Budget & Taxes

in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 21, 2025

HB 1471: 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 income taxes imposed by other states.

HB 1471 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to adjust how residents can claim credits for income taxes paid to other states or territories (including U.S. territories, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia) on income also subject to Pennsylvania tax. The bill limits the credit to the proportion of Pennsylvania tax corresponding to the income taxed by the other jurisdiction, preventing credits that exceed Pennsylvania's tax liability. It also simplifies documentation by allowing taxpayers to submit a certified statement instead of full copies of their state tax returns to verify tax paid. This change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCloses tax loophole by limiting credits to PA tax proportion, ensuring proper revenue collection per bill's explicit intent to prevent excess credits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 817: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.

SB 817 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to require businesses seeking tax incentives (like exemptions or credits) for construction projects to meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship standards. Specifically, businesses making capital investments over $25,000 for construction, reconstruction, or repair on property where they seek tax benefits must ensure 70% of workers are skilled craft laborers and all workers receive the state-set prevailing wage. Violations require the business to refund 100% of the tax benefit received for that year. This applies to construction work (excluding routine maintenance) and is enforced by the Department of Labor and Industry under existing prevailing wage laws.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill closes tax loophole by requiring prevailing wage for construction tax incentives, ensuring fiscal responsibility in incentive distribution.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates prevailing wage and 70% skilled labor requirements for tax-incentivized construction projects, directly protecting worker compensation and promoting apprenticeship opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 336: An Act providing for solar energy facilities on certain land; imposing powers and duties on the Department of Agriculture; and providing for a tax credit.

SB 336 prohibits solar energy facilities on Pennsylvania agricultural land with high-quality soil (Class 1 or 2) and requires landowners to seek soil classification certification from the Department of Agriculture before leasing land for solar projects. The bill creates a tax credit covering up to 30% of a solar project’s cost (3¢ per kilowatt-hour) for facilities on eligible sites like brownfields, abandoned mines, capped landfills, warehouse rooftops, or parking canopies, with an annual $5 million cap on credits. It excludes small solar projects under 2 megawatts, pre-existing agreements, and agricultural land where low-quality soil makes up only a small portion of the parcel. The tax credit application process requires annual submission by February 1 and approval by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit covering up to 30% of solar project costs for eligible sites, providing direct tax relief to incentivize renewable energy development. This tax policy advances fiscal support for clean energy through targeted tax incentives.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides tax credit (30% cost coverage) for solar projects on eligible sites like brownfields, promoting renewable energy development while restricting solar on high-quality farmland.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes solar projects on brownfields/abandoned mines via tax credit, promoting clean energy adoption while restricting on high-quality farmland.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Solar

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 13, 2025

SB 238: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, repealing provisions relating to realty transfer tax; and making editorial changes.

SB 238 repeals the realty transfer tax provisions from Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code, removing a specific tax applied to property transfers. It eliminates Article XI-C, which previously defined terms like "family farm business," "living trust," and "real estate" for tax purposes. This change means property transfers in Pennsylvania will no longer be subject to the realty transfer tax framework that existed under the 1971 Code. The bill does not create new tax rules but removes the existing structure governing this tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRepeals realty transfer tax, eliminating a tax burden on property transfers, aligning with tax relief support for property owners.95% confidence

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 22, 2025

HB 1263: An Act establishing the Keystone Saves Program, the Keystone Saves Program Fund, the Keystone Saves Administrative Fund and the Keystone Saves Program Advisory Board; and providing for powers and duties of the Treasury Department, for investment and fiduciary responsibilities and for program implementation.

