This bill allocates $43.176 million from the State Employees' Retirement Fund and $2.879 million from the SERS Defined Contribution Fund to cover the operating expenses of the State Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year 2026-2027. The funds will be used to pay salaries, wages, travel expenses, and other costs for the board's employees and members, as well as to settle unpaid bills from the previous fiscal year. The appropriations apply specifically to the board's duties related to managing the State Employees' Retirement System and the State Employees' Defined Contribution Plan. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, or immediately if that date has already passed.
This bill allocates state and federal funding to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support its operations and regulatory activities. It provides $98.1 million from state funds and $5.383 million in federal funds specifically for salaries, administrative expenses, and the enforcement of natural gas pipeline safety regulations. The legislation ensures that federal funds received by the commission cannot be reimbursed by utility companies, while the funding takes effect on July 1, 2026, or immediately if that date arrives later.
This bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax system for highway maintenance and construction by establishing a new annual payment rate of $6,000 per mile for state highways transferred to local municipalities. The law requires these funds to be deposited into a restricted account specifically designated for paying restoration costs and ongoing maintenance payments to affected municipalities. Additionally, the bill mandates automatic adjustments to these annual payments every 24 months starting February 1, 2028, based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. The Department of Transportation will calculate these inflation-based adjustments and notify the Legislative Reference Bureau for official publication. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.
This bill requires taxpayers with significant sales tax delinquencies or repeated failure to file returns to use an authorized third-party service provider for reporting and remitting taxes. It directly affects Pennsylvania businesses and individuals who owe more than $5,000 in delinquent sales tax or have three consecutive non-filed returns. The Department of Revenue would cover the service provider costs for the first year, after which the taxpayer pays, and could impose a $10,000 penalty for failing to enroll with an approved provider. The law takes effect 60 days after passage and allows taxpayers to continue using the service provider voluntarily after the mandatory period ends.
This bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to receive a minimum of $19 million in state funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The money is designated for the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program, which supports projects aimed at advancing agricultural practices and technologies. By amending the state's Fiscal Code, the legislation ensures this specific funding source is established and available to the department.
This bill creates a grant program to help Pennsylvania school districts and career and technical schools update their educational materials. Eligible schools can apply for funding to buy digital platforms or printed curricula that include lesson plans, multimedia content, and tools for tracking student progress. The amount each school receives is calculated based on its student enrollment and the total state funding available for the program. To qualify, schools must receive a recommendation from their local occupational advisory committee and certify that the funds will be used for approved curriculum modernization.
This Pennsylvania bill creates a limited tax credit program for manufacturers of malt or brewed beverages who make specific capital investments in their production facilities. Under the new rules, eligible companies can receive a tax credit for up to $200,000 in qualifying equipment purchases made during designated time periods, with the credit potentially usable over five years. The legislation also allows these tax credits to be sold to other taxpayers, who can then apply the credit against up to 50% of their own tax liability for that year. The Department of Revenue will oversee the program, including verifying taxpayer compliance before approving credit sales and setting guidelines for the process.
This bill establishes Pennsylvania's capital budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, authorizing state agencies to spend money on public improvements, equipment, transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure projects. It allows the Department of General Services and other agencies to incur debt or use current revenues to fund these projects without needing voter approval. The legislation provides specific funding amounts for various initiatives, including agricultural facilities, flood control measures, and manufacturing projects, with detailed cost estimates for each.
HB 1129 amends Pennsylvania's corporate tax code to establish a new program allowing businesses to transfer unused net operating losses to other corporations, directly affecting companies with tax losses they previously couldn't utilize. The bill repeals outdated penalty provisions and a repealer clause from the 1971 tax code while adding new penalties for non-compliance. Key provisions include creating a formal mechanism for loss transfers and updating tax enforcement rules. This bill is pending in the legislature (last reported as committed on 2025-09-10) and would change how corporations manage tax liabilities under Pennsylvania law.
HB 1304 requires Pennsylvania to conduct annual stress tests on state pension systems for both education and state government sectors. The bill mandates that relevant boards submit test results - including scenario and sensitivity analyses - to the Governor, General Assembly, and Independent Fiscal Office by April 1 (education) or October 1 (state government). The Independent Fiscal Office must then produce a summary report by June 1 (education) or December 1 (state government), including a calculation of projected pension contributions relative to state revenues. This directly affects state pension systems, covering public employees and retirees, by establishing regular, transparent assessments of pension fund financial health.
