In the near future, we will introduce legislation to uplift the credit abilities of millions of Pennsylvanians by reporting rent and utility payments to the major credit bureaus.
 
For many Pennsylvanians, access to credit is critical in meeting both their daily needs and long-term goals. Good credit scores permit millions of Pennsylvanians to access vehicles, achieve home ownership, and start their own business. A person’s credit score also determines the costs they pay in insurance premiums and the interest rates they pay on loans. Yet despite the essential role that credit plays in our system, few opportunities exist for people to build or rebuild their credit scores.
 
Rent and utility payments are consistent payments millions of Pennsylvanians make every month, and yet the fulfilment of these obligations bears no impact on their credit scores. There are millions of good payment histories in the commonwealth rendered invisible simply because they go unreported.
 
To address this unfairness, we, in conjunction with Senators Saval and Pisciottano, will introduce a pair of bills to promote credit growth by requiring utility providers and most landlords to offer the option to have their payments reported to credit reporting agencies.
 
These bills will allow complete payment histories to be properly reflected in an individual’s credit score.
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring these commonsense bills.