Lawmakers Considering $50.8 Billion Pennsylvania State Budget
Pennsylvania lawmakers have reached a $50.85 billion state budget deal that includes provisions impacting data centers. The state Senate passed a bill allowing local governments to implement 18-month moratoriums on data center zoning and planning applications. The budget deal also considers eliminating a tax break on internal equipment for data center facilities.
Pennsylvania lawmakers have reached a $50.85 billion state budget deal, expected to be voted on Sunday after an 11-day delay past the June 30th deadline. The spending plan, a 1.5% increase from last year, is $2.4 billion less than Governor Josh Shapiro's initial proposal.
Key components of the deal include a $565 million increase for education funding, largely in response to a 2023 state Supreme Court ruling on school funding, and cost-of-living adjustments for public school teachers who retired before 2001. Retirement updates for municipal police and fire are also part of the agreement.
Notably, the budget addresses data center regulations, with the state Senate passing a bill that would enable local governments to impose an 18-month moratorium on zoning and planning applications for data center projects. The deal also considers eliminating an existing tax break on internal equipment for data center facilities. Issues such as minimum wage updates, legislative clarity on skill games, and a proposed $1 billion bond for housing were not included.