Budget & Taxes

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 1096: An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program and the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program Account; and providing for research on Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program.

HB 1096 creates the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program, which provides financial assistance to low-income residents for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at participating retailers. The bill establishes a dedicated "Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program Account" within the state treasury to fund the program and requires the state to conduct research on the program's effectiveness. It directly affects eligible low-income Pennsylvanians and participating farmers and retailers by expanding access to healthy food options. The law, which passed on June 3, 2025, focuses on concrete policy changes: creating the program structure, securing funding through the new account, and mandating program evaluation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated state treasury account to fund food assistance program for low-income residents, advancing public service funding through targeted budget allocation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SB 795: An Act amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally), 66 (Public Utilities) and 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in transportation network companies, providing for excise fee; in transportation network service, providing for excise fee; and, in sustainable mobility options, further providing for fund.

SB 795 imposes a new fee on transportation network companies (like Uber or Lyft) operating in Pennsylvania. Companies must pay 4.6% of total ride fares in Philadelphia (a city of the first class) and 6% elsewhere, remitted quarterly to the Public Transportation Trust Fund. These fees will directly fund transportation programs, including operating costs for public transit systems, as specified in the bill’s fund allocation provisions. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 4.6-6% excise fee on ride-share companies to fund public transit operations via Public Transportation Trust Fund, directly advancing transportation program funding.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationImposes fees on ride-sharing companies (Uber/Lyft) to fund public transit operations via the Public Transportation Trust Fund, directly advancing transportation infrastructure and services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Transportation Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 10, 2025

HB 1855: An Act requiring an employer to provide paid leave to an employee due to a climate-related emergency; establishing the Climate-related Emergency Paid Leave Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

HB 1855 requires most employers to provide paid leave to employees who need time off due to climate-related emergencies, such as hurricanes, wildfires, or extreme weather events. It establishes a state-funded Climate-related Emergency Paid Leave Fund to reimburse employers for the cost of this leave. The Department of Labor and Industry would administer the fund, set eligibility criteria for employees, and manage employer reimbursement processes. This bill directly affects employees in climate-impacted areas and their employers, creating a new paid leave requirement tied to weather emergencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes state-funded Climate-related Emergency Paid Leave Fund, increasing state budget expenditure for employee leave program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid leave for climate-related emergencies, expanding employee benefits and protecting workers' rights. Fund reimburses employers, ensuring no cost burden for this benefit.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 1183: 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.

HB 1183 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to exempt adoption fees charged by qualifying nonprofit animal shelters from sales tax. The bill specifically excludes fees paid to nonprofit "releasing agencies" (as defined by Pennsylvania's Dog Law) that do not charge more than the actual costs of caring for the animal. This change directly affects nonprofit shelters meeting both criteria: (1) being a registered releasing agency under the Dog Law, and (2) charging fees covering only care expenses. The tax exclusion takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts nonprofit adoption fees from sales tax, providing tax relief for qualifying shelters, aligning with tax reform support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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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

Sub-Topics Property Tax

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Nov 12, 2025

HB 2025: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, providing for reimbursements for borrowing costs during budget impasse; and establishing the School District Impasse Recovery Fund.

HB 2025 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to address financial strain on school districts during budget disputes with the state. It requires the Commonwealth to reimburse school districts for costs incurred when borrowing money to cover operating expenses during a budget impasse. The bill establishes a new "School District Impasse Recovery Fund" to manage these reimbursements. This directly affects school districts facing funding delays and the state budget office responsible for disbursing funds. The provision creates a concrete mechanism for financial relief during budget standoffs, without altering existing funding formulas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires state reimbursement for school district borrowing during budget disputes, ensuring continued public education funding without district debt or fiscal strain.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requires Commonwealth reimbursement for school district borrowing costs during budget impasse, preventing financial strain and ensuring stable school funding. Directly advances district financial stability through the new Recovery Fund.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 24, 2025

HB 1874: An Act amending the act of December 8, 2004 (P.L.1801, No.238), known as the Transit Revitalization Investment District Act, in value capture approaches, further providing for creation of value capture area and providing for redevelopment authority use of incremental tax revenue in value capture area.

HB 1874 amends Pennsylvania's Transit Revitalization Investment District Act to expand how cities can use tax revenue generated from new development in designated transit areas. It allows redevelopment authorities to apply "incremental tax revenue" (taxes raised from new property values due to transit improvements) toward funding transit projects or infrastructure within those districts. This directly affects cities with transit revitalization districts and developers working in areas near new transit investments. The bill provides clearer rules for directing these tax increases toward transit-focused redevelopment, rather than general city funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill uses incremental tax revenue from new development to fund transit projects, directly supporting public infrastructure funding through fiscal management without new general taxation.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enables use of incremental tax revenue from transit-adjacent development to fund transit infrastructure projects, directly advancing transportation funding and infrastructure investment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 3, 2025

HB 778: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in professional employees, providing for Pre-K Teacher Salary Supplement Pilot Program.

HB 778 establishes a three-year pilot program to increase pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) teacher salaries in Pennsylvania to match those of elementary school teachers with similar qualifications. It directly affects Pre-K teachers working in programs located in high-poverty areas (school districts with ≥20% poverty or census tracts at ≤80% of the statewide median poverty level). The program requires the Department of Education to calculate salary gaps using a specific formula, provide subsidies to eligible Pre-K programs to close those gaps, and collect data for a legislative report. The bill mandates strict use of funds solely for teacher salary increases and includes requirements for reporting program outcomes to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for Pre-K teacher salary supplements in high-poverty districts, directly increasing public education funding through mandated subsidies.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases Pre-K teacher salaries in high-poverty areas via subsidy program, directly supporting educators and improving educational access in underserved communities.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly increases Pre-K teacher compensation in high-poverty areas by requiring salary matching with elementary teachers, advancing wage standards for educators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Nov 12, 2025

SB 10: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program and the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Fund.

SB 10 establishes the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program (PASS), providing financial assistance to low-income students attending nonpublic schools. It directly affects eligible students in Pennsylvania who live in households below 250% of the federal poverty level, attend or reside within the attendance boundary of a low-achieving public school, and have not earned a high school diploma. The program, administered by the State Treasury starting in the 2026-2027 school year, covers tuition, school-related fees, and special education services at participating nonpublic schools. School districts must notify parents of eligible students about the program within 15 days of a school being designated "low-achieving."

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state-funded scholarship program (PASS) for low-income students, increasing education budget allocation through State Treasury administration.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates PASS scholarship program funding low-income students in nonpublic schools, expanding educational access and providing direct financial support for underserved populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 219: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in realty transfer tax, further providing for excluded transactions.

HB 219 amends Pennsylvania's realty transfer tax law to exclude transfers of real estate to members of the armed forces relocating for duty. The exclusion applies when the military member provides final orders showing they will be stationed in Pennsylvania or a contiguous state and intends to reside in the transferred single-family home as their primary residence. This means such property transfers will not incur the realty transfer tax, directly benefiting military personnel moving to Pennsylvania for service. The bill creates a clear, objective tax exemption for these specific relocation scenarios.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes military relocations from realty transfer tax, providing tax relief for service members as a targeted tax benefit.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts military personnel from realty transfer tax when buying primary residence, reducing housing costs and advancing affordable housing access for this group.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Property Taxes

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