Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB711

Introduced
5/12/25  

Caption

Providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund transfers and increases.

Impact

The implications of SB711 on state laws could be significant, particularly for local transportation organizations. By permitting annual financial assistance to exceed prior allocations by more than 20% and providing safeguards against reductions in local financial commitments for five years starting from the fiscal year 2025-2026, the bill seeks to empower local agencies. This increased fiscal flexibility could lead to improvements in services, expansions of transit options, and enhanced infrastructure development, thereby addressing historically underfunded areas within public transportation systems in Pennsylvania.

Summary

Senate Bill 711, known as the Public Transportation Trust Fund Transfer and Increase Act, aims to enhance financial support for public transportation in Pennsylvania through targeted funding increases and transfers. The bill proposes that 6.15% of the revenue collected under the Tax Reform Code of 1971 be allocated to the Public Transportation Trust Fund on a monthly basis. This steady funding mechanism is intended to secure sustained investment in local transportation systems across the state, ensuring they are adequately resourced to meet the needs of residents and commuters alike.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding SB711 appears to be largely positive among proponents who advocate for improved public transportation systems. Supporters view the bill as a vital step toward investing in infrastructure that supports economic growth, enhances mobility for all residents, and reduces reliance on personal vehicles. However, there may be some concerns regarding the sufficiency of the funding mechanism and whether the increase in funding will match the growing transportation demands representing a more complex dynamic among various stakeholders, including local governments and transportation agencies.

Contention

Notably, there could be contention surrounding the allocation of funds and whether this increase is sufficient to address the gaps in funding across Pennsylvania’s transportation network. Some critics may argue that while the bill highlights significant funding increases, it does not adequately address the broader systemic issues that affect public transportation in rural and underserved urban areas. Debates may also focus on how these funding shifts may impact local governance and decision-making processes within transportation organizations, raising questions about the equity of transportation access across different regions.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB2625

Providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund transfers and increases.

PA SB654

In sales and use tax, further providing for

PA HB1307

In taxation for public transportation, further providing for local financial support; and, in fees, further providing for fee for local use.

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 HB902

In transportation network companies, further providing for impoundment of vehicles, repealing provisions relating to assessment and providing for payment of assessment; in taxation for public transportation, further providing for local financial support; in fees, further providing for fee for local use; and imposing duties on the Department of Revenue and the Department of Transportation.

PA HB2042

In revenues, providing for audits of Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Trust Fund; in administration and enforcement, further providing for investigations and enforcement; in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in administration, further providing for records and confidentiality of information; in application and licensure, further providing for establishment licenses, for license or permit prohibition, for issuance and renewal and for conditional licenses; in operation, further providing for testing and certification of terminals and for video gaming limitations, providing for hours of operation and further providing for terminal placement agreements and for compulsive and problem gambling; in enforcement, further providing for investigations and enforcement; in revenues, further providing for distribution of local share, for regulatory assessments and for transfers from Video Gaming Fund; in ethics, further providing for political influence; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for the offense of gambling devices, gambling, etc.; providing for implementation; and making a repeal.

PA HB1300

In emergency COVID-19 response, providing for

PA SB760

In general budget implementation, further providing for Multimodal Transportation Fund.

PA HB1292

In oil and gas wells, further providing for definitions and for Oil and Gas Lease Fund and providing for Public Natural Resources Trust Fund.

PA HB2388

In personal income tax, further providing for imposition of tax; in gross receipts tax, further providing for imposition of tax, providing for transfers to Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund and further providing for establishment of revenue-neutral reconciliation; eliminating the tax imposed upon each dollar of the gross receipts received from the sales of electric energy; providing for the benefit of consumers and for a civil penalty; and making a repeal.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.