Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB177

Introduced
3/10/25  

Caption

Providing for the creation of keystone opportunity dairy zones to facilitate the economic development of Pennsylvania's dairy industry; authorizing expenditures; providing for tax exemptions, tax deductions, tax abatements and tax credits; creating additional obligations of the Commonwealth and local governmental units; prescribing powers and duties of certain State and local departments, agencies and officials; and imposing penalties.

Impact

If enacted, HB 177 will create defined geographic areas where businesses involved in dairy processing can operate under favorable tax conditions. Businesses that qualify must engage in the processing of Pennsylvania milk and adhere to specific requirements, such as creating jobs and making significant investments. This approach is expected to lead to increased dairy processing capacity, enhancing market competition and potentially boosting job creation within the local economies of the defined zones. The local and state governments will also have responsibilities in facilitating these zones' emergence and success.

Summary

House Bill 177, known as the Keystone Opportunity Dairy Zone Act, aims to establish designated areas that facilitate the growth and economic development of Pennsylvania's dairy industry. The bill provides mechanisms for creating Keystone Opportunity Dairy Zones which would benefit from various tax exemptions and credits aimed specifically at bolstering the dairy sector. The proposed legislation addresses the urgent need for economic support within the industry, recognizing the crucial role dairy farmers play in Pennsylvania's agricultural heritage and economy.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 177 appears generally supportive among stakeholders focused on the agricultural sector, particularly those advocating for the dairy industry. Proponents argue that the bill will revitalize local economies, enhance job prospects, and preserve the agricultural landscape of Pennsylvania. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the potential implications for local governance and control, as municipalities will need to accept the terms of the tax exemptions, which could limit local fiscal authority. This has created a nuanced debate between state-level economic initiatives and local autonomy.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the potential financial implications for local governments that might rely on tax revenues from properties within established Keystone Opportunity Dairy Zones. While proponents emphasize the economic opportunity presented by bolstering dairy operations, critics worry that the long-term benefits may not outweigh the immediate fiscal losses from tax exemptions. The debate is highlighted by differing views on the role of state versus local control in economic development, with some calling for more stringent oversight to ensure that community needs are met.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB384

Providing for the creation of keystone opportunity dairy zones to facilitate the economic development of Pennsylvania's dairy industry; authorizing expenditures; providing tax exemptions, tax deductions, tax abatements and tax credits; creating additional obligations of the Commonwealth and local governmental units; prescribing powers and duties of certain State and local departments, agencies and officials; and imposing penalties.

PA HB1453

Providing for food desert opportunity zones and for food desert opportunity zone tax credits; and imposing powers and duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Revenue.

PA HB891

Providing for Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit; establishing the Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

PA HB1446

Authorizing local taxing authorities to provide for tax exemptions for improvements and redevelopment of certain underutilized property ; establishing the Economic Development and Mixed-Use Re development Advisory Committee within the State Planning Board; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

PA HB904

Providing for school-to-work programs; establishing the CareerBound Program; providing for the CareerBound Tax Credit Program; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Labor and Industry.

PA HB500

In Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) Tax Credits, repealing provisions relating to local resource manufacturing, providing for Reliable Energy Investment Tax Credit, repealing provisions relating to Pennsylvania milk processing and providing for Pennsylvania milk processing; in regional clean hydrogen hubs, further providing for definitions, for eligibility, for application and approval of tax credit, for use of tax credits and for applicability; in semiconductor manufacturing and biomedical manufacturing and research, further providing for definitions and for application and approval of tax credit and providing for geothermal energy and for sustainable aviation fuel; and, in application of Prevailing Wage Act, further providing for definitions.

