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HB1541 • 2025

An Act amending the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484, No.164), entitled "An act relating to indemnification agreements between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors, subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification agreements relating to snow removal or ice control services," providing for void and unenforceable provisions or terms in construction contracts; and making editorial changes.

An Act amending the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484, No.164), entitled "An act relating to indemnification agreements between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors, subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification agreements relating to snow removal or ice control services," providing for void and unenforceable provisions or terms in construction contracts; and making editorial changes.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
HOHENSTEIN
Last action
2026-06-09
Official status
First consideration, June 9, 2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act amending the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484, No.164), entitled "An act relating to indemnification agreements between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors, subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification agreements relating to snow removal or ice control services," providing for void and unenforceable provisions or terms in construction contracts; and making editorial changes.

An Act amending the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484, No.164), entitled "An act relating to indemnification agreements between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors, subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification agreements relating to snow removal or ice control services," providing for void and unenforceable provisions or terms in construction contracts; and making editorial changes.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act amending the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484, No.164), entitled "An act relating to indemnification agreements between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors, subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification agreements relating to snow removal or ice control services," providing for void and unenforceable provisions or terms in construction contracts; and making editorial changes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

A02408

02/04/26

02/04/26

Plain English: H1541B1812A02408 SFR:JMT 02/02/26 #90 A02408 AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO.

  • H1541B1812A02408 SFR:JMT 02/02/26 #90 A02408 AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO.
  • 1541 Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE LEADBETER Printer's No.
  • 1812 Amend Bill, page 1, lines 7 and 8, by striking out "and for insurance coverage for additional insureds" Amend Bill, page 2, line 4, by striking out "sections" and inserting a section Amend Bill, page 2, line 8, by striking out "a party" and inserting an indemnitee Amend Bill, page 2, line 11, by striking out "party's" and inserting indemnitee's Amend Bill, page 2, lines 14 through 30; page 3, lines 1 through 13; by striking out all of said lines on said pages and inserting (i) The term "construction contract" means a covenant, promise, agreement or understanding in, or in connection with or collateral to, a contract, agreement or purchase order, relative to the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, servicing or security of a building, structure, highway, railroad, appurtenance or appliance, including moving, demolition, excavating, grading, clearing, site preparation or development of real property connected therewith, purporting to indemnify or hold harmless the indemnitee against liability for damages arising out of bodily injury to persons or damage to property caused by or resulting from the negligence, in whole or in part, of the indemnitee.
  • (ii) The term "indemnitee" means an owner, general contractor or agent or employe of an owner or general contractor that presents a provision or term in a construction contract for 2026/90SFR/HB1541A02408 - 1 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 indemnification.
A02916

04/14/26

04/14/26

Plain English: H1541B2873A02916 PWK:CMH 04/14/26 #90 A02916 AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO.

  • H1541B2873A02916 PWK:CMH 04/14/26 #90 A02916 AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO.
  • 1541 Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE HOHENSTEIN Printer's No.
  • 2873 Amend Bill, page 3, line 18, by inserting after "A" nonresidential Amend Bill, page 3, line 19, by inserting after "THE" design, observation, inspection, planning, surveying, Amend Bill, page 3, line 20, by inserting after "STRUCTURE," road, Amend Bill, page 3, line 25, by striking out "OR" where it occurs the first time and inserting a comma Amend Bill, page 3, line 25, by inserting after "PROPERTY" or economic damages Amend Bill, page 4, line 2, by striking out "60" and inserting 180 2026/90PWK/HB1541A02916 - 1 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
A02936

04/15/26

04/15/26

Plain English: H1541B3195A02936 MSP:JMT 04/15/26 #90 A02936 AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO.

