Budget & Taxes

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 1772: 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.

This bill adds a new sales and use tax exemption for specific agricultural and horticultural products in Pennsylvania. It excludes from tax the retail sale or use of fruit seeds, vegetable seeds, fruit plants, vegetable plants, fruit trees, and other seeds, plants, or trees intended for human consumption. This change directly affects retailers selling these items and consumers purchasing them for personal gardening or food production. The exemption becomes effective 60 days after the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates sales tax exemption for agricultural products, providing tax relief to consumers purchasing seeds/plants for food, aligning with tax relief indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax Tax Incentives

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 195: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, providing for Mental Health Workforce Retention Program; and making an appropriation.

HB 195 establishes Pennsylvania's Mental Health Workforce Retention Program under the Human Services Code. It provides $5,000 grants to mental health workers who are Pennsylvania residents and have worked with adolescents for at least seven consecutive years, using a lottery system to select recipients. The program allocates up to $1 million annually from a $5 million appropriation (continuing from the General Fund), with grants exempt from income tax. The program expires on June 30, 2030, and is open to workers in psychology, counseling, social work, or human services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M annually from General Fund for mental health workforce grants, exempts grants from income tax, funding essential public service and providing tax relief per bill's appropriation and tax exemption language.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides $5,000 tax-exempt grants to mental health workers for retention, directly funding workforce stability under Mental Health Workforce Retention Program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides $5,000 retention grants to mental health workers with tax exemption, directly supporting workforce stability and employment in a specific sector.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax State Budget

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 9, 2025

HB 1578: An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in disabled veterans' real estate tax exemption, further providing for duty of commission.

HB 1578 requires Pennsylvania's commission to create a process for preapproving disabled veterans for real estate tax exemptions. This allows veterans waiting for final U.S. Veterans Affairs certification of a 100% disability or those purchasing a new home to qualify for the exemption before the VA finalizes their case. The bill directly affects disabled veterans in Pennsylvania who are applying for this tax benefit under these specific circumstances. The commission must develop this process, and the law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax relief for disabled veterans via expedited real estate tax exemption process, aligning with tax relief indicators for lower-income groups.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransPreapproves real estate tax exemptions for disabled veterans awaiting VA certification, reducing wait times and expanding access to benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Tax Incentives Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 62: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, establishing the Redevelopment Authority Startup Loan Program and the Redevelopment Authority Startup Fund.

SB 62 establishes a new $10 million Redevelopment Authority Startup Fund within Pennsylvania's state treasury, funded by a $10 million transfer from the General Fund. It creates a loan program allowing qualified local redevelopment authorities in smaller counties (non-first/second class) to receive startup loans of up to $500,000 at 2% interest, repayable over 10 years. These loans can be used exclusively for purchasing, redeveloping, or remediating residential or commercial properties, but not for operating expenses or debt refinancing. The program aims to support economic development in underserved communities by providing low-cost capital through a revolving fund that replenishes with repayments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReallocates $10M from General Fund to fund redevelopment loans, supporting targeted economic development spending within state budget management.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes $10M fund for residential redevelopment loans, enabling housing development in smaller counties through affordable financing for property redevelopment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement State Budget Community Development Mortgages Property Development

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 16, 2025

HB 1739: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing an All Payor Claims Database; imposing duties on the Health Care Cost Containment Council; imposing penalties; and making an appropriation.

HB 1739 would create a statewide "All Payor Claims Database" under Pennsylvania's health laws, requiring healthcare providers and insurers to submit claims data to this centralized system. The Health Care Cost Containment Council would be responsible for managing the database and ensuring compliance, with penalties for failure to report data accurately. The bill includes funding ("makes an appropriation") to support the database's development and operation. This directly affects healthcare providers, insurers, and the Council, as they would be required to submit, manage, and use the claims data for oversight purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly 'makes an appropriation' to fund the All Payor Claims Database, directly allocating state budget resources for healthcare data management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mandatory claims database with funding to improve healthcare cost transparency and management under health laws, directly advancing administrative efficiency in healthcare delivery.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SB 796: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in Public Transportation Assistance Fund, further providing for Public Transportation Assistance Fund.

