Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
04/15/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/15/2026 14:37
Brown’s Anti-Indemnity Bill Unanimously Passes House
Apr. 15, 2026
HARRISBURG - Rep. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) announced today legislation to protect construction contractors from unfair liability provisions has unanimously passed the Pennsylvania House and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
House Bill 1541, of which Brown is co-prime sponsor, 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.
"Our contractors should never be forced to accept liability for another party's negligence," said Brown. "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 indemnify, or be held responsible for, damages resulting from another party's negligence. By prohibiting these clauses, the bill aims to create a more balanced and transparent contracting environment across the Commonwealth.
The measure was brought to Brown by Bruce and Merrilees of New Castle, a premier provider of electrical, technology and specialty services since 1948 and part of ArchKey Solutions.
If enacted, the legislation would align Pennsylvania with the majority of states that have enacted anti-indemnity statutes in construction contracts, helping to ensure clearer standards and more equitable risk allocation across the industry.
Representative Marla Brown
9th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rick Leiner
717.260.6437 (office), 717.497.8478 (cell)
[email protected]
RepMarlaBrown.com / facebook.com/RepMarlaBrown
House Bill 1541, of which Brown is co-prime sponsor, 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.
"Our contractors should never be forced to accept liability for another party's negligence," said Brown. "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 indemnify, or be held responsible for, damages resulting from another party's negligence. By prohibiting these clauses, the bill aims to create a more balanced and transparent contracting environment across the Commonwealth.
The measure was brought to Brown by Bruce and Merrilees of New Castle, a premier provider of electrical, technology and specialty services since 1948 and part of ArchKey Solutions.
If enacted, the legislation would align Pennsylvania with the majority of states that have enacted anti-indemnity statutes in construction contracts, helping to ensure clearer standards and more equitable risk allocation across the industry.
Representative Marla Brown
9th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rick Leiner
717.260.6437 (office), 717.497.8478 (cell)
[email protected]
RepMarlaBrown.com / facebook.com/RepMarlaBrown
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Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus published this content on April 15, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 15, 2026 at 20:37 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]