Pennsylvania Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 15, 2024

HB 829: An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania liquor stores, further providing for sales by Pennsylvania liquor stores; in licenses and regulations and liquor, alcohol and malt and brewed beverages, further providing for sales by liquor licensees and restrictions, for interlocking business prohibited and for relating to liquor and alcohol (not including manufacturers), for extension of licensed service area and issuance of off-premises catering permits, for malt and brewed beverages manufacturers', distributors' and importing distributors' licenses, for interlocking business prohibited relating to malt and brewed beverages (including manufacturers) and for Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverages Industry Promotion Board, repealing provisions relating to surrender of club licenses for benefit of licensees and further providing for surrender of restaurant, eating place retail dispenser, hotel, importing distributor and distributor license for benefit of licensee, for Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Program Board, for unlawful acts relative to malt or brewed beverages and licensees, for hours of operation relative to manufacturers, importing distributors and distributors, for unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverages and licensees and for premises to be vacated by patrons; and, in distilleries, wineries, bonded warehouses, bailees for hire and transporters for hire, further providing for limited distilleries and distilleries and providing for Pennsylvania Distilled Spirits Industry Promotion Board.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to clarify rules regarding ownership interests and employment within the alcohol industry. It specifically allows individuals who own a manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages to work for hotels, restaurants, or clubs, provided they do not serve as a manager or handle alcohol service. Additionally, the legislation establishes new promotion boards for the malt and brewed beverages and distilled spirits industries while updating provisions for license surrenders and operating hours. These changes aim to modernize regulations governing the sale and production of alcohol without restricting business ownership across different sectors.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 11, 2024

SB 219: An Act amending the act of December 13, 1988 (P.L.1190, No.146), known as the First and Second Class County Property Tax Relief Act, further providing for short title, for definitions, for deferral or exemption authority and for retroactive application.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's First and Second Class County Property Tax Relief Act to expand tax relief for longtime owner-occupants in specific residential areas. It allows local governments to grant property tax deferrals or exemptions to homeowners who have lived in their primary residence for at least ten years, or five years if they received government housing assistance, provided the tax increase is due to new construction or renovations in established neighborhoods. The legislation also clarifies that cities in second-class counties can create these programs independently of their counties and permits the use of past data to apply these benefits retroactively to November 1984.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 11, 2024

SB 654: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for exclusions from tax; in personal income tax, further providing for definitions and for classes of income and providing for transfer to Clean Streams Fund; in corporate net income tax, further providing for definitions and providing for determination of net loss deduction; in bank and trust company shares tax, further providing for ascertainment of taxable amount and exclusion of United States obligations; in realty transfer tax, further providing for transfer of tax; in Historic Preservation Incentive Tax Credit, further providing for tax credit certificates; in Coal Refuse Energy and Reclamation Tax Credit, further providing for application and approval of tax credit and for limitation on tax credits; in city revitalization and improvement zones, further providing for definitions, for establishment or designation of contracting authority, for approval, for reports, for transfers, for restrictions, for transfer of property and for review; in Manufacturing and Investment Tax Credit, further providing for definitions, for rural growth funds, for claiming the tax credit and for revocation of tax credit certificates; in Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit, further providing for tax credit and for grant of tax credit; providing for 529 savings account employer matching contribution tax credit and for employer child care contribution tax credit; in Computer Data Center Equipment Incentive Program, further providing for definitions and for sales and use tax exemption; providing for tuition account programs; and making an editorial change.

This bill amends the state Tax Reform Code to modify various tax rules, including sales tax exclusions, personal income tax definitions, and corporate tax deductions. Key changes include allowing a deduction for student loan interest up to $2,500, exempting certain government and railway compensation related to the East Palestine train derailment from income tax, and creating new tax credits for employer contributions to 529 savings accounts and child care expenses. The legislation also establishes a $50 million annual transfer from personal income tax proceeds to the Clean Streams Fund and expands deductions for medical cannabis businesses. Additionally, it updates definitions and procedures for several existing tax incentive programs related to historic preservation, manufacturing, and city revitalization.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 11, 2024

