Budget & Taxes

passed · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2026

HR 350: A Resolution urging the President and Congress of the United States to maintain funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP.

HR 350 is a resolution urging the President and Congress to maintain existing federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It directly affects low-income households that rely on LIHEAP to help pay for heating and cooling bills during cold and hot weather. The resolution does not create new programs or change funding levels but formally requests that current LIHEAP appropriations be preserved in future budget decisions. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect on funding but expresses congressional support for the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly urges preservation of existing LIHEAP funding, an essential program for low-income households, directly supporting continued budget allocation for critical energy assistance.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 722: 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.

SB 722 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to modify how "net profits" are calculated for personal income tax purposes. The bill updates the rules for deducting start-up expenditures and introduces new provisions for combining net profits and losses from different businesses. It establishes specific netting rules for "small businesses" and "non-small businesses," allowing small businesses to carry over net losses for up to twenty years. This legislation directly affects individuals who report income or losses from their business or professional activities, particularly those operating small businesses, for state personal income tax. These changes will apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows small businesses to carry net losses for 20 years, providing tax relief and promoting fiscal flexibility for business owners.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 709: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for motor carrier parking space tax credit.

HB 709 creates a tax credit for businesses that provide free, publicly accessible parking spaces for trucks (motor carriers) on eligible property. To qualify, businesses must create at least five designated parking spaces (each 10 feet wide by 80 feet long, with concrete or asphalt) on property that is at least three acres, zoned commercial or industrial, within one mile of a designated highway corridor (Tier 1 or Tier 2). The property must also include adequate lighting and a public bathroom. Businesses must maintain these parking spaces and their operations in Pennsylvania for five years to receive the credit. The credit can be applied against certain tax liabilities under Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for qualifying businesses, reducing tax liability and aligning with tax relief support indicators.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates tax credit for truck parking infrastructure near highways, improving commercial transportation logistics and highway corridor accessibility per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 23, 2025

HB 279: An Act amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law, in State contract information, further providing for submission and retention of contracts.

HB 279 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to require state agencies (Commonwealth, legislative, and judicial) to submit contracts over $10,000 to the Treasury Department within 10 days of execution. Agencies must provide a detailed summary including contract dates, amounts, parties, and subject matter, and submit semi-annual attestations confirming compliance. Non-compliant agencies risk delayed or rejected payments for associated contracts. This bill directly affects all state agencies entering qualifying contracts, increasing the reporting threshold from $5,000 to $10,000 while standardizing contract data submission and public disclosure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPromotes fiscal responsibility through contract transparency requirements, ensuring accountability in state spending under Right-to-Know Law amendments80% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 31, 2025

HB 429: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), known as The Fiscal Code, in special funds, further providing for disposition of Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund; and making interfund transfers.

HB 429 amends Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code to direct specific transfers from the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund to address pension obligations. It requires $670 million to be transferred to the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and $330 million to the State Employees' Retirement Fund by January 1, 2026, as one-time payments to reduce their unfunded pension liabilities. These transfers are separate from the fund's usual purpose of covering emergencies or economic downturns. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania's public employee pension systems, not general state programs or new legislation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $1B from reserve fund to reduce pension liabilities, promoting fiscal responsibility by addressing unfunded obligations without new taxes or spending cuts.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTransfers $670M to Public School Employees' Retirement Fund to address pension obligations, directly supporting teacher benefits and system financial stability.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly funds public employee pension benefits ($670M to school employees, $330M to state employees), strengthening retirement security as part of employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions State Budget Public Employees

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 4, 2025

HB 1141: An Act amending Titles 4 (Amusements), 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in revenues, further providing for taxes and assessments; adding provisions relating to local gaming terminals by providing for general provisions, for administration, for application and licensure, for operation, for enforcement and for revenue; imposing the local gaming terminal tax; establishing the Local Gaming Fund; providing for ethics; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of gambling devices, gambling, etc.; in Commonwealth services, establishing the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Programs Fund; prescribing penalties; and making appropriations.

