Pennsylvania Capitol Reporter for Spotlight PA | Yankee Fan | Die Gedanken Sind Frei | scaruso[at]spotlightpa[dot]org
Stephen Caruso
New: Pennsylvania legislators are looking at either levying new taxes on, or axing tax exemptions for, Big Tech to bring in new revenue. But such efforts won't be enough to balance the budget, and must overcome powerful special interests to implement. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/06...
Stephen Caruso
News: House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery) said in an interview that he supports this proposal. "These are the biggest, most profitable companies that are bringing data centers and all of the challenges to our commonwealth. 100% they should pay their fair share."
The proposal passed with bipartisan support and opposition. Two Democrats voted no; 39 Republicans voted yes.
News: A bill to place a 5% gross receipts tax on companies that sell digital ads in Pennsylvania to fund property tax relief has passed the state House by a bipartisan 139-63 margin in the lead up to the state's June 30 budget deadline.
ICYMI: A bill requiring all Pennsylvania school districts to ban the use, but not possession, of cell phones by students by the start of the 2027 school year passed the state House 126-75. It goes to the state Senate, which already passed a similar proposal.
News: A GOP-controlled Pennsylvania Senate panel advanced a bill to implement an employee payroll tax funded state program guaranteeing 20 weeks of paid family leave for the commonwealth by a 9-2 margin. It now heads to the full chamber.
Inbox: Per the Department of Revenue, Pennsylvania enters June with $45 billion in revenue, about $1 billion more than projected but still billions short of what most spending plans call for.
News: A bill to levy a 5% tax on digital ad sales revenue in Pennsylvania has passed out of a Democratic-controlled House committee along party lines. Supporters say it raises millions from big tech companies but opponents say the cost will be passed on to consumers.
Due to an almost decade old deal, Philadelphia City Council faces a choice between paying $200 million now to buy the city's police HQ amid a bitter budget fight or pay double the rent in future years to an influential city landowner.
www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
Nine of Pennsylvania's biggest data center projects will be excluded from Shapiro's plan to tie fast tracked permits and a tax break to higher environmental and transparency rules because they were underway before his announcement. www.pennlive.com/news/2026/06...
Stephen Caruso
Stephen Caruso
Stephen Caruso
Stephen Caruso
Stephen Caruso
Stephen Caruso
Stephen Caruso
Stephen Caruso
Stephen Caruso
A tax break for data centers worth $2B by 2031 could be on the chopping block in PA, and lawmakers are floating digital ad taxes.
News: A bill to levy a 5% tax on digital ad sales revenue in Pennsylvania has passed out of a Democratic-controlled House committee along party lines. Supporters say it raises millions from big tech companies but opponents say the cost will be passed on to consumers.