PA HB416

Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176), entitled "An act relating to the finances of the State government; providing for cancer control, prevention and research, for ambulatory surgical center data collection, for the Joint Underwriting Association, for entertainment business financial management firms, for private dam financial assurance and for reinstatement of item vetoes; providing for the settlement, assessment, collection, and lien of taxes, bonus, and all other accounts due the Commonwealth, the collection and recovery of fees and other money or property due or belonging to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, including escheated property and the proceeds of its sale, the custody and disbursement or other disposition of funds and securities belonging to or in the possession of the Commonwealth, and the settlement of claims against the Commonwealth, the resettlement of accounts and appeals to the courts, refunds of moneys erroneously paid to the Commonwealth, auditing the accounts of the Commonwealth and all agencies thereof, of all public officers collecting moneys payable to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, and all receipts of appropriations from the Commonwealth, authorizing the Commonwealth to issue tax anticipation notes to defray current expenses, implementing the provisions of section 7(a) of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania authorizing and restricting the incurring of certain debt and imposing penalties; affecting every department, board, commission, and officer of the State government, every political subdivision of the State, and certain officers of such subdivisions, every person, association, and corporation required to pay, assess, or collect taxes, or to make returns or reports under the laws imposing taxes for State purposes, or to pay license fees or other moneys to the Commonwealth, or any agency thereof, every State depository and every debtor or creditor of the Commonwealth," providing for Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program; in 911 Emergency Communication Services, further providing for surcharge; in Department of Revenue, further providing for exclusion from classes of income and providing for research and experimental expenditures and qualified production property, for report to General Assembly and for interest expense; in joint underwriting association, further providing for findings and for definitions, repealing provisions relating to sunset and providing for risk-based capital certification, for fund transfers, for association oversight and additional duties, for Joint Underwriting Association Board, for board meetings, for construction, for dissolution, for appropriations and for reports and hearings; in State Health Insurance Exchange Affordability Program, further providing for Exchange Affordability Assistance Account; providing for Rural Health Transformation Program; in Treasury Department, providing for waiver of interest, costs and fees; in procedure for disbursement of money from the State Treasury, further providing for use and appropriation of unused Commonwealth funds; in oil and gas wells, further providing for Oil and Gas Lease Fund; providing for advanced air mobility sites and for public transportation vehicles; in human services, further providing for resident care and related costs; in Attorney General, providing for home improvement contractor registration fee; providing for Rare Disease Advisory Council, for affordable housing tax credit and for working Pennsylvanians tax credit; in additional keystone opportunity expansion zones, providing for additional keystone opportunity expansion zones for certain counties of the fourth class; providing for additional extensions of keystone opportunity zones; in special funds, further providing for funding, for expiration and for other grants; in additional special funds and restricted accounts, further providing for establishment of special fund and account, for use of fund and for distributions from Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund and providing for refund of 2003 assessment by Insurance Department; in additional special funds and restricted accounts relating to Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund, further providing for deposits and providing for Property Tax Relief Fund; in general budget implementation, further providing Executive Offices, for Department of Community and Economic Development, for Department of Environmental Protection, for Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, for Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and for Commonwealth Financing Authority, providing for stenography services, further providing for surcharges, for Federal and Commonwealth use of forest land and for Multimodal Transportation Fund and providing for State Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, for interest transfers, for fund transfers and for miscellaneous provisions; in 2024-2025 budget implementation, further providing for Department of Education, for Department of Environmental Protection and for Department of Human Services; in Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development Program, further providing for scope of article, for definitions and for the Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development Program, providing for review and determination of specific permits and for State agency permits and further providing for construction; providing for electricity load forecast accountability, for 2025-2026 budget implementation and for 2025-2026 restrictions on appropriations for funds and accounts; making repeals; and making editorial changes.

PA HB1992

Providing for surplus donation farmer tax credit; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

PA SB626

Providing for skill video gaming; imposing duties on the Department of Revenue; providing for issuance of licenses for skill video gaming; imposing a tax and criminal and civil penalties; and providing for zoning.

PA HB482

Authorizing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Compact; providing for the form of the compact; and imposing additional powers and duties on the Governor, the Secretary of the Commonwealth and the Compact.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.