SB 390 creates a new grant program to provide operating assistance for public transportation in Pennsylvania counties experiencing population or employment growth. It directly affects county transit entities that currently receive state transportation grants under Sections 1513 or 1516. The bill allocates funds equally between counties with rising employment (using state labor data) and counties with rising population (using U.S. Census data), distributing grants based on each county's growth percentage over five years. Eligible entities can apply annually for proportional shares of available funds, with grants subject to the same rules as existing programs. The program requires no local match exceeding current standards under Section 1513.
Senate Bill 646 establishes the Survivor-Centered, Accessible, Fair and Empowering Housing Trust Fund within the State Treasury. This fund aims to provide emergency, transitional, and permanent housing programs, along with support services, for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, human trafficking, stalking, and their immediate family members. Funding for the trust fund will come from an initial transfer of $1,000,000, a new $10 fee on deed and mortgage filings, and optional $5 contributions during online driver's license or vehicle registration renewals. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency will administer the fund to support housing stability for this target population.
HB 1200 establishes a comprehensive framework for the regulation and treatment of cannabis in Pennsylvania. It creates state-run Pennsylvania Cannabis Stores for sales and a licensing system for private cannabis businesses, including cultivators, processors, and transporters. The bill also provides for the expungement of certain past cannabis convictions and includes provisions for social and economic equity initiatives. It establishes a cannabis excise tax, dedicating revenue to funds for community reinvestment and substance use disorder prevention, and assigns oversight duties to state agencies like the Liquor Control Board.
HB 503 establishes the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) Program, creating a state-run "cap-and-invest" system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector. The program requires the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct Pennsylvania-run auctions for CO2 allowances, with specific rules for eligible participants, such as electricity generators and financial institutions. Revenue from these auctions will be directed into several designated accounts, including those for consumer protection, energy transformation, workforce enhancement, and low-income support. Upon the program's establishment, Pennsylvania would cease participation in other carbon auction programs related to the electric generation sector.
HB 674 establishes a new grant program to provide operating assistance for public transportation in Pennsylvania counties experiencing growth in either population or employment. Eligible applicants include public transit entities already receiving certain existing transportation grants (under Sections 1513 or 1516) that serve counties meeting specific growth criteria based on five-year data. Funding is split equally between counties growing in employment (using Labor Department data) and population (using Census Bureau data), with each county’s grant amount determined by its percentage growth over that period. This program operates in addition to existing transportation funding and cannot require a higher local match than current rules.
HB 1664 establishes a state grant program and a dedicated fund to provide financial assistance for renovating or redeveloping older buildings. The Older Building Redevelopment Assistance Grant Program would offer grants to property owners and developers to update aging commercial or residential structures, with funding sourced from the newly created Older Building Redevelopment Fund. This bill directly affects owners of older buildings seeking to redevelop properties that may lack modern infrastructure. The program aims to support local revitalization efforts through state-funded grants, though the bill remains pending after being laid on the table.
SB 315 amends Pennsylvania's 1949 education code to update school funding, safety, and instructional requirements. It establishes new school safety grants, updates teacher certification standards, and strengthens truancy prevention measures for all public and charter schools. The bill adds funding for career and technical education equipment, expands mental health support through school safety programs, and modifies higher education scholarship rules. As Act No. 47 of 2025, it became law on November 12, 2025, affecting students, teachers, school districts, and higher education institutions statewide.
HB 359 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Act to update definitions, clarify authority powers, and streamline the process for creating tax increment districts and approving project plans. It directly affects local development authorities and project developers seeking TIF funding for community redevelopment projects. Key changes include modifying how districts are established, requiring specific project plan approvals, and detailing how project costs are financed using future tax revenue growth within the district. The bill aims to modernize the TIF framework to support economic development initiatives.
SB 417 amends Pennsylvania's military affairs laws to expand the use and revenue generation capabilities of Fort Indiantown Gap. It authorizes the Adjutant General to lease portions of the Fort's land to private businesses that benefit the local community and military families, with generated revenue directed to a new fund. The bill also broadens the Fort's purpose to include emergency response training and quality-of-life programs for service members, veterans, and their families. A new restricted fund, the Service Members, Veterans and their Families Fund, is established to receive these revenues and donations, supporting these initiatives.
HB 1834 requires commercial data centers in Pennsylvania to pay fees to the state. These fees fund a new Data Center LIHEAP Enhancement Fund, which boosts assistance for low-income households struggling with energy costs. The bill also mandates that data centers meet specific renewable energy targets and allows them to recover certain operational costs through regulated rates. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and Department of Human Services are tasked with implementing these requirements and managing the fund.
