Budget & Taxes

signed · Pennsylvania · House Dec 22, 2025

HB 1425: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in cigarette sales and licensing, further providing for definitions and providing for presumed cost of doing business by retailer; providing for tobacco products; and making repeals.

HB 1425 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to update taxes on tobacco products and establish a new online directory for electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes). It directly affects tobacco manufacturers, dealers, and e-liquid producers by changing tax rates and requiring manufacturers to submit product information to the new directory. The bill's key provisions include adjusting tax incidence and rates for traditional tobacco products while creating a mandatory, publicly accessible registry for e-liquid products. These changes aim to modernize tax collection and improve product transparency for regulatory oversight.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAmends tobacco tax rates under Tax Reform Code, directly altering state tax policy and establishing new tax requirements for manufacturers.95% confidence

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 161: An Act making appropriations from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and from restricted receipts 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.

SB 161 allocates funds to support the operations of several professional licensing boards and commissions in Pennsylvania for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025. It provides $72,812,000 from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account to the Department of State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, which oversees various professional licenses. Additionally, the bill earmarks specific amounts from dedicated accounts for the State Board of Medicine, State Board of Osteopathic Medicine, State Board of Podiatry, and the State Athletic Commission. These funds are intended to cover the operational costs of these bodies, which regulate professionals in their respective fields.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $72.8M from dedicated accounts to fund professional licensing boards' operations, advancing state budget appropriations for essential government services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds State Board of Medicine licensing board, supporting medical professionals' regulatory process essential for healthcare delivery.80% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medical Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 876: An Act providing for the Pennsylvania Home Preservation Grant Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

SB 876 establishes Pennsylvania's Home Preservation Grant Program, which provides funding to local governments (counties, cities, townships) to rehabilitate existing owner-occupied housing. The program requires grants to address habitability, improve energy/water efficiency, or increase accessibility for units owned by households earning no more than 120% of the area median income. Grants cannot exceed $50,000 per unit and may cover up to 10% of funds for administrative costs. Local governments must apply with detailed plans showing how funds will meet these requirements, with applications reviewed by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for housing rehabilitation grants targeting low-income households (≤120% AMI), directing budget resources toward affordable housing program as a public service.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly funds energy efficiency improvements in housing rehabilitation for low-income households, directly advancing energy efficiency goals.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes grant program funding rehab of affordable housing units (≤120% AMI) for habitability, efficiency, and accessibility, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Historic Preservation Homeownership

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 756: An Act amending Titles 4 (Amusements), 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in fantasy contests, further providing for definitions, for general and specific powers of board and for prohibitions; in general provisions relating to gaming, further providing for legislative intent and for definitions; in Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, further providing for Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board established, for general and specific powers, for license or permit application hearing process and public input hearings, for regulatory authority of board, for number of slot machines, for reports of board and for license or permit prohibition; in licensees, further providing for Category 4 slot machine license, for divestiture of disqualifying applicant, for manufacturer licenses, for gaming service provider, for nongaming service provider, for occupation permit application, for slot machine testing and certification standards, for slot machine accounting controls and audits and for renewals; in table games, further providing for regulatory authority and for table game device and associated equipment testing and certification standards; in interactive gaming, further providing for internal, administrative and accounting controls, for interactive games and interactive gaming devices and associated equipment testing and certification standards; in sports wagering, further providing for definitions; in revenues, further providing for slot machine licensee deposits and for transfers from State Gaming Fund; in administration and enforcement, repealing provisions relating to political influence, further providing for investigations and enforcement, for prohibited acts and penalties and for liquor licenses at licensed facilities; in fingerprinting, further providing for submission of fingerprints and photographs; in miscellaneous provisions relating to gaming, providing for live-streaming on casino floor and further providing for severability; in general provisions relating to video gaming, further providing for definitions; in administration, further providing for powers of board; in application and licensure, further providing for key employee licenses, for establishment licenses and for license or permit prohibition; in operation, further providing for video gaming limitations and for compulsive and problem gambling; in enforcement, further providing for prohibited acts and penalties; in revenues, further providing for fees; in ethics, repealing provisions relating to political influence; providing for skill gaming; establishing the Skill Gaming Fund; imposing duties on the Department of Revenue; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for gambling devices, gambling, etc.; in forfeiture of assets, further providing for asset forfeiture; making appropriations; making repeals; and making editorial changes.

