Budget & Taxes

passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 8, 2025

SB 1040: An Act authorizing the State Treasurer to waive interest on budgetary impasse investment loans.

SB 1040 allows the State Treasurer to stop charging interest on loans taken by the state during a budget disagreement (budgetary impasse). It directly affects the State Treasurer's office, which would have the authority to waive interest on these specific investment loans. The key provision is the Treasurer's ability to eliminate interest charges on funds borrowed to maintain state operations when a budget isn't approved on time. This bill creates a concrete administrative change to how the state handles short-term borrowing costs during budget standoffs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesWaives interest on budget impasse loans, reducing state costs during funding delays and promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 6, 2025

SB 474: An Act providing for zero-based budgeting relating to the Commonwealth's budget review.

This bill requires Pennsylvania state agencies to review every program from scratch every five years, starting in 2026. Agencies must justify each program's existence, detail costs for minimum vs. current service levels, and assess impacts if discontinued, except for classroom teaching, curriculum, and direct student services in public schools. The Secretary of the Budget will oversee this process, mandating detailed plans from agencies to ensure transparency and accountability in spending. It aims to replace incremental budgeting with a system that evaluates all programs based on current needs rather than historical spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates zero-based budgeting for agencies, requiring cost justification and transparency to promote fiscal responsibility in state spending.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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passed both · Pennsylvania · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 257: An Act amending Titles 4 (Amusements), 74 (Transportation) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in interactive gaming, further providing for interactive gaming tax; in sustainable mobility options, further providing for definitions, for fund and for operating program and providing for annual performance evaluation and for operating a controlled substance injection site near infrastructure of a local transportation organization; in metropolitan transportation authorities, further providing for special prosecutor for mass transit; in public-private transportation partnerships, providing for metropolitan transportation authority projects; in licensing of drivers, further providing for persons ineligible for licensing, license issuance to minors and junior driver's license, for learners' permits, for application for driver's license or learner's permit by minor and for examination of applicant for driver's license; in miscellaneous provisions relating to operation of vehicles, providing for the offense of interference with operation or movement of a public transit vehicle and for sentencing enhancement for drug delivery on transit; in lighting equipment, further providing for use and display of illuminated signs; in taxes for highway maintenance and construction, providing for supplemental funding for three and four digit highway construction; and establishing the Supplemental Funding for Three and Four Digit State Routes Account in the Motor License Fund.

HB 257 updates Pennsylvania laws across multiple transportation and gaming areas. It creates new rules for minor driver licensing (including junior licenses and learners' permits), adds penalties for drug delivery on transit, and allows operating controlled substance injection sites near public transit infrastructure. The bill also adjusts interactive gaming taxes, establishes a new highway funding account for state routes, and defines terms for sustainable mobility programs. These changes directly affect drivers (especially minors), transit operators, gaming businesses, and local transportation authorities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Supplemental Funding Account for highway maintenance and adjusts interactive gaming tax, generating revenue for transportation infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEstablishes highway funding account, sustainable mobility program, and enhances transit safety via penalties for drug delivery on transit.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 21, 2025

HB 1058: An Act amending the act of August 26, 1971 (P.L.351, No.91), known as the State Lottery Law, in State Lottery, further providing for statement of purpose and for powers and duties of secretary.

HB 1058 amends Pennsylvania's State Lottery Law to adjust the minimum percentage of lottery revenues dedicated to senior programs. It reduces the required allocation from 20% (for fiscal years 2019-2025) to 10% for fiscal years beginning after June 30, 2025. This directly affects seniors aged 65+ who receive property tax relief and reduced-fare transit services funded by lottery revenues. The change modifies Section 303(a)(11)(iv) of the law, specifying the new funding percentage starting in 2026. The bill became law on July 21, 2025, as Act No. 37 of 2025.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesReduces mandatory lottery revenue allocation for senior programs from 20% to 10%, defunding essential services like property tax relief and transit funding.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationReduces lottery funding for senior transit services, directly cutting support for reduced-fare public transit programs funded by lottery revenues.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

passed · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SR 82: A Resolution adopting a temporary rule of the Senate relating solely to amendments to the General Appropriation Bill and other appropriation bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, including any amendments offered to or for supplemental appropriations for prior fiscal years.

Senate Resolution 82 adopts a temporary rule for the Senate regarding amendments to appropriation bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. This rule dictates that any amendment proposing a change in spending from the budget reported by the Appropriations Committee must not increase the total spending and must result in a balanced budget. Such amendments are only permitted on second or third consideration, and a "statement of intent" is required for amendments affecting multiple appropriation bills.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires amendments to not increase spending and maintain balanced budget, promoting fiscal responsibility in appropriations process.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 253: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in personal income tax, further providing for income taxes imposed by other states.

SB 253 modifies Pennsylvania's tax code to help residents who earn income in other states claim credits for taxes paid there. It allows Pennsylvania residents to claim a credit against their state tax for income taxes paid to other states, limited to the portion of their total income taxed by that other jurisdiction. The bill simplifies documentation by permitting certified statements instead of submitting full state tax returns to verify taxes paid. This change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021, and affects Pennsylvania taxpayers with income subject to taxation in other states.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables tax credits for out-of-state income, reducing PA tax burden for residents and simplifying documentation. Provides tax relief, aligning with support indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 207: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in corporate net income tax, further providing for imposition of tax.

SB 207 gradually reduces Pennsylvania's corporate net income tax rate over time. It lowers the tax rate from 9.99% (for 1995-2022) to 4.99% by 2031, with incremental reductions each year (e.g., 8.99% for 2023, 8.49% for 2024, 7.99% for 2025). This bill directly affects corporations operating in Pennsylvania that pay state corporate income tax. The key mechanism is a scheduled, multi-year reduction in the tax rate for corporate net income, as specified in Section 402(b) of the Tax Reform Code of 1971.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reduces corporate tax rate from 9.99% to 4.99% by 2031, providing direct tax relief for corporations under Tax Reform Code.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 31, 2025

SB 473: 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 discount.

SB 473 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to adjust discounts for businesses that pay sales and use tax on time. It directly affects businesses filing sales tax returns (monthly, quarterly, or semiannually) by offering two discount options: a flat fee per return ($25, $75, or $150 based on filing frequency) plus a percentage discount (1% on the first $1 million of taxable revenue, then 0.25% on amounts over $1 million). The bill replaces the previous discount structure with these specific, tiered provisions to incentivize prompt tax payments. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax discounts to businesses for timely filing, reducing tax burden under the Tax Reform Code.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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