Budget & Taxes (Appropriations)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 283: An Act making appropriations from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and from restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund to the Department of State for use by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs in support of the professional licensure boards assigned thereto.

SB 283 allocates $73 million from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and specific funds to Pennsylvania's professional licensing boards for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It provides operational funding for the State Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, and the State Athletic Commission, using designated state revenue accounts. The appropriations are strictly for the boards' operations and must be accounted for separately, not as general government funds. This is a routine budget measure, not a policy change.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $73M from designated accounts to fund professional licensing boards' operations, ensuring fiscal accountability for essential regulatory services without tax changes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 27, 2025

SB 510: An Act amending Title 54 (Names) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Program and for powers and duties of the Department of Community and Economic Development; establishing the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund; and making an appropriation.

SB 510 creates a $2 million grant program to help individuals navigate name changes while facing gender or sexual stereotype-based biases. It establishes the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund in the State Treasury, providing competitive grants of $5,000-$100,000 to nonprofits or local governments that run support programs for transgender and nonbinary residents. Grants fund administrative costs of services offering legal, emotional, or social guidance during name change processes. The Department of Community and Economic Development will administer applications and evaluate program effectiveness every three years. This directly affects transgender and nonbinary Pennsylvanians seeking name changes and the organizations supporting them.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2M for a new state grant program, directly funding a public service initiative through budget allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SB 529: An Act establishing the Emergency Medical Services Certification Program; imposing duties on the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services within the Department of Health; providing for funding; and making an appropriation.

This bill establishes a Pennsylvania program that reimburses residents who earn state-recognized emergency medical services (EMS) certifications (such as EMT or paramedic) after paying for training at a Pennsylvania school. Applicants must submit proof of certification and payment, maintain Pennsylvania residency for two years after certification, and apply within 30 days of completing training. The state will cover full certification costs up to a $3 million total appropriation, with payments issued within two months of a complete application. The program ends when the $3 million is fully spent, with no fixed expiration date beyond that.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $3M to fund EMS certification reimbursements, directly increasing state spending on a public program.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds EMS certification costs for healthcare workers, expanding workforce access to emergency medical services through state reimbursement program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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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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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 · Senate Jan 29, 2025

SB 198: A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for general appropriation bill.

SB 198 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Pennsylvania to maintain state funding at 80% of the previous year's level if the annual budget (general appropriation bill) isn't approved by June 30. This directly affects the state government's budget process and fiscal operations. The key mechanism sets a fixed funding floor as a fallback if lawmakers miss the deadline, preventing a complete budget shutdown. The amendment must pass both legislative chambers and be approved by voters to take effect.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires 80% funding floor if budget not passed by June 30, preventing shutdown and promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 284: An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General.

SB 284 provides $7.252 million in funding from a special fund within Pennsylvania's General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate, which is part of the Attorney General's office. This funding is specifically for the office's operational costs during the 2025-2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026). The bill directly affects the Office of Consumer Advocate's ability to carry out its role representing consumers in disputes with regulated utilities and businesses. It is a straightforward funding measure with no new policy provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $7.252M from General Fund to fund consumer advocate office operations, directly supporting public service funding within budget appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 285: 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.

SB 285 appropriates $2,243,000 from a restricted revenue account in Pennsylvania's General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Department of Community and Economic Development. This funding is specifically for the office's operations during the 2025-2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026). The bill directly affects the Office of Small Business Advocate by providing dedicated funding to support its work. As a procedural appropriation bill, it focuses solely on authorizing the financial allocation without creating new policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2.24M from General Fund to fund Office of Small Business Advocate, directly increasing public service funding for small business support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Tags Small Business

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 291: An Act providing for the capital budget for fiscal year 2025-2026.

SB 291 establishes Pennsylvania's capital budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, allocating $1.57 billion for state infrastructure projects. It sets specific spending limits: $1.1 billion for buildings/structures, $20 million for furniture/equipment, $100 million for transportation, and $350 million for redevelopment projects, all funded from the General Fund or applicable special funds. The bill directly affects state spending on public infrastructure by legally capping annual capital project costs per category. It does not create new programs but provides a framework for authorized spending during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, with no funding allocated for flood control projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.57B for infrastructure projects from General Fund, directly funding public infrastructure within state budget framework90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $100M specifically for transportation infrastructure projects in Pennsylvania's capital budget, directly funding the topic area per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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