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Government Affairs Year in Review

2026 Government Affairs Year in Review

In 2026, GHAR leaders and members stayed active at the local, state, and national levels — building relationships, weighing in on key proposals, and supporting candidates and policies that champion real estate and housing.

Local Highlights
  • Supported local leadership & training: GHAR sponsored the Capital Area Council of Governments (CapCOG) Annual Dinner in January, helping provide training and support to local government officials.
  • Partnered with Perry County leaders: The Perry County Commissioners attended a Government Affairs Committee meeting on January 23. They requested, and GHAR provided, a letter of support for the Bretz Court Senior Housing Project in Newport, helping advance additional housing options for seniors.
  • Recognized for RPAC excellence: At the PA RPAC Luncheon during the PAR Winter Business Meetings, GHAR received the award for 2nd Highest Per Capita Fundraising – Extra Large Board.
  • Evaluated candidates for office: The GHAR-PAC Trustees conducted candidate interviews for both the primary and general elections, helping identify REALTOR® Champions who understand real estate issues.
  • Best practices education: GHAR hosted “Best Practices for Choosing REALTOR® Champions” on March 11, giving members tools to evaluate candidates and public officials through a real estate lens.
  • Launched a Quarterly Speaker Series: The Government Affairs Committee held its first Quarterly Speaker Series meeting on October 28, featuring State Representative Thomas Kutz.
  • Engaged on historic preservation & development:
    • GHAR met with Carlisle Borough officials to discuss a proposed ordinance placing new requirements on demolition of historic properties in the mixed-use district.
    • GHAR received an NAR Land Use Initiative grant to obtain a legal analysis of the ordinance.
    • GHAR then submitted a letter to Carlisle Mayor Sean Shultz opposing the ordinance as proposed, advocating for a balanced approach to preservation and property rights.
  • Brought elected leaders to the table: GHAR hosted its Legislative, Municipal, and County Commissioners Breakfasts at the West Shore Country Club, creating opportunities for members to connect directly with local policymakers.

State Highlights

  • 2025–2026 State Budget: Governor Josh Shapiro signed a $50.1 billion budget bill on November 12, ending a 135-day impasse. The 2025–2026 budget represents a 4.7% increase in spending over the previous year and passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.
  • PAR Business Meetings: GHAR members attended PAR Winter, Spring, and Fall Business Meetings, ensuring our local voice was heard in statewide discussions on legislation, regulations, and REALTOR® issues.
  • PAR Day on the Hill: GHAR participated in PAR Day on the Hill in June, meeting face-to-face with legislators and staff to discuss issues impacting Pennsylvania’s real estate market and property owners.

National Highlights

  • New HUD leadership: Scott Turner was confirmed and sworn in as HUD Secretary, bringing new direction to federal housing policy and programs.
  • BOI reporting requirements: The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced that beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act are back in effect, with a new deadline of March 21, 2025 for most companies. This change impacts many real estate-related business entities.
  • REALTORS® Legislative Meetings in D.C.:
    • The REALTORS® Legislative Meetings took place in Washington, D.C., from May 31–June 5.
    • GHAR leaders Larry Hatter, Jodi Diego, Jimmy Koury, Margaret Parsons, and Kathy Ludwig met with Congressman Scott Perry to discuss NAR’s legislative priorities and how federal policy affects real estate locally.
  • RPAC Hall of Fame: Jodi Diego was inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame at the $25,000 level, recognizing her long-term commitment to REALTOR® advocacy.
  • “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (HR 1): On July 4, HR 1 — known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — was signed into law. This wide-ranging legislation includes significant tax provisions that affect real estate professionals and real property investment.
  • Federal funding & housing programs:
    • After the longest government shutdown in American history, Congress approved legislation to fund the government and restart critical housing-related programs.
    • The agreement extends insurance-writing authority for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through January 30, 2026 and provides full-year funding through September 30, 2026, for agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies — including USDA and VA loan programs.
    • The agreement also reinstates federal workers with back pay who were furloughed during the shutdown.
As the Government Affairs Director, Margaret Parsons organizes the Association’s government affairs efforts; is responsible for grassroots advocacy, key contact program, candidate screening process, and RPAC fundraising; works with the Commercial Council Board of Directors to provide services to our commercial members; handles the Municipal Database. Margaret attended the University of Scranton and received her undergraduate degree in History and attended the Catholic University of America, where she earned her PhD in American Politics. She lives with her husband, Patrick in Harrisburg and is originally from West Pittston, Pennsylvania. In her free time, Margaret enjoys hiking and walking with her two German Shorthaired Pointers, Henry and Fritz.

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