HB 1141 establishes a new regulatory framework for local gaming terminals (such as video lottery terminals in bars, clubs, and small businesses) across Pennsylvania. It imposes a 40% tax on terminal gross revenue, a 9% local share assessment, and a regulatory assessment, with all revenue directed to the newly created Local Gaming Fund. The bill sets clear rules for licensing, operator background checks, terminal operation, and real-time auditing via a central control computer, while updating gambling offense laws in Title 18. It also creates a separate Pennsylvania Emergency Management Programs Fund, but the primary focus is on governing local gaming terminals and their tax structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes 40% tax on gaming terminals and directs all revenue to Local Gaming Fund, creating new tax revenue and funding mechanism for state programs.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 572: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in turnpike, providing for State intercept for unpaid tolls.

SB 572 allows Pennsylvania to use lottery winnings over $2,500 and state tax refunds to pay unpaid Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls. It requires the Department of Revenue to check for toll debt before issuing winnings or refunds, and to deduct the owed amount (including fees/penalties) if found. Affected individuals - those with outstanding turnpike tolls - must be notified, can appeal within 30 days, and the state must report annual collections to lawmakers. The bill does not change toll rates or create new debt but provides a new method for collecting existing unpaid tolls.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill uses tax refunds/lottery winnings to collect unpaid tolls, promoting fiscal responsibility by ensuring revenue collection without changing tax rates or rates.92% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 15, 2025

HB 1219: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in boards and offices, providing for information technology; establishing the Office of Information Technology and the Information Technology Fund; providing for administrative and procurement procedures and for the Joint Cybersecurity Oversight Committee; imposing duties on the Office of Information Technology; providing for administration of Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network; and imposing penalties.

HB 1219 establishes a new Office of Information Technology and an Information Technology Fund to consolidate Pennsylvania state government IT operations. The bill requires all state agencies to follow new procurement rules, including business case reviews and five-year budget limits for significant IT projects, to reduce costs and improve efficiency. It also creates a Joint Cybersecurity Oversight Committee to strengthen data protection and mandates better cybersecurity practices for all state IT systems. The bill directly affects all Pennsylvania state agencies responsible for managing information technology and cybersecurity.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes five-year budget limits and business case reviews for IT projects to reduce costs and improve efficiency, promoting fiscal responsibility.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates Joint Cybersecurity Oversight Committee and mandates stronger cybersecurity practices to protect state data, aligning with data privacy and cybersecurity protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Cybersecurity Data Privacy

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 356: An Act amending the act of June 20, 1919 (P.L.521, No.258), referred to as the Transfer Inheritance Tax Law, changing the rate of commission.

SB 356 amends Pennsylvania's 1919 Transfer Inheritance Tax Law to change how county general funds receive a portion of collected inheritance taxes. It replaces the previous tiered commission structure (with rates of 4.25%, 1.75%, and 0.5% for different tax collection ranges) with a flat 4.25% commission rate on all inheritance tax collections. This change directly affects counties, as it alters the percentage of tax revenue they receive from the state's inheritance tax system. The bill does not modify the underlying inheritance tax rates or the tax's scope, only the distribution mechanism for collected funds. The amendment becomes effective 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill replaces tiered commission with flat 4.25% rate, increasing county revenue from inheritance taxes, directly boosting local government funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 772: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, providing for commuter and commerce toll tax credit.

SB 772 creates a new tax credit for Pennsylvania taxpayers who pay tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and specific bridges operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, Delaware River Port Authority, and Burlington County Bridge Commission. Taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 50% of their qualifying toll expenses, up to $500 annually, for tolls paid via E-ZPass, cash, or card. The credit applies to individuals and businesses, including pass-through entities like S corporations and partnerships, with unused credits potentially passed to shareholders or owners. The credit becomes available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 50% tax credit for toll expenses, providing direct tax relief to commuters and businesses, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill provides tax credit for toll payments on highways/bridges, reducing commuter costs and incentivizing use of transportation infrastructure, aligning with transportation support indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Bridges Ports

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