SB 796 increases the tax on motor vehicle leases from 3% to 5% of the lease price and raises the fee for renting a motor vehicle from $2 to $6.50 per day. Revenue from these fees will fund Pennsylvania’s Public Transportation Assistance Fund, which supports public transportation services statewide. The bill affects vehicle lessees and renters, including those using carsharing services, though carsharing rentals of less than 6 hours will have lower fees (ranging from $0.25 to $1.25). The changes take effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases vehicle lease/tax rates to fund public transit services, directly allocating tax revenue to a state transportation fund per bill summary.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill increases vehicle lease/tax fees to fund Pennsylvania's Public Transportation Assistance Fund, directly supporting public transit services statewide.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Transportation Funding

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 390: 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, providing for preceptor tax deduction.

HB 390 creates a $1,000 annual tax deduction for Pennsylvania health care providers who volunteer to supervise clinical training for students. It directly affects licensed physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and nurse anesthetists who provide uncompensated, volunteer-based clinical training (minimum 80 hours annually per student) to eligible students in approved programs. The bill establishes a Preceptor Certification Committee within the Department of Health to verify eligibility, process applications within 30 days, and issue certificates confirming the deduction. To claim the deduction, providers must submit this certificate with their tax return, and the deduction cannot exceed the tax owed. The policy change specifically targets volunteer clinical education support without altering tax rates or creating new tax credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $1,000 annual tax deduction for healthcare preceptors, providing direct tax relief under Tax Reform Code.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax incentive for healthcare preceptors to supervise students, expanding clinical training access in healthcare education programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides $1,000 tax deduction for healthcare preceptors to support clinical training, advancing workforce development in healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 22, 2025

SB 145: An Act amending the act of September 30, 1983 (P.L.160, No.39), known as the Public Official Compensation Law, further providing for members of the General Assembly.

SB 145 amends Pennsylvania's Public Official Compensation Law to adjust how state legislators' salaries are calculated. It establishes that members of the General Assembly and their officers/leaders receive annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) based on the Consumer Price Index for the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Delaware-Maryland area. The bill specifically blocks COLA increases for the 2020-2021 period and allows legislators to opt out of receiving a COLA by notifying the Chief Clerk 10 days before the adjustment date. This directly affects all current and future Pennsylvania legislators by altering their salary adjustment mechanism.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBlocks COLA increases for legislators' salaries, restricting state budget expenditure on compensation for 2020-2021 period.92% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 214: 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; and, in local real estate transfer tax, further providing for imposition.

HB 214 amends Pennsylvania's realty transfer tax code to exclude first-time home buyers from paying the state transfer tax on purchases of single-family residences. It defines "first-time home buyer" as someone who has never owned any single-family home (including manufactured homes or condos) in Pennsylvania or another state, resides in the property, and is domiciled there. The exclusion applies only when all individuals named on the deed qualify as first-time buyers. Local governments (like cities or townships) cannot apply this exclusion to their separate real estate transfer taxes, which remain applicable. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes first-time homebuyers from realty transfer tax, providing tax relief for middle-income buyers, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExcludes first-time home buyers from transfer tax, lowering purchase costs and promoting affordable housing access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Property Taxes

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 489: An Act establishing the Public Arts Grant Program and the Public Arts Fund; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development; and making a transfer.

HB 489 establishes Pennsylvania's Public Arts Grant Program and Public Arts Fund, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development. The bill provides grants to community organizations and artists (based in Pennsylvania) to create free, publicly accessible public art - such as murals or sculptures - that depicts or benefits historically marginalized communities. Grants are capped at $100,000 per recipient, require a three-year completion timeline, and mandate that applications include details on accessibility, community impact, and required permits. The bill also transfers $10 million from the General Fund to the Public Arts Fund upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded arts grants, increasing public service spending via new program administered by state department.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track