Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB1164

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/24/26
• Refer: 2/24/26

Caption

Making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General.

Summary

SB1164 is a fiscal appropriation bill that provides $7,805,000 from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General for fiscal year 2026-2027. The measure is limited in scope: it does not create new regulatory authority or change substantive consumer law, but instead funds the ongoing operations of the Office of Consumer Advocate. The Office of Consumer Advocate represents the interests of utility consumers in proceedings before state and federal regulatory bodies, so the appropriation is intended to support that advocacy function for the coming fiscal year. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, or immediately if later, and is framed as a straightforward budgetary authorization rather than a policy reform measure.

Impact

SB1164 would amend state spending authority by directing a specific appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General. Its practical effect is to maintain funding for the office’s operations during fiscal year 2026-2027, supporting consumer representation in utility-related matters and related administrative functions. It does not alter existing statutes governing consumer protection or utility regulation, but it does affect the budgetary resources available to the Attorney General’s consumer advocacy function.

Sentiment

Because the bill is a targeted appropriation with no committee transcript or recorded votes available, there is no documented debate or opposition in the provided materials. The bill’s narrow purpose and routine funding structure suggest it is likely to be viewed as a standard support measure for consumer advocacy operations rather than a controversial policy proposal.

Contention

No specific points of contention are identified in the available record. Potential areas of interest, if debated, would likely concern the size of the appropriation, the use of restricted revenue rather than the General Fund broadly, and the adequacy of funding for the Office of Consumer Advocate. However, the provided materials do not show any lawmakers, stakeholders, or committees taking a formal position for or against the bill.