House agrees to EDGE tax package after hours of amendment votes

The Pennsylvania House on May 13 agreed to House Bill 500, an economic development tax package often referred to on the floor as the PA EDGE proposal, after adopting a series of technical and substantive amendments and rejecting several others.

Supporters said the bill would spur investment and job creation; opponents raised concerns about environmental standards, the bill’s scope and oversight. The session on HB 500 included votes on multiple amendments ranging from hydrogen and dairy-processing language to automatic sunsets and program audits.

House Bill 500 was called up from the calendar at 1:04 p.m. and debated across the afternoon. Representative Matt C. (sponsor of one floor amendment) won adoption of amendment a00691 clarifying that project facilities may either use or purchase clean hydrogen produced within the Commonwealth (vote recorded as ayes 203, nays 0). The House also adopted amendments that changed eligibility…