SB 700: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in preliminary provisions, providing for advertising and sponsorships; in intermediate units, further providing for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, further providing for qualifications; in certification of teachers, further providing for State certificates, for career and technical instruction and for baccalaureate certification basic skills assessment; in Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program, further providing for definitions, for program establishment and duties of agency, for eligibility and for report; in school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator, for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program and for school safety and security training and providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2024-2025 school year; in school security, further providing for duties of commission, providing for school security personnel and establishing School Security Personnel Fund; in school security, further providing for duties of commission and providing for school security personnel and for School Security Personnel Fund; in school health services, further providing for vision screening and examinations; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for establishment and payment of tuition; in administrative partnerships between school entities, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions, providing for instructional programming partnerships authorized, for school district feasibility study and for construction and further providing for establishment, for application, for grant awards, for technical assistance, for reports by school entities and for reports by department; in talent recruitment, further providing for Talent Recruitment Account; in charter schools, further providing for definitions, for charter school requirements, for powers of board of trustees, for facilities and for funding for charter schools, providing for funding for cyber charter schools, further providing for enrollment and notification and providing for enrollee wellness checks and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations; in disability inclusive curriculum, further providing for department responsibilities; in Schools-to-Work-Program, repealing provisions relating to expiration; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations, for tax credits and for limitations, repealing provisions relating to opportunity scholarships and providing for economically disadvantaged school scholarships; in course materials at institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to College Textbook Policies Advisory Committee; in sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for memorandum of understanding; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to Public Higher Education Funding Commission; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2024-2025; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums and for student-weighted basic education funding, providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, further providing for State reimbursement for health services, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Commonwealth reimbursements for charter schools and cyber charter schools, repealing provisions relating to administrative and instructional consolidation incentives and further providing for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in State Board of Education, further providing for powers and duties of the board; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; in School Environmental Repairs Program, further providing for School Environmental Repairs Program Restricted Account and for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making editorial changes.

This bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to update teacher certification requirements, specifically creating new pathways for career and technical education instructors. Under the new rules, individuals can qualify for teaching certificates by demonstrating extensive work experience, such as four years in a trade, or by combining two years of experience with a bachelor's degree. The legislation also establishes specific criteria for instructors with backgrounds as volunteer firefighters or emergency medical technicians, allowing them to teach related occupational skills if they have four years of service. Additionally, the bill modifies funding formulas for student-weighted basic education and adjusts provisions related to school safety, higher education, and library aid.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 11, 2024

SB 1009: An Act making appropriations from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund and from Federal augmentation funds to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

This bill authorizes funding for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for the fiscal year 2025. It allocates $88,386,000 from the state's General Fund and $2,016,000 from federal funds to support the commission's operations. The legislation was signed into law by the Governor and becomes effective immediately.

signed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 11, 2024

HB 613: An Act providing for funding for certain State-aided universities for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, and for a certain State-aided university for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, for costs basis, for frequency of payments and for recordkeeping requirements; imposing a duty on the Auditor General; providing for financial statements, for the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund and for restrictions; and making appropriations.

This bill provides state funding for five specific universities for the fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, establishing rules for how the money is spent and reported. It requires universities to submit monthly cost estimates and detailed financial statements to the Auditor General, who has the authority to audit expenditures and recover funds used for unauthorized purposes. The legislation also includes specific restrictions, such as prohibiting the University of Pittsburgh from using funds for an environmental law clinic and requiring the University of Pennsylvania to maintain a certain number of non-elected board members with full voting rights. Additionally, the bill mandates that the University of Pennsylvania report how state funds were used to reduce costs for resident students or provide services to them.

signed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 11, 2024

HB 2310: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in emergency COVID-19 response, further providing for emergency education relief to nonpublic schools; providing for State Health Insurance Exchange Affordability Program; in Treasury Department, further providing for investment of moneys; in oil and gas wells, further providing for Oil and Gas Lease Fund; in transportation network companies, motor carrier companies and parking authority of a city of the first class; providing for operation of taxicabs; in assessments, further providing for intermediate care facilities for persons with an intellectual disability assessments and for hospital assessments; in Attorney General, providing for costs of investigation and litigation under Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law; providing for Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority and for Agriculture Innovation Grant Program; in special funds, providing for Pennsylvania Convention Center; in Tobacco Settlement Fund, further providing for establishment of special fund and account and for use of fund; in Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund, further providing for distributions from Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund; in miscellaneous limitations and transfers, providing for refund of 2009 assessment by Insurance Department; in Clean Streams Funds, further providing for Clean Streams Fund; in Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund, further providing for deposits; in general budget implementation, further providing for Executive Offices, for Department of Agriculture, for Department of Community and Economic Development, for Department of General Services, for Department of Labor and Industry, for Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and for Commonwealth Financing Authority, providing for Mixed-Use Revitalization Program, further providing for Supreme Court, for Federal and Commonwealth use of forest land and for Multimodal Transportation Fund and providing for School Safety and Security Fund; in 2023-2024 budget implementation, further providing for Department of Human Services and for Department of Transportation; providing for 2024-2025 budget implementation, for 2024-2025 restrictions on appropriations for funds and accounts, for Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development Program, for Pennsylvania Strategic Investment to Enhance Sites (PA SITES) Program and for fiscal supplements to statutory programs; making repeals; and making an editorial change.

