Hill-Evans bill to maintain state access to federal tax information is headed to governor’s desk
Rep. Carol Hill-Evans October 21, 2026
HARRISBURG, Oct. 21 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate voted to pass a bill introduced by state Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, D-York, that would bring Pennsylvania law into compliance with updated requirements for maintaining access to highly sensitive federal tax information.
Previously, Pennsylvania law required agencies to conduct enhanced criminal background checks every 10 years for employees who have access to federal tax information. Since then, the IRS has revised its standards and now requires these checks every five years.
House Bill 2187 aligns Pennsylvania law with federal standards, ensures continued compliance, and protects vital state operations that depend on access to this data.
“Losing access to this data could have jeopardized the ability of multiple state agencies to carry out their responsibilities,” said Hill-Evans, chair of the State Government Committee. “By updating our law to reflect current federal standards, we are helping safeguard this information while ensuring state agencies can continue providing the essential services Pennsylvanians rely on.”
More than 10,000 Pennsylvania employees have responsibilities that involve access to federal tax information, and that access enables critical state functions, including tax administration and enforcement, child-support enforcement, and certain welfare and program-integrity activities.
“I’d like to thank my colleagues in the House and the Senate for their support in forwarding this legislation,” said Hill-Evans. “I’m grateful that we were able to work together to bring Pennsylvania law in line with federal standards.”
The bill passed the state Senate unanimously. It now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.