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The Weekly Roundup
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Bill to Keep Tax Code on Par with Technology
To keep up with the new ways people book overnight lodging, the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee approved my legislation to ensure online rental websites, such as Airbnb and Homeaway, are paying their taxes like their competitors.
As it stands now, bed and breakfasts and hotels are taxed the room tax imposed by counties, but there is no way to ensure the newly created rental sites are registering lodgings to ensure they are also paying the taxes. This bill does not create any new taxes. Rather, it ensures our tax code keeps up with ever-evolving technology.
House Bill 1810 would require online hosting platforms that facilitate the booking of overnight lodging, such as Airbnb and HomeAway, to register with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. The registration would allow counties and state government to better collect the hotel occupancy taxes from patrons, and hosting platforms would not be able to facilitate the booking of lodging until they are registered.
The bill now goes to the full House for a vote.
To read more about this bill, click here.
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Remembering Our Heroes
Monday, May 28, is Memorial Day, honoring the men and women who have sacrificed their lives serving in our nation’s military. More than 1.1 million Americans have died in wars in which the United States entered, including nearly 500,000 in the Civil War and 405,000 in World War II. For more information on Memorial Day and its history, click here.
This weekend also kicks off the travel season for Pennsylvanians. Travelers can log onto 511PA.com to check current traffic impacts from construction, traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 770 traffic cameras. The service is free and available 24 hours a day.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
Travelers are always reminded to buckle up, put their phones away and stay sober when behind the wheel.
In other PennDOT news, driver license and photo centers will be closed Saturday, May 26, through Monday, May 28, for the holiday. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, dmv.pa.gov.
Additionally, my office will be closing at 2 p.m. Friday, May 25, will be closed Monday, May 28, but will reopen on Tuesday.
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Making Eagle Scout
I want to congratulate William Strassner on reaching the rank of Eagle Scout. William, who is with Boy Scout Troop 473, spent over 100 hours restoring a 150-year-old silt retaining pond at the Eckley E. Coxe Historic Property. William, a student at Hazelton STEM School, will attend Penn State this fall to major in accounting and math.
Way to go, William!
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PUC Orders Rate Reduction
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) issued an order, requiring 17 major electric, natural gas and water and wastewater utilities to return $320 million per year to consumers. To read more about the order, click here.
The refunds are a direct result of the significant decrease in federal corporate tax rates and other tax changes under the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law last year, which lowered the tax liability of many utility companies. Republicans in the state House strongly urged the PUC to order the companies to pass along the savings to consumers.
To find out the refund percentage you may receive, click here.
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Fish for Free on Sunday
Anglers fishing in Pennsylvania’s waterways this weekend are encouraged to take advantage of the annual Fish for Free Day on Sunday, May 27. As part of this program from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), anyone (resident or non-resident) can legally fish on all Pennsylvania waterways without a license. All other fishing regulations will still apply.
To make the fishing experience more convenient on the Fish-for-Free days, people can borrow equipment from dozens of fishing tackle loaner sites across the state. Many of the sites are right at state parks, which are always a popular place for visitors during the Memorial Day weekend. Loaner sites are also available at county parks and some public libraries. Click here for the list of loaner sites.
This is the first of two dates set by the PFBC to enhance fishing opportunities. The next day is Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4.
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| Office Locations |
| 110 North Third Street, 2nd Floor, Lehighton, PA 18235 | (610) 377-6363 |
| 2681 State Route 903, Unit 3, Albrightsville, PA 18210 | (570) 722-8700 |
| Room 403 Irvis Office Building, PO Box 202122, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2122 | (717) 260-6139 |
| Email: dheffley@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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