State Rep. Bob Merski, D-Erie, announced today that Gov. Josh Shapiro has signed House Bill 858 into law, delivering a powerful new tool to curb property blight by creating a unified, county-maintained contact registry for property owners across Pennsylvania.
The law targets blighted and abandoned properties by requiring counties to develop and maintain accurate property contact information. That data can be shared with municipal code enforcement to ensure properties receive appropriate maintenance and timely attention.
As a co-prime sponsor of the bill, Merski helped craft provisions that set clear duties for chief assessors and establish enforceable penalties for noncompliance—measures designed to strengthen transparency, improve accountability, and enhance communication among county officials, municipal partners, and the communities they serve.
“This newly enacted law now gives local governments the practical information they’ve been missing,” Merski said. “Putting a responsible contact behind every parcel ends the runaround that lets neglect linger.
“As a former city council member, I saw how unclear ownership and unreachable landlords stall enforcement. This law sets clear expectations for assessors, creates real consequences for ignoring them, and opens the lines of communication needed to protect neighborhoods—from safer blocks to stronger property values.”
With the governor’s signature, H.B. 858, is now law in Pennsylvania.
