This bill amends Pennsylvania's existing Dog Law to create a new Lost and Found Dog Registry managed by the state Department of Agriculture. The registry will collect information about dogs reported as lost or found by residents or visitors to the Commonwealth, accessible through a 24-hour phone line and a free public website. Dog owners or individuals who find dogs can submit reports without fees, and the department will compile and share this information online to help reunite lost pets with their owners. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.
This Pennsylvania bill establishes a statewide paid parental leave program requiring employers to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child within the first year. Eligible employees must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months and completed 1,250 hours of service in the previous year, and they will receive their full pre-leave pay rate during the leave period. The Department of Labor and Industry will administer the program, enforce compliance through complaints and penalties, and maintain a Paid Parental Leave Account to fund the initiative. Additionally, the bill creates a Small Business Grant Program to assist smaller employers with the costs of providing paid parental leave, and requires employers to notify employees about their rights and post information about the program in the workplace.
This bill changes the start date for Pennsylvania's regular antlered deer hunting season to the first Monday after Thanksgiving. It directly affects hunters and wildlife management regulations by establishing a specific calendar date for when the season opens. The change is implemented through an amendment to Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and will take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.
This bill designates a specific bridge on Pennsylvania Route 601 in Paint Borough, Somerset County, as the Staff Sergeant John P. Parks Memorial Bridge in honor of a local World War II veteran. The legislation requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain official signs displaying the new name for traffic traveling in both directions. The bill includes background information about Staff Sergeant Parks, detailing his military service, heroic actions in France, and the awards he received during his deployment. This is a commemorative measure that formally recognizes Parks' legacy through a permanent change to the bridge's official name.
This bill proposes to update Pennsylvania's hunting regulations by clarifying restrictions on semiautomatic firearms used for big game hunting. The key provision would allow semiautomatic firearms only when