September 3, 2025

Pennsylvania homeowners facing landslides and sinkholes often discover that private insurers will not cover the damage. This leaves them with costly repairs or mortgages on uninhabitable properties. “Landslides pose a significant threat to our communities, causing property damage and putting lives at risk,” said Gaydos, R-Allegheny. State Rep. Emily Kinkead (D., Allegheny) thus introduced legislation to create a “Landslide and Sinkhole Insurance Program” through House Bill 598 (“HB 589”) with an initial $10 million appropriation from the state’s General Fund and is modeled on the state’s mine subsidence program. If enacted, HB 589 would reimburse up to $150,000 in damages and create a state-run system to “fill a gap” left by commercial insurers.

The bill would be administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development, which would oversee premium structures, risk mapping, and create a rating system that rewards safer communities with lower costs. Properties built in violation of hazard-zone rules would be excluded. Lawmakers highlighted local incidents, from Allegheny County landslides to sinkholes near Penn State and Patton Township, illustrating the program’s statewide reach. Having passed out of committee this summer, the measure now awaits a full House vote, with local officials praising it as a forward-thinking step to expand coverage in regions where private insurers remain reluctant.