The Pennsylvania House has passed a bill to designate Hershey's Kiss as the official state candy. House Bill 1030, sponsored by Representative Thomas Mehaffie, highlights the iconic status of Hershey's Kisses and their economic significance to Pennsylvania. Hershey produces over seventy million Kisses daily, and the company supports various sectors of the state's economy, including the dairy industry. The bill passed the House with a vote of 150-53 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The bill has faced opposition due to concerns about favoring a single company. State Senator Lisa Boscola has expressed her intention to introduce a bill to make Peeps, produced by Just Born Inc. in Bethlehem, the official state candy. However, Boscola's bill has not yet been introduced. The Hershey Kiss bill has been proposed multiple times in the past but has never advanced this far in the legislative process.
If the Senate approves the bill, Hershey's Kisses will become the official state candy as long as the Hershey Company remains in Pennsylvania. The bill's supporters emphasize the global reach of Hershey products, which are sold in eighty-five countries worldwide.
