Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 163: 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.

Senate Bill 163 proposes to appropriate funds for the operation of the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Department of Community and Economic Development. It allocates $2,262,000 from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund. This funding is specifically designated to support the office's operations for the fiscal year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, enabling it to continue its work assisting small businesses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2.26M from General Fund to fund small business advocate office operations, directly supporting public service fiscal management and essential program funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Small Business

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Nov 19, 2025

HB 1421: An Act providing for funding for certain State-aided 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.

HB 1421 allocates state funding for certain state-aided universities during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It specifies the amount of funding, requires payments to occur at set intervals, and mandates detailed recordkeeping by the universities. The bill also imposes new duties on the Auditor General to review these records and requires universities to submit financial statements. Additionally, it includes restrictions on the use of funds and addresses the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funding for universities during 2025-2026 fiscal year, directly advancing public education funding through appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funding for state-aided universities during 2025-2026, specifying amounts and payment requirements to advance higher education funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 452: 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, providing for Safe Path Restricted Account; and making a transfer.

SB 452 establishes the "Safe Path Restricted Account" within Pennsylvania's General Fund, transferring $50 million for fiscal year 2025-2026. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will use these funds to award grants to political subdivisions and nonprofits operating safe passage programs. These programs aim to improve safety for youth and adults traveling to and from schools and community centers. Priority is given to applicants in areas with high gun violence rates, as determined by the Commission.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $50M from General Fund to fund safe passage programs, increasing public service funding for safety in high-violence areas.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds safe passage programs in high gun violence areas to improve community safety, directly advancing criminal justice reform through prevention-focused initiatives.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds safe passage programs to improve student safety traveling to schools, enhancing educational access in high-violence areas85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds safe passage programs improving pedestrian safety for school commutes, directly enhancing transportation safety as defined in topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Firearms Juvenile Justice

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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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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

passed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 3, 2025

HB 1331: An Act providing for the capital budget for fiscal year 2025-2026; itemizing public improvement projects, furniture and equipment projects, transportation assistance, redevelopment assistance projects, flood control projects and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission projects leased or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies, together with their estimated financial costs; authorizing the incurring of debt without the approval of the electors for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies; authorizing the use of current revenue for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies stating the estimated useful life of the projects; and making appropriations.

HB 1331 allocates state funding for specific public projects - including roads, bridges, flood control, and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission initiatives - during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It authorizes Pennsylvania to borrow money without voter approval and use current state revenue to finance these projects, while requiring agencies to state each project’s estimated lifespan. The bill directly affects state agencies like the Department of General Services, which manage these capital improvements. It does not change public policy but outlines budgetary mechanisms for infrastructure spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, flood control) via capital budget, authorizing debt and current revenue use for public improvements.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates state funds for roads, bridges, and transportation infrastructure projects during 2025-2026 fiscal year, authorizing debt and revenue use for transportation-related public improvements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Debt & Bonds State Budget

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 166: 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 166 is an appropriations bill that allocates funds for the operational expenses of the State Employees' Retirement Board. It appropriates $39,795,000 from the State Employees' Retirement Fund and $5,979,000 from the SERS Defined Contribution Fund. These funds are designated to cover salaries, travel, contractual services, and other costs necessary for the board to manage state employee retirement plans. The appropriations apply to the fiscal year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and also cover any unpaid bills from the prior fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds operational expenses for the State Employees' Retirement Board, an essential state program, through specific appropriations for the fiscal year.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds retirement board operations to maintain state employee benefits, directly supporting employment-related retirement security.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Public Employees Retirement Benefits

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 1339: An Act making appropriations from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund and from Federal augmentation funds to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

HB 1339 allocates specific funds to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It uses money from a restricted revenue account within the state's General Fund and Federal augmentation funds to cover the PUC's operational costs. This bill, now law as Act No. 8A of 2025, directly affects the PUC's budget and ensures funding for its regulatory activities during the specified fiscal period.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state General Fund and federal funds to PUC for operational costs, directly supporting budgetary funding for a state regulatory agency's fiscal management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 429: An Act to provide appropriations from the General Fund for the expenses of certain agencies of the Executive Department 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 429, known as the General Appropriation Act of 2025, allocates funds from the state's General Fund to cover expenses for various agencies within the Executive Department. This bill provides appropriations for salaries, services, and goods for the fiscal year spanning July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and also addresses outstanding bills from the previous fiscal year. For example, it specifically appropriates $11,921,000 to the Department of Human Services for rape crisis programs. Any unspent funds from these appropriations will lapse at the close of the fiscal year on June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $11.9M to Department of Human Services for rape crisis programs and funds agency expenses, directly advancing budget appropriations for public services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 232: An Act providing for grants for renewable energy backup systems for the community; and making an interfund transfer.

HB 232 establishes the Sustainable Community Safe House Grant Program, providing local governments (counties, cities, townships, and councils of governments) with grants of up to $250,000 to install renewable energy backup systems at community facilities. The bill transfers $100 million from the state's General Fund to the State Sustainable Energy Fund to finance these grants, requiring applicants to submit detailed plans for energy generation, storage, and community impact. Applications must include project locations, proposed uses, and how the system serves the community, with awards determined within 20 days based on geographic diversity and community benefits. The program expires December 31, 2026, and requires a public report by September 2026 listing all grant recipients and project details.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill transfers $100M from General Fund to fund renewable energy grants, increasing state spending on public infrastructure programs.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes grants for renewable energy backup systems at community facilities, funded by $100M transfer to State Sustainable Energy Fund, directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds renewable energy backup systems via $100M transfer to State Sustainable Energy Fund, directly promoting clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel reliance at community facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Energy Resilience Renewable Energy

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