amendments aimed at transparency and horticultural provisions, withdrew some amendments to work with the bill's sponsor. "Community associations are one of the fastest-growing forms of communities," Gaydos said, then withdrew an amendment she said she would work on with the sponsor.
Representative Williams proposed a limited change to the implementation date to allow the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to complete rulemaking on net metering. "This is about getting rulemaking done at the PUC to make sure that once and for all, we take care of the net metering problem in Pennsylvania," Williams said.
Representative Fiedler, arguing against certain amendments, said residential and small commercial solar account for less than 2% of customers in the state and that there is "no evidence of meaningful cost shifting." Representative Kephart and others disputed that view, arguing the amendment would protect non-solar customers.
Amendments were taken up and recorded on the floor: one amendment ultimately failed after an even vote in which the clerk recorded an equal tally; later a separate amendment passed on a recorded vote of ayes 149, nays 53. The House agreed to the bill as amended and ordered it reprinted. The clerk announced the bill was "agreed to."