This bill extensively amends Pennsylvania's laws governing various forms of gaming, impacting fantasy contests, video gaming, interactive gaming, sports wagering, and casino operations. It revises definitions for fantasy contests, establishes a new category for "skill gaming" along with a dedicated fund, and modifies the regulatory authority of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The legislation introduces new requirements for background checks, including fingerprinting for gaming employees and licensees, and repeals existing provisions related to political influence in gaming administration. It also updates rules for licensing, enforcement, revenue collection, and permits live-streaming on casino floors.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes Skill Gaming Fund and makes appropriations, directly advancing state revenue streams and budget management through new gaming revenue allocations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Nov 17, 2025

HB 1540: An Act amending Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Buy America, Buy Union Grant Program and the Buy America, Buy Union Grant Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

HB 1540 creates a "Buy America, Buy Union" grant program and fund under Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development. It requires state-funded projects to prioritize American-made materials and union labor by offering grants to qualifying contractors. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to finance these grants, directly affecting state agencies and contractors working on public projects. Key provisions mandate that projects receiving grants must meet specific union labor and domestic sourcing standards, altering how state procurement contracts are awarded. This policy change shifts procurement incentives toward union workers and U.S. manufactured goods for eligible state projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a dedicated fund to finance grants for union labor and American-made materials on state projects, increasing government spending on specific initiatives.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates union labor for state project grants, directly supporting collective bargaining and union employment standards per bill's core requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 389: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the New Nursing Faculty Grant Program; providing for duties of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency; and making an appropriation.

HB 389 establishes the New Nursing Faculty Grant Program to support nursing education in Pennsylvania. It provides $10,000 grants to eligible nursing faculty members at accredited medical colleges who are PA residents, employed full-time (or have a pending offer), and have no more than three years of experience. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will administer the program, prioritizing positions historically difficult to fill, with applications submitted by nursing program deans. Grants cover professional expenses and aim to increase enrollment capacity at nursing programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $10,000 grants via appropriation for nursing faculty program, directly funding a public education initiative through state budget.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides $10,000 grants to nursing faculty at medical colleges for higher education staffing, directly funding faculty recruitment to strengthen nursing education programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes nursing faculty grants to address staffing shortages in healthcare education, directly funding workforce development for medical professionals per bill summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 23, 2025

HB 287: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in additional special funds and restricted accounts, establishing the Survivor-Centered, Accessible, Fair and Empowering Housing Trust Fund; and making an interfund transfer.

HB 287 establishes the Survivor-Centered, Accessible, Fair and Empowering Housing Trust Fund within Pennsylvania's state treasury. The fund provides emergency, transitional, and permanent housing programs with support services specifically for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking, including their immediate family members. It requires housing programs to be accessible regardless of an individual's sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency will manage the fund, and the bill amends the state's Fiscal Code to create this dedicated funding source. This is a direct policy change creating a new state trust fund for targeted housing assistance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes new state trust fund within treasury for housing services targeting vulnerable populations, allocating dedicated funding for essential programs.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes a dedicated Housing Trust Fund for housing programs serving domestic violence survivors and vulnerable populations, directly funding housing access and support services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 17, 2025

SB 811: An Act establishing the Pennsylvania SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program to provide technology grants to small businesses.

SB 811 establishes Pennsylvania's SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program to support small businesses with federal research grants. It provides state matching funds (up to $50,000) to Pennsylvania-based businesses that receive Phase I awards under the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. To qualify, businesses must conduct at least 51% of their Phase II research in Pennsylvania, submit a Phase I report, and avoid duplicate state funding. The program aims to foster economic growth by helping small businesses advance federal-funded research projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState allocates budget funds ($50k max) to match federal small business grants, directly funding economic development through fiscal appropriation.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides state matching funds ($50k) for small businesses conducting technology R&D via federal SBIR/STTR programs, directly advancing tech innovation and business support.95% confidence

Tags Small Business

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Nov 24, 2025

HB 1359: An Act amending Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Entertainment Economic Enhancement Program, further providing for definitions, for procedure and for limitations; providing for regulation of self-service storage facilities; and making a repeal.

HB 1359 amends Pennsylvania's entertainment tax incentive program by updating its definitions, procedures, and limitations, directly affecting entertainment businesses seeking tax benefits. It also adds new regulatory requirements for self-service storage facilities, including operational standards. The bill clarifies how the entertainment program operates while creating a new framework for overseeing storage facility safety and business practices. These changes became law on November 24, 2025, after approval by the governor. The legislation focuses on administrative updates and new oversight without altering tax rates or funding levels.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAmends entertainment tax incentive program, maintaining tax benefits for businesses by clarifying definitions and procedures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 23, 2025

HB 1756: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in service and facilities, further providing for electricity supplied to certain organizations.

HB 1756 allows volunteer fire companies, nonprofit rescue squads, ambulance services, and senior citizen centers in Pennsylvania to apply for electricity rates matching residential service costs instead of commercial rates. To qualify, these organizations must sign a one-year contract with their utility provider. The bill amends Pennsylvania's Public Utilities code (Title 66) to require utilities to offer this rate option upon request. This change directly affects eligible nonprofit organizations by potentially lowering their electricity costs through simplified rate access. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows nonprofits to pay residential electricity rates instead of commercial, reducing operational costs and providing fiscal relief for essential community services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill reduces operational costs for ambulance services and senior centers - healthcare-related nonprofits - by enabling residential electricity rates, indirectly supporting service accessibility and affordability.85% confidence

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