HB 1263 establishes Pennsylvania's Keystone Saves Program, creating a state-run savings initiative for low-to-moderate income residents. The bill sets up a dedicated program fund and administrative fund managed by the Treasury Department, which will handle investments while adhering to fiduciary responsibilities. An advisory board will oversee program implementation and ensure it meets the needs of participants. This program directly affects eligible Pennsylvanians by providing a structured savings option, with the Treasury Department responsible for managing funds and investments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state-run savings program funded through Treasury-managed program/administrative funds, directly allocating state resources to support low-to-moderate income residents' financial needs.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 16, 2025

HB 1379: An Act amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, in Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, further providing for forests and establishing the Forest Fire Warden Fund.

HB 1379 creates a dedicated "Forest Fire Warden Fund" within the Pennsylvania state treasury to reimburse local forest fire wardens for approved activities. The bill establishes that funds from this new account will cover expenses related to controlled burns, fire investigations, public safety events, training, and mutual aid requests made to emergency management agencies. It directly affects local forest fire wardens and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources by providing a clear funding mechanism for their operational costs. This procedural change streamlines reimbursement processes under the existing Conservation and Natural Resources Act without altering forest management policies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates dedicated fund for fire warden reimbursement, directly funding essential public safety programs within state budget framework95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds forest fire management including controlled burns to protect forest ecosystems under Conservation Act, aligning with conservation and natural resource protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 471: An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in veterans' organizations, further providing for grants to veterans' service officer programs.

HB 471 allocates $1,000,000 from the General Fund to fund veterans' service officer programs in Pennsylvania. This bill directly affects veterans' service organizations that assist military veterans in accessing benefits and services. The key provision transfers the specified funds to the relevant department to support these programs under Title 51 of Pennsylvania law. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M from General Fund to fund veterans' service programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for essential services.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAllocates $1M to fund veterans' service officer programs, directly supporting veterans' access to benefits and services under PA law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 180: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for Nonprofit School Food Program, repealing provisions relating to school lunch and breakfast reimbursement and establishing the Universal School Meal Program and the Universal School Meal Fund; and making an interfund transfer and an appropriation.

SB 180 replaces Pennsylvania's existing school lunch and breakfast reimbursement system with a Universal School Meal Program, requiring all public schools to provide meals to any student who requests one, regardless of their ability to pay or outstanding meal debt. The bill prohibits schools from stigmatizing students (e.g., via wristbands), denying activities or diplomas for unpaid meals, using collections agencies, or imposing penalties like interest or suspensions for meal debt. It also mandates schools to offer assistance with meal program applications to families in debt and directs communications about unpaid meals to parents/guardians instead of students. The program is funded through a new Universal School Meal Fund and an interfund transfer, eliminating the previous reimbursement structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes Universal School Meal Fund via new appropriation, mandating state-funded meals for all students regardless of payment status, increasing public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReplaces meal reimbursement with universal program, ensuring no student denied access due to debt/stigma, expanding educational access and equity through mandatory free meals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 1335: An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic Development.

HB 1335 provides $500,000 in funding from a restricted revenue account within the state’s General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate. This appropriation directly supports the office’s work assisting small businesses with navigating state regulations and accessing resources. The bill, now law as Act No. 4A of 2025, creates no new policies but allocates specific funds for the office’s existing operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $500k from restricted General Fund to Office of Small Business Advocate, funding existing operations per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Small Business

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 281: An Act making appropriations from the State Employees' Retirement Fund and from the SERS Defined Contribution Fund to provide for expenses of the State 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 281 is a funding bill that allocates $43.2 million from the State Employees' Retirement Fund and $4.8 million from the SERS Defined Contribution Fund to cover the operational costs of Pennsylvania's State Employees' Retirement Board for fiscal year 2025-2026. It specifically funds salaries, travel, contractual services, and other expenses necessary for the board to conduct its duties, including paying unpaid bills from the prior fiscal year. This bill does not change retirement benefits or policies - it only provides budgetary support for the board's administrative functions. The funds are designated solely for the board's operations, not for direct payments to retirees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $43.2M from retirement funds to cover essential operational costs of the State Employees' Retirement Board, directly supporting budget management for critical state employee benefits without tax changes.95% confidence

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