  • H1541B3195A02936 MSP:JMT 04/15/26 #90 A02936 AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO.
  • 1541 Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE BRIGGS Printer's No.
  • 3195 Amend Bill, page 2, lines 5 and 6, by striking out "provisions or terms in a construction contract which are void and unenforceable" and inserting construction contracts 2026/90MSP/HB1541A02936 - 1 - 1 2 3 4

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-09 BANKING AND INSURANCE

    Reported as committed, June 9, 2026

  2. 2026-06-09 S

    First consideration, June 9, 2026

  3. 2026-05-01 S

    In the Senate

  4. 2026-05-01 BANKING AND INSURANCE

    Referred to BANKING AND INSURANCE, May 1, 2026

  5. 2026-04-15 APPROPRIATIONS

    Re-reported as committed, April 15, 2026

  6. 2026-04-15 H

    Amended on third consideration, April 15, 2026 (201-0)

  7. 2026-04-15 H

    Final passage, April 15, 2026 (200-1)

  8. 2026-04-15 H

    (Remarks see House Journal Page ), April 15, 2026

  9. 2026-04-14 H

    Second consideration, with amendments, April 14, 2026

  10. 2026-04-14 APPROPRIATIONS

    Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, April 14, 2026

  11. 2026-04-14 H

    (Remarks see House Journal Page ), April 14, 2026

  12. 2026-03-25 H

    Removed from table, March 25, 2026

  13. 2026-02-04 JUDICIARY

    Reported as amended, Feb. 4, 2026

  14. 2026-02-04 H

    First consideration, Feb. 4, 2026

  15. 2026-02-04 H

    Laid on the table, Feb. 4, 2026

  16. 2025-06-03 JUDICIARY

    Referred to JUDICIARY, June 3, 2025

Official Summary Text

An Act amending the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484, No.164), entitled "An act relating to indemnification agreements between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors, subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification agreements relating to snow removal or ice control services," providing for void and unenforceable provisions or terms in construction contracts; and making editorial changes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1812, 2873, 3195 PRINTER'S NO. 3207
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1541
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HOHENSTEIN, M. BROWN, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ,
WEBSTER, OLSOMMER, GALLAGHER, GUENST, WARREN, OTTEN,
KENYATTA, KERWIN AND DAVIDSON, JUNE 3, 2025
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
APRIL 15, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484, No.164), entitled "An
act relating to indemnification agreements between
architects, engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors,
subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification agreements
relating to snow removal or ice control services," providing
for void and unenforceable provisions or terms in
construction contracts; and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The title of the act of July 9, 1970 (P.L.484,
No.164), entitled "An act relating to indemnification agreements
between architects, engineers or surveyors and owners,
contractors, subcontractors or suppliers and indemnification
agreements relating to snow removal or ice control services," is
amended to read:
AN ACT
Relating to indemnification agreements between architects,
engineers or surveyors and owners, contractors,
subcontractors or suppliers [and], indemnification agreements
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relating to snow removal or ice control services[.] and
indemnification agreements relating to construction
contracts.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1.2. The following apply to provisions or terms in a
construction contract which are void and unenforceable
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS :
(1) A provision or term in a construction contract in which
an indemnitee shall be indemnified, held harmless or insured for
damages, claims, losses or expenses arising out of bodily injury
to persons, damage to property or economic damage caused by or
resulting from the indemnitee's negligence, in whole or in part,
shall be void as against public policy and unenforceable.
(2) As used in this section:
(i) The term "construction contract" means a covenant,
promise, agreement or understanding in, or in connection with or
collateral to, a nonresidential contract, agreement or purchase
order, relative to the design, observation, inspection,
planning, surveying, construction, alteration, repair,
maintenance, servicing or security of a building, structure,
road, highway, railroad, appurtenance or appliance, including
moving, demolition, excavating, grading, clearing, site
preparation or development of real property connected therewith,
purporting to indemnify or hold harmless the indemnitee against
liability for damages arising out of bodily injury to persons ,
damage to property or economic damages caused by or resulting
from the negligence, in whole or in part, of the indemnitee.
(ii) The term "indemnitee" means an owner, general
contractor or agent or employe of an owner or general contractor
that presents a provision or term in a construction contract for
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indemnification.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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