PRINTER'S NO. 648
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.638
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HOWARD, WAXMAN, NEILSON, KHAN, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS,
PIELLI, MADDEN AND SANCHEZ, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 20, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in commercial protection, prohibiting
confession of judgment provisions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Part IV of Title 12 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 59
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Sec.
5901. Confession of judgment provisions prohibited.
ยง 5901. Confession of judgment provisions prohibited.
(a) Prohibition.--A contract or agreement entered into
between parties may not contain a provision that authorizes one
party to confess judgment against another party to the contract
or agreement.
(b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply to a contract
or agreement entered into:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 (1) prior to the effective date of this section; or
(2) by the Commonwealth or a municipality pursuant to
statute.
(c) Effect.--A confession of judgment provision in violation
of this section is void and unenforceable.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20250HB0638PN0648 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6