This bill establishes the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to provide financial reimbursement grants to eligible farms and agribusinesses. The program specifically targets projects that utilize new technologies or methods to improve energy efficiency, water quality, production processes, biosecurity, and farm management systems. To oversee the initiative, the legislation creates a new Agriculture Innovation Board composed of representatives from government agencies, higher education, cooperatives, financial institutions, and the legislative branches. Eligible applicants include individuals with anticipated agricultural sales over $2,000 annually or processors with sales exceeding $10,000, as well as service providers and entities utilizing agricultural commodities for product creation.

Paul Takac (D) · 21 co-sponsors

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 11, 2024

SB 1001: An Act to provide appropriations from the General Fund for the expenses of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of the Commonwealth, the public debt and the public schools for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024; to provide appropriations from special funds and accounts to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024; to provide for the appropriation of Federal funds to the Executive and Judicial Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and for the payment of bills remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024; and to provide for the additional appropriation of Federal and State funds to the Executive and Legislative Departments for the fiscal year July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.

This bill authorizes state and federal funding for Pennsylvania government operations, public schools, and debt payments for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024. It allocates money from various sources, including the General Fund, special accounts, and federal grants, to support the executive, legislative, and judicial branches as well as numerous state agencies. The legislation also includes provisions to pay outstanding bills from the previous fiscal year that were not yet settled. Once signed into law, these funds become available to the specified departments to cover their operational expenses and financial obligations.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 10, 2024

SB 1003: An Act making appropriations from the Workmen's Compensation Administration Fund to the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Community and Economic Development to provide for the expenses of administering the Workers' Compensation Act, The Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act and the Office of Small Business Advocate for the fiscal year July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

This bill appropriates $87.3 million from the Workers' Compensation Administration Fund to the Pennsylvania Departments of Labor and Industry and Community and Economic Development for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The funds are designated to cover administrative expenses for the Workers' Compensation Act, the Occupational Disease Act, and the Office of Small Business Advocate, including a specific allocation of $11.5 million for information technology costs related to system mergers and digital transformation projects. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the payment of bills that were incurred but remained unpaid at the end of the previous fiscal year.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 10, 2024

SB 1004: An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic Development.

This bill increases the annual funding for the Office of Small Business Advocate by $136,000, raising the total appropriation to $2,262,000. The additional money comes from a restricted revenue account within the state's General Fund and is designated specifically for this office within the Department of Community and Economic Development. As a direct result, the office will have more financial resources available to carry out its duties, which typically include assisting small business owners with regulatory issues and connecting them with support services. The legislation is a straightforward budget adjustment that does not alter the office's existing responsibilities or create new programs.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 10, 2024

SB 1005: An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General.

This bill authorizes the release of $6,752,000 from a specific fund within Pennsylvania's General Fund to support the Office of Consumer Advocate. The money is designated to cover the operational costs of this office for the fiscal year running from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. The Office of Consumer Advocate, which operates under the Office of Attorney General, will use these funds to continue its work protecting consumers from fraud and unfair business practices. The legislation became law immediately upon the Governor's approval in July 2024.

signed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 10, 2024

SB 1002: An Act making appropriations from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and from restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund to the Department of State for use by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs in support of the professional licensure boards assigned thereto.

This bill adjusts the state budget by slightly reducing the funding allocated to the Department of State for its professional licensure boards. Specifically, it lowers the appropriation for the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and several restricted revenue accounts by a total of less than $2 million. The changes affect the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, which oversees the licensing of various professions, by modifying the specific dollar amounts available for their operations. Ultimately, the legislation finalizes the state's financial plan for these regulatory agencies for the current fiscal year.