Community, Economic & Recreational Development 2025-2026

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The Senate Communications and Technology Committee met on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 and reported out the following bills:

SB 995 (Gebhard) – Increases the prize limits for games of chance offered by club licensees through the Small Games of Chance Act.

  • The bill was reported out unanimously.

SB 465 (Laughlin) – Changes the distribution of proceeds for money earned by club licensees through the Small Games of Chance Act.

  • The bill was reported out unanimously.

SB 330 (Brooks) – Changes the Sports Raffle Charities Act to require 5% of the proceeds that goes toward the non-profit to be remitted to the State Treasurer to be used to fund grants issued by the Office of State Fire Commissioner.

  • The bill was reported out by a vote of 12-1 with Senator Fontana voting in the negative.

HB 1424 (Takac) – Clarifies that local authorities shall not have the authority to levy an amusement or admissions tax on the admission to a recreational campground.

  • The bill was reported out of by a vote of 12-1 with Senator Muth voting in the negative.

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee met on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 to consider the following bills:

Senate Bill 1248, P.N. 1546 (Bartolotta)- Designates rye whiskey as the official state spirit of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

  • Reported as committed by a vote of 10-1 with Sen. Muth voting in the negative.  

Senate Bill 1410, P.N. 1864 (Phillips-Hill)- Freestanding Act prohibiting certain terms in procurement contracts entered into by Commonwealth parties.

  • Reported as committed unanimously.

House Bill 513, P.N. 2703 (Davanzo)- Freestanding act to provide for the Pennsylvania State Coordinate System.

  • A03952 (Dush)- Technical amendment that moves the language into Title 76 (Weights, Measures and Standards).
    • Adopted unanimously.
  • Reported as amended unanimously.

House Bill 2559, P.N. 3648 (Smith-Wade-El)- Land conveyance legislation providing for conveyances in Lancaster, Philadelphia, Centre, Cumberland, and Montour Counties.

  • A04083 (Dush)- Provides for proceeds in the conveyance of Peace Church, inserts an additional deed restriction in the conveyance of the former Philadelphia Nursing Home, adds additional conveyances for the Hermitage Readiness Center, the Nanticoke Readiness Center, and a well site in Penn Township, Snyder County, removes the conveyance located in Benner Township, and provides for a land and restriction swap in Sandy Creek Township, Mercer County.
    • Amendment was adopted by a vote of 10-1 with Sen. Muth voting in the negative.
  • Reported as amended by a vote of 10-1 with Sen. Muth voting in the negative.  

House Bill 36, P.N. 15 (Conklin)- Amends Act 175 of 1929, known as the Administrative Code, to authorize enforcement officers within the office of the State Inspector General to carry firearms in the performance of duties.

  • Reported as committed unanimously.

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee met on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 and reported out the following bills:

Senate Bill 1105 (Brown) which provided for the reporting of transaction information regarding hotel room rental taxes imposed by third through eighth class counties and providing for penalties on operators and booking agents.

  • The bill was amended with a gut and replace amendment that largely aligns definition language in the county hotel room rental tax with the state hotel occupancy tax, replicates the requirement for booking agents to collect and remit taxes as required under the state hotel occupancy tax, adds county-level recordkeeping and confidentiality provisions and requires counties to publicly post tax ordinances.  The amendment and the bill as amended both passed 12-2 (Coleman, Gebhard voting no).

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee met on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 and considered the following bills:

SR 128 (Phillips-Hill) encourages DCED to create and promote a Salty and Sweet Trail.  The resolution passed unanimously.

HB 1030 designates the Hershey’s Kiss as the official state candy in the Commonwealth.  The bill passed as amended 12-1.

  • Amendment A01908 was adopted by a vote of 12-1.  

SB 995 provides for an increase in the weekly prize limit cap for eligible organizations under the Small Games of Chance Act from $35,000 to $60,000.  The bill passed 12-1. 

  • The committee went OVER Amendment A02175, which provided for e-tabs in the Small Games of Chance Act.  It was not considered today.

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee met on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 and considered the following bills:

SB 478 (Farry/Pennycuick) – Establishes the Office of Employee Ownership within DCED and the Main Street Employee Ownership Grant Program

  • Amendment A00768  – Establishes the Employee Ownership Advisory Board and clarifies grants and eligibility under the act
  • The amendment passed unanimously and the bill as amended passed 13-1, with Senator Coleman voting in the negative.

The committee did not consider SB 783 (Robinson) as was originally scheduled.

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee met on Wednesday, June 10, 2025 and considered the following bills:

Senate Bill 73 (Baker) – Amends the State Lottery Law to provide that certain personal information of lottery prize winners of $100,000 or more is confidential and not considered public record unless they choose to voluntarily waive confidentiality.

  • Passed unanimously

Senate Bill 330 (Brooks) – Amends the Sports Raffle Charities Act to specify that 5% of the funds to be distributed for charitable purposes from Major League and Collegiate Sporting Event 50/50 Raffles shall be used to fund certain grants for fire companies and EMS issued by the Office of State Fire Commissioner.

  • The committee went OVER the bill

Senate Bill 398 (Brooks) – Amends the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to establish a pilot program that allows fire companies to conduct no more than two online raffles per year. The provision expires on Dec. 31, 2026.

  • Passed unanimously

Senate Bill 416 (Robinson/Fontana) – Amends the Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to allow licensed organizations to accept electronic payment for fundraising, including raffle tickets.

  • Passed unanimously

Senate Bill 665 (Langerholc) – Amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) to establish Safe Exchange Zones for goods purchased online and child custody exchanges.

  • Passed unanimously

Senate Bill 766 (Brown) – Amends the Human Services Code regarding summer camp eligibility.

  • Passed unanimously

Senate Bill 840 (Laughlin) – Amends Title 4 (Amusements) to reduce the 1,500 minimum slot machines requirement for Category 1 and 2 licensed facilities to 1,000.

  • Passed on a party line vote 9-5

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee met on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 and considered the following bills:

Senate Bill 666 (Laughlin) – Removes the minimum slot requirement for Category 1, 2, and 3 casinos. The bill was reported from committee on a party line vote of 9-5. 

    Senator Anthony Williams

    Senator Anthony Williams

    Committee Chair