An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judgments and other liens, providing for bankruptcy exemption.

PRINTER'S NO. 2988
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2282
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, PIELLI, HILL-EVANS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
HANBIDGE, WAXMAN, ABNEY, FLEMING, SANCHEZ AND MAYES,
MARCH 11, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, MARCH 12, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in judgments and other
liens, providing for bankruptcy exemption.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 8105. Bankruptcy exemption.
(a) Choice.--In a bankruptcy proceeding filed in this
Commonwealth under 11 U.S.C. (relating to bankruptcy), an
individual or married couple filing jointly may choose the
Federal exemptions contained in 11 U.S.C. § 522(d) (relating to
exemptions) or the following:
(1) Up to $650,000 in aggregate equity in real or
personal property used as a primary residence by the debtor
or a dependent of the debtor or in a cooperative that owns
property that the debtor or a dependent of the debtor uses as
a primary residence. The debtor's exemption in the property
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
shall be determined as of the date the bankruptcy petition is
filed. If the value of the debtor's interest in the property
on the petition date is less than or equal to the amount that
can be exempted under this paragraph, the debtor's entire
interest in the property is exempt, including the debtor's
right to possession and interests of no monetary value. Any
appreciation in the value of the debtor's exempt interest in
the property during the bankruptcy case shall be exempt, even
if in excess of the amount under this paragraph.
(2) Personal property not exempted under paragraph (3),
a total value of $50,000 for individual filers and $100,000
for married couples filing jointly, plus the aggregate of the
payments due in the year before the bankruptcy petition for
taxes, domestic support obligations or educational debts that
are not dischargeable, utility bills and phone and Internet
services.
(3) Twenty thousand dollars for individual filers or
$40,000 for married couples filing jointly in equity in
vehicles.
(4) The following types of property, including the right
to receive the property and property traceable to the
property, are exempt in total:
(i) All property exempt from judgment under section
8124 (relating to exemption of particular property).
(ii) Health aids, including wheelchairs, canes,
hearing aids or other medically necessary items for the
debtor or a dependent of the debtor.
(iii) Current wages and benefits from employment.
(iv) Alimony, support and maintenance subject to 23
Pa.C.S. (relating to domestic relations).
20260HB2282PN2988 - 2 -
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
30
(v) Up to two burial plots, as defined in 9 Pa.C.S.
§ 101 (relating to definitions).
(vi) Social Security benefits.
(vii) College savings plans.
(viii) Unemployment benefits arising under the act
of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1),
known as the Unemployment Compensation Law.
(ix) Workers' compensation arising under the act of
June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers'
Compensation Act.
(x) Medical assistance, as defined in section 1401
of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the
Human Services Code.
(xi) All benefits arising under a Federal program,
including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Women Infants
and Children, Children's Health Insurance Program,
Section 8 housing vouchers, Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program, Weatherization Assistance Program and
Federal Student Aid, including grants, loans and work-
study programs.
(xii) Tax refunds.
(xiii) Court-ordered restitution payments.
(xiv) Benefits arising under the act of June 24,
1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and
Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act.
(xv) Benefits arising under 38 U.S.C. (relating to
veterans' benefits), or excluded by 51 Pa.C.S. Ch. 99
(relating to veterans' benefit payment exclusion).
(xvi) Awards for the debtor or a dependent of the
20260HB2282PN2988 - 3 -
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
30
debtor received as the result of a civil remedy,
including for the loss of future earnings, recovery for
wrongful deaths, medical payments and pain and suffering.
(b) Adjustment of dollar amount.--
(1) On April 1, 2026, and April 1 in each third calendar
year thereafter, the Supreme Court shall adjust each dollar
amount under this section to reflect any increase in the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as published by
the United States Department of Labor for the three-year
period ending on December 31 of the preceding year.
Adjustments required by this paragraph shall be rounded to
the nearest $25.
(2) The Supreme Court shall transmit notice of the
dollar amount to the Legislative Reference Bureau for
publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania
Bulletin.
(3) The Supreme Court may publish the notice in another
manner that the court concludes would be reasonably likely to
inform persons who are affected by the adjustment of the
dollar amounts.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20260HB2282PN2988 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21