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House Finance Committee hears proposal for $100 Pennsylvania teacher tax credit
Summary
Lawmakers and educators testified on House Bill 1,900, which would provide a $100 state tax credit to teachers for out‑of‑pocket classroom expenses; the Department of Revenue estimated roughly 125,592 eligible teachers and a fiscal cost of about $12.5 million.
The House Finance Committee met in an informational hearing to consider House Bill 1,900, a proposal to create a Pennsylvania state tax credit of up to $100 for teachers who pay for classroom supplies and equipment out of pocket.
Representative Nikki Rivera, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the measure would “supplement the federal level. It would provide a $100 tax credit to teachers who spend their own money on classroom supplies and equipment.” Rivera said many teachers spend substantial personal funds on classroom libraries, decorations, snacks and other items to maintain a productive learning environment.
The bill’s supporters told the committee the credit would be modest financially but meaningful politically and practically. Nelson Suarez, a recently retired teacher and Teach Plus Pennsylvania policy senior fellow, said, “A state tax credit for these expenses would be meaningful support for teachers.” Suarez told the committee he regularly reached the federal educator deduction cap and that a majority of surveyed teachers report spending more than $100 per year out of pocket.
Why it matters: Committee members were shown a fiscal estimate from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue that the number of potentially eligible teachers is about 125,592, producing an estimated fiscal cost in the range of $12,500,000. Chairman Samuelson summarized the fiscal note for the committee, and noted that the federal educator deduction remains available but yields much smaller direct savings for many teachers.
Committee discussion mixed practical questions about local supply drives and district-level purchasing with concern for low-income districts. Representative Rossi asked whether community donation drives and shared school resources already cover needs; Rivera and Suarez responded that while sharing and donations occur in some districts, many districts still experience recurring shortfalls and teachers in underfunded areas often buy basics themselves. Representative Inglis, a former educator, voiced support and said she personally observed the out‑of‑pocket spending that the bill seeks to address.
Next steps: Chairman Samuelson said he intends to bring the bill up at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 28, and noted an amendment deadline of 1:00 p.m. the day before (October 27). No formal committee vote was taken during the informational session.
