HARRISBURG – Legislation to protect construction contractors from unfair liability provisions has overwhelmingly passed the Pennsylvania House and now heads to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 1541, sponsored by Representative Joe Hohenstein, would address a growing concern in Pennsylvania’s construction industry, where contractors are often required to assume liability for damages caused by another party’s negligence as a condition of entering into contracts. This practice places an undue burden on contractors and can harm their business reputation.
Co sponsor Representative Marla Brown states, “House Bill 1541 is about fairness and accountability, ensuring construction contracts place responsibility where it actually belongs. With 45 states already adopting similar protections, this is an important step toward modernizing Pennsylvania law.”
The legislation would void provisions in new construction contracts that require a party to be held responsible for damages resulting from another party’s negligence.