PA
Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB384

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB384

Introduced
3/17/25  

Caption

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.

Impact

The proposed legislation outlines the creation of up to 30 designated zones with specific requirements notably for Class A and Class B zones. These include substantial private investment levels and the creation of new jobs, which are expected to enhance local economies significantly. The bill emphasizes local governments' roles in administering these zones and requires compliance with various tax laws and agricultural standards to qualify for benefits, suggesting a coordinated effort between state and local entities to bolster the dairy sector.

Summary

Senate Bill 384, known as the Keystone Opportunity Dairy Zone Act, aims to boost Pennsylvania's dairy sector by establishing Keystone Opportunity Dairy Zones. These designated areas will facilitate economic development specifically for the dairy industry, providing a variety of tax incentives including exemptions, deductions, abatements, and credits. The bill's objective is to stimulate investment in dairy processing facilities, which are critical for the state's agricultural economy and provide local employment opportunities.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB 384 appears generally supportive, particularly among stakeholders in the agricultural and dairy processing sectors. Advocates argue that the bill represents a necessary step to ensure the sustainability and growth of Pennsylvania's dairy farming community. However, there could be concerns regarding the long-term effectiveness of such tax incentives and the administrative burdens it may place on local governments.

Contention

Notably, one area of contention may arise from the potential disparities in how benefits are distributed among different regions and types of dairy operations. Questions regarding the accountability measures in place for monitoring the effectiveness of designated zones will be important. The bill also carries implications for local jurisdictions that might have to realign their tax codes and administration practices to support the proposed changes. Ensuring that the initiative leads to real benefits without undermining the current local government structures is a critical consideration.

Latest SB384 Activity

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB995

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 SB781

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 HB592

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 HB2541

Authorizing local taxing authorities to provide for tax exemptions for improvements and redevelopment of churches, hospitals and schools; establishing the Economic Development and Mixed-Use Redevelopment Advisory Committee within the State Planning Board; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

PA HB882

Providing for school-to-work programs; establishing the CareerBound program; providing for a tax credit; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Labor and Industry.

PA HB1799

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

PA HB2420

Establishing the Keystone Fresh Program; providing for the Fresh Schools Grant Program, for the Keystone Producer Grant Program, for the Keystone Assistance Grant Program and for the administration of the Keystone Fresh Program by the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture; and establishing the Keystone Fresh Fund.

PA HB1241

Providing for the licensure of bodywork facilities; imposing powers and duties on the Department of State; and prescribing penalties.

PA SB728

Establishing the Keystone Saves Program, the Keystone Saves Program Fund, the Keystone Saves Program Administrative Fund and the Keystone Saves Program Advisory Board; and providing for powers and duties of the Treasury Department and the Department of Labor and Industry, for investment and fiduciary responsibilities and for program implementation.

PA SB961

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in keystone opportunity zones, further providing for qualified businesses.

Similar Bills

PA HB177

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.

PA HB995

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 SB781

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 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 HB1649

Eliminating school district property taxes; imposing county and school district taxes; establishing the School District Emergency Fund and the School District Property Tax Elimination Fund; consolidating Articles II and III of the Tax Reform Code of 1971; in preliminary provisions relating to sales and use tax, providing for definitions; in taxation generally relating to sales and use tax, providing for exclusions and for transfer to county sales and use tax accounts; in preliminary provisions relating to personal income tax, providing for definitions; and making repeals.

PA HB1219

In personal income tax, further providing for classes of income and for special tax provisions for poverty and providing for alternative special tax provisions for poverty; in corporate net income tax, further providing for definitions, for imposition of tax, for reports and payment of tax, for consolidated reports and for manufacturing innovation and reinvestment deduction; in realty transfer tax, further providing for transfer of tax; in tax credit and tax benefit administration, further providing for definitions; in entertainment production tax credit, further providing for definitions, for credit for qualified film production expenses, for carryover, carryback and assignment of credit and for limitations; in Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) tax credits, providing for biotechnology; in neighborhood assistance tax credit, further providing for tax credit and for grant of tax credit; providing for expanded neighborhood improvement zones; in Pennsylvania Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit Program, further providing for credit for child and dependent care employment-related expenses; providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund; and, in general provisions, further providing for underpayment of estimated tax, for method of filing and for allocation of tax credits.

PA HB899

Providing for expanded neighborhood improvement zones.

PA HB1300

In emergency COVID-19 response, providing for