Budget & Taxes

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 8, 2025

HB 1126: 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 classes of income; in corporate net income tax, further providing for definitions; and providing for personal health investment tax credit.

HB 1126 amends Pennsylvania's tax code to create two new provisions: (1) a tax deduction for fitness facilities that provide free or discounted memberships to active-duty military personnel, National Guard members, or reservists, limited to the regular membership fee and not reducing taxable income below zero; and (2) a personal health investment tax credit of up to $600 per year for eligible military members to cover qualified fitness expenses like gym memberships or exercise equipment. The deduction for facilities is only available if they did not claim the same expense for federal taxes. The credit applies to Pennsylvania resident individuals who qualify as active-duty military, National Guard, or reserve members under state definitions. These changes directly affect fitness businesses and military-affiliated taxpayers in Pennsylvania.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credit for military health expenses, providing targeted tax relief, aligning with support indicators for tax relief measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1317: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in entertainment production tax credit, further providing for limitations.

HB 1317 increases Pennsylvania's annual cap on entertainment production tax credits from $100 million to $125 million. It also establishes new rules allowing the Department of Revenue to carry forward unused credits: up to 30% for the next fiscal year, 20% for the year after, and 10% for the third year. This directly affects film and entertainment producers seeking tax credits under the Tax Reform Code of 1971. The changes apply to fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit cap from $100M to $125M and expands carry-forward rules, directly advancing tax incentive policy for entertainment production.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 165: An Act making appropriations from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and from the PSERS Defined Contribution Fund to provide for expenses of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

SB 165 allocates funds to the Public School Employees' Retirement Board (PSERS) for its operational expenses. The bill appropriates $61,403,000 from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and an additional $1,282,000 from the PSERS Defined Contribution Fund. These funds are designated for costs such as employee salaries, travel, and contractual services, enabling the board to manage retirement plans for public school employees. The appropriations cover the fiscal year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and also address any outstanding bills from the previous fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $62.7M from retirement funds to cover PSERS operational costs, ensuring continued funding for public employee retirement management under fiscal budgeting.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $61.4M to PSERS for operational expenses managing retirement benefits for public school employees, directly supporting educator workforce stability and benefits.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 30, 2025

HB 2004: An Act establishing the Emergency SNAP Benefits Restricted Account and providing for a transfer to facilitate payment of SNAP benefits to recipients; and imposing duties on the Department of Human Services, the Secretary of the Budget and the State Treasurer.

HB 2004 creates a special account to hold emergency funds for SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance to low-income residents. The bill requires the Department of Human Services, the Secretary of the Budget, and the State Treasurer to transfer these funds to pay SNAP recipients. This establishes a dedicated funding mechanism specifically for emergency SNAP benefit payments. The bill directly affects SNAP recipients by ensuring a streamlined process for receiving benefits during emergencies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated state budget account for emergency SNAP benefits funding, ensuring fiscal allocation to essential food assistance program without tax changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 9, 2025

HB 1710: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in certificate of title and security interests, further providing for application for certificate of title; in registration of vehicles, further providing for registration and certificate of title required and for period of registration, repealing provisions relating to temporary registration cards and to temporary registration permits, providing for transition from temporary registration cards, permits and plates and further providing for transfer of registration, for duties of agents and for issuance and reissuance of registration plates; in financial responsibility, further providing for required financial responsibility; in fees, further providing for temporary and electronically issued registration plates; in Motor Vehicle Transaction Recovery Fund, further providing for enforcement; in powers of department and local authorities, further providing for proportional registration not exclusive; in messenger service, further providing for agent duties and responsibilities; and, in liquid fuels and fuels tax, further providing for electric vehicle road user charge.

HB 1710 updates Pennsylvania's vehicle registration and title system under Title 75. It repeals temporary registration cards and permits, requiring standard registration instead, and updates procedures for transferring registration and issuing plates. The bill also adds a road user charge for electric vehicles and clarifies fees for electronic registration plates. These changes directly affect vehicle owners, dealers, and state agencies handling registrations. The bill focuses on modernizing administrative processes and adding new fee structures for electric vehicles.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds electric vehicle road user charge, a new tax generating revenue for state funds under liquid fuels tax provisions.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAdds EV road user charge funding transportation infrastructure, modernizing registration system per bill's fee updates and EV provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 330: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for improper payments; providing for participation in Do-Not-Pay Initiative; and imposing a penalty.

