Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB416

Introduced
1/30/25  
Refer
1/30/25  
Refer
4/9/25  
Report Pass
4/22/25  
Engrossed
4/22/25  
Refer
4/28/25  
Refer
6/11/25  
Report Pass
11/12/25  
Refer
11/12/25  
Report Pass
11/12/25  
Enrolled
11/12/25  
Chaptered
11/12/25  

Caption

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.

Impact

The bill is expected to significantly impact state laws, notably in the areas of tax collection and distribution. By amending existing tax codes, HB416 aligns Pennsylvania's tax laws with modern standards while providing exemptions that could reshape the fiscal landscape for affected individuals. Furthermore, the provisions for additional Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones aim to incentivize economic growth in specific areas, promoting business development and job creation. This effort reflects a strategic move to rejuvenate economically distressed regions, specifically targeting counties experiencing slower economic recoveries.

Summary

House Bill 416 is a comprehensive legislative measure that aims to amend various existing acts to address multiple areas including tax reforms, health care, and infrastructure. One notable component is the establishment of a Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program, which seeks to enhance workforce stability within the child care sector, addressing ongoing shortages and ensuring that child care facilities can maintain high-quality services. Additionally, the bill introduces amendments to taxation related to personal income, expanding the list of income classes exempted from taxation, which includes reparations for Holocaust survivors, thus demonstrating a commitment to social equity.

Contention

Despite its broad ambitions, HB416 has faced criticisms regarding the potential overreach of state authority, particularly in terms of how the new regulations might affect local governance. Opponents argue that centralizing certain powers could hinder municipalities' abilities to respond to local needs effectively. Key points of contention lie in balancing state-wide economic priorities and local autonomy, especially in environmental and public health initiatives. The discussions surrounding the bill have revealed divisions between promoting uniformity in regulations and preserving local governments' decision-making powers.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB2141

In oil and gas wells, further providing for Oil and Gas Lease Fund; and, in general budget implementation, further providing for Federal and Commonwealth use of forest land.

PA HB759

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; and, in county boards of elections, further providing for powers and duties of county boards.

PA HB239

In governance of the system, further providing for costs; in budget and finance, further providing for Commonwealth portion of fines, etc; and, in facilities and supplies, further providing for deposits into account.

PA HB1374

In Commonwealth agency fees, further providing for Department of Health.

PA HB2317

In Commonwealth agency fees, further providing for Department of Labor and Industry to collect fees.

PA HB2327

In the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth; and, in county boards of elections, further providing for powers and duties of county boards.

PA HB909

In provisions relating to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for powers and duties of the Secretary of the Commonwealth and for explanation of ballot question; and, in ballots, further providing for form of official election ballot.

PA HB861

In additional special funds and restricted accounts, further providing for distributions from Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund.

PA HB791

In Commonwealth services, further providing for Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.

PA HB856

In sales and use tax, further providing for assessment; in personal income tax, further providing for assessment; in corporate net income tax, further providing for assessments; in procedure and administration, further providing for petition for reassessment; and, in general provisions, further providing for petitions for refunds and providing for compromise or adjustment of assessments.

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PA HB330

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PA HB2052

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PA HB703

A Joint Resolution proposing integrated amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for the election and qualifications of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

PA SB189

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PA HB2430

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PA HB1966

In bases of jurisdiction and interstate and international procedure, further providing for assistance to tribunals and litigants outside this Commonwealth with respect to service and for issuance of subpoena; in commencement of proceedings, further providing for authority of officers of another state to arrest in this Commonwealth; and, in detainers and extradition, further providing for definitions, for duty of Governor with respect to fugitives from justice and for presigned waiver of extradition.

PA SB881

In bases of jurisdiction and interstate and international procedure, further providing for assistance to tribunals and litigants outside this Commonwealth with respect to service and for issuance of subpoena; in commencement of proceedings, further providing for authority of officers of another state to arrest in this Commonwealth; and, in detainers and extradition, further providing for definitions, for duty of Governor with respect to fugitives from justice and for presigned waiver of extradition.