Committee hears bill to give $100 tax credit to processors who donate venison

Representative Eddie Pashinski introduced House Bill 21-93 to create a tax credit for deer processors who accept donated venison that is then distributed to food banks.

"House Bill 21-93 creates a Pennsylvania tax credit for deer processors who process deer for free when the meat is donated to a charity that feeds the hungry," Pashinski told the committee, citing recent donation totals and calling the credit "a responsible incentive for participation without creating a specific burden on the Department of Revenue." As written in testimony, the credit would provide $100 per donated deer, cap the benefit at $5,000 per processor per year, and set an overall state cap of $200,000 per fiscal year. The bill includes eligibility and verification requirements, including Pennsylvania Game Commission tag tracking to prevent double counting.

Randy Ferguson, executive director of Hunters Sharing the Harvest Pennsylvania, described the program’s scale and financing model: "Almost 300,000 pounds of venison donated in the last hunting season alone," he said, and noted the organization reimburses participating processors and raises funds each year to cover processing costs. Ferguson said a tax credit could reduce program costs and help sustain growth.

Dan Sneath, state director for policy and legislative affairs at Hunter Nation, described personal experience with the program and affirmed program protocols. Committee members raised public-health questions about chronic wasting disease (CWD). Ferguson said the program requires quarantine and testing for deer harvested within CWD management areas and that the program generally does not accept roadkill except when law enforcement dispatches the animal directly to a processor.

Chairmen indicated they plan to place the bill on the committee’s next voting agenda; Chairman Samuelson said he intends to put HB21-93 on the agenda for the June 16 voting meeting.