HB 330 requires Pennsylvania state agencies that use federal funds to join the federal "Do-Not-Pay Initiative" by verifying payments through an online system and reviewing payment data to prevent errors. Agencies must submit annual reports detailing improper payments identified or prevented, associated savings, and weaknesses in financial controls. The law mandates participation within two years of the bill's effective date and requires reports to be shared with state oversight bodies and the legislature. It directly affects all Commonwealth agencies managing federal funds by adding new verification and reporting obligations to reduce payment errors.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires agencies to prevent improper payments and report savings, promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending through enhanced financial controls.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 18, 2025

SB 506: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, providing for Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program.

SB 506 establishes Pennsylvania's Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program within the Human Services Code. It provides qualified child care providers (like certified centers, family homes, or children's institutions with active subsidy agreements) with annual lump-sum payments to fund retention bonuses ($1,000 max per staff member) and recruitment bonuses ($1,000 max per new hire) for staff who directly supervise children. The program requires providers to apply within 45 days of posting, prohibits using funds to replace existing wages, and mandates annual reporting to the legislature on payments, locations, and applications. Providers must use funds strictly for staff bonuses within the fiscal year and maintain records for audits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds child care staff retention/recruitment via state budget allocations ($1,000 max per staff/hire), increasing public service spending under Human Services Code.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides retention/recruitment bonuses ($1k max) for child care staff, directly supporting compensation and job retention in employment sector.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 290: An Act providing for funding for certain State-related universities for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, for costs basis, for frequency of payments and for recordkeeping requirements; imposing a duty on the Auditor General; providing for financial statements, for the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund and for restrictions; and making appropriations.

SB 290 allocates $242 million to Penn State, $151.5 million to Pitt, $158.2 million to Temple, and $21.9 million to Lincoln University for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, funding their general operations. It requires universities to submit monthly cost estimates to the state, submit detailed spending reports within 120 days of the fiscal year-end, and use funds only for approved purposes like instruction and student services. The bill restricts Pitt from using funds for its environmental law clinic and mandates that all spending be audited by the Auditor General, who can recover misused funds. These provisions ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with state financial reporting standards.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $673.6M to state universities for general operations, increasing public education funding per appropriations language.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $242M+ to state universities for general operations, directly funding higher education institutions per bill's funding provisions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SB 440: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) tax credits relating to semiconductor manufacturing and biomedical manufacturing and research, further providing for definitions, for eligibility, for application and approval of tax credit and for sale or assignment.

SB 440 creates new tax credits under Pennsylvania’s PA EDGE program for semiconductor and biomedical manufacturing and research companies meeting specific criteria. It directly affects businesses that invest at least $200 million (or $20 million for early-stage semiconductor firms) in facilities, create 800 (or 100) permanent jobs, and meet local hiring and wage standards. The bill establishes two credit calculation methods: up to 2.5% of capital investment or up to $20,000 per job (capped at $20 million annually). Eligible companies must apply by March 1 each year, with credits approved by May 1, and the program prioritizes semiconductor projects with a minimum $1 million annual allocation. The tax credits reduce state tax liability for qualifying investments and job creation in these sectors.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSB 440 creates new tax credits for semiconductor/biomedical firms under PA EDGE, directly reducing tax liabilities for qualifying businesses per the Tax Reform Code amendment.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires companies to meet local wage standards to qualify for tax credits, directly advancing worker compensation standards in new job creation.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill provides tax credits for semiconductor manufacturing and biomedical research, directly funding technology sector growth through financial incentives for capital investment and job creation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 1678: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in gross receipts tax, further providing for imposition of tax; and providing for additional property tax rebate.

HB 1678 adds a 45-mill tax plus a 5-mill surtax on gross receipts from digital advertising services displayed to users within Pennsylvania. It directly affects digital advertising providers (e.g., companies running banner or search ads) but exempts broadcast and news media entities. The tax applies to revenue from ads shown on digital interfaces (websites, apps) where users are located in Pennsylvania, excluding sales of internet access, telecom hardware, and resale services. The law takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new 50-mill tax on digital ad revenue, directly increasing state tax revenue under Tax Reform Code.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

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