The Pennsylvania House of Representatives returns to legislative session this week. The PA Chamber is monitoring the following legislation with the potential to impact the state’s business community.

House Bill 1138 (Eliminating Cell Phone Taxes)

Following its committee passage last week, the full House of Representatives may soon vote on H.B. 1138, exempting cell phone service from the state’s Sales and Use Tax (SUT) and Gross Receipts Tax (GRT).

In addition to creating greater certainty for the business community, the legislation would create a more welcoming tax environment with respect to telecommunications services, which will encourage additional private capital investment into the deployment and adoption of mobile communications technology.

We supported this legislation last week (CLICK HERE for our memo), which later cleared the House Finance Committee in a 12-9 vote.

House Bill 1140 (Health Insurance Mandate Expansion)

This week, the House Insurance Committee is scheduled to consider H.B. 1140, which would establish a state-specific health insurance coverage mandate for contraceptives.

Federal law already requires insurance plans to cover (without co-pay) at least one of each of the 18 FDA-approved contraceptive methods, as prescribed by a doctor. H.B. 1140 would expand this mandate, by requiring coverage of all contraceptives, including those that have not been approved by the FDA, those that have not been prescribed by a doctor, and over-the-counter contraceptives. This will significantly increase costs for employers and those purchasing insurance in the individual market.

The committee meeting is set for this Wednesday, June 14, at 10:00 a.m.