HARRISBURG, PA — A Pennsylvania House bill that cleared the chamber unanimously Monday has become the focus of competing affordability proposals, with House Republicans highlighting a provision they say would eliminate roughly $1.7 billion in taxes collected through utility bills statewide.
House Bill 2224 passed the House by a 203-0 vote and includes language backed by House Republicans to eliminate Pennsylvania’s gross receipts tax on utility services, according to House Republican Leader Jesse Topper, R-Bedford/Fulton.
Republicans argue the repeal would reduce utility costs for households and businesses by removing a tax that is currently embedded in customer bills.
“House Republicans have been leading on affordability measures based in tax cuts that can immediately slash the bills paid by Pennsylvanians and put more money in the pockets of our working families,” Topper said.
The proposal comes as utility affordability has emerged as a major issue in Harrisburg amid rising energy costs and increasing concerns over household utility burdens.
According to Topper, eliminating the utility gross receipts tax would represent the largest tax cut in Pennsylvania history, reducing taxes paid by utility customers by an estimated $1.7 billion.
“Our tax cut proposal, included in House Bill 2224, will eliminate a significant tax paid by Pennsylvanians for using the utility services they rely on in nearly every aspect of their lives,” he said.
Topper said the measure reflects the House Republican Caucus’ broader approach to affordability, which centers on tax reductions rather than direct government spending initiatives.
“House Republicans inherently believe Pennsylvanians are better off when they have more of their own money to spend and the government gets out of their way in how they can spend it,” Topper said.
The legislation now advances for further consideration as lawmakers continue negotiations over energy affordability and utility-related costs.
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