Final State Budget Bills Passed, Go To The Governor

On December 13, the General Assembly gave final approval to and sent to the Governor Fiscal Code, Administrative Code, Tax Code and Education Code bills completing action on the 2023-24 state budget. 

Fiscal Code

The General Assembly gave final approval to House Bill 1300 making changes to the Fiscal Code to implement the state budget agreement.  [House Fiscal Note & Summary]

The bill’s environmental provisions include--

-- Paying Debt Service: Authorizing the transfer of $10.4 million from the Personal Income Tax to the Environmental Stewardship Fund to pay the debt service for Growing Greener bonds (page 261);

-- No Fund Transfers For Debt Service: Eliminating the $10.5 million Oil & Gas Lease Fund transfer to the Marcellus Legacy Fund and then to the Environmental Stewardship Fund to pay the debt service (page 178); 

--  New Keystone Zone Project: Authorizes an additional Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone using micro-grid power sources from renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, including solar, wind, natural gas or biomass [provisions tailored for a specific local project] (page 192);

-- New Keystone Zone Project: Authorizes an additional Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone from land impacted by current or former mining operations with tax benefits extending  for a period of 15 years from the time production or generation of renewable energy is commenced [provisions tailored for a specific local project] (page 194);

-- No Dust Control Funds For Game Commission: Bans the use of money appropriated from the Motor License Fund to the Department of Agriculture for mitigation of dust and sediment control on land owned by the Game Commission (page 213);

-- No Dust Control Funds For Game Commission: Bans the use of money appropriated from the Motor License Fund for mitigation of dust and sediment pollution from DCNR parks and forestry roads on land owned by the Game Commission [$7 million] (page 213);

-- Regional ATV Pilot: Require DCNR to provide access to Regional ATV Pilot Area from Friday before Memorial Day to the last weekend in September in 2024 and 2025 (page 213);

-- Increase In-Lieu Of Tax Payments: Increases in-lieu of tax payments for DCNR lands (page 221); and

-- Surface Mining Fund Transfer: Authorizes transfer of $4 million from Personal Income Tax to the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Fund (page 262).

Click Here for a summary of the bill.  The bill was signed into law as Act 34.

Other Final Budget Bills

-- Administrative Code: Senate Bill 941. Signed into law as Act 66.

-- Tax Code: Senate Bill 815 [House Fiscal Note & Summary]. Signed into law as Act 64.

-- Education Code: House Bill 301 [House Fiscal Note & Summary] - Signed into law as Act 33

NewsClips:

-- Spotlight PA: Budget Boost To Payments For DCNR-Owned Land Will Benefit Rural PA Counties

-- PennLive: Legislature Finalizes, Shapiro Signs Deal On Remaining PA Budget Issues

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Signs Final Budget bill After Late Night Votes In Legislature

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: PA Lawmakers Wrap Up 2023-24 State Budget

Related Articles -  Budget:

-- House Passes $45.5 Billion State Budget Including Funding For More Staff At DEP; Shapiro To Veto Voucher Funding Wanted By Republicans; Bill Must Still Be Signed In Senate To Be Presented To The Governor  [PaEN]

-- DCNR: New Budget Follows Thru On Commitments To Protect State Parks & Forests And Spur Economic Development Thru Outdoor Recreation [PaEN]

Related Article:

-- House Passes Bill Requiring Registration Of Cryptocurrency Mining Operations, Impact Study  [PaEN]

[Posted: December 14, 2023]  PA Environment Digest