A Pennsylvania bill that would impose new documentation requirements on consumer debt collection lawsuits and shorten the statute of limitations to three years was laid on the table in the state House of Representatives earlier this week.
House Bill 1731, the Consumer Debt Collection Fairness Act, was introduced July 14, 2025, by Rep. Manuel Guzman, a Democrat.
Laying a bill on the table is a procedural step that suspends consideration without a vote on the merits. A tabled bill remains alive and can be brought back before the chamber through a subsequent motion to remove it from the table. The House Judiciary Committee took two votes on the bill on June 17. Members adopted amendment A03345 by a 26-0 vote, then reported the bill as amended by a vote of 14 to 12. The amended version, restructures the measure as a new Chapter 65 of Title 12 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, covering commerce and trade, rather than as a standalone act.
Under the bill, a debt collector or debt buyer could not file a lawsuit to collect a consumer debt unless the complaint includes the name of the original creditor and the last four digits of the original account number; an itemization of the amount owed showing the charge-off balance, post-charge-off interest or fees, and payments or credits applied; proof of ownership including a chain of title if the debt has been sold; and a copy of the original contract or charge-off statement.
The measure would require any legal action to collect a consumer debt to be filed within three years of the consumer’s last payment or charge. Courts could not enter a default judgment unless the plaintiff files an affidavit based on personal knowledge, all required documentation and proof of proper service and notice.
Each consumer debt lawsuit would also have to include a separate Notice of Consumer Rights stating the consumer’s right to dispute the debt, the right to request documentation and where to seek legal help.
The bill’s findings section states the protections are modeled after those in New York. The act would take effect 90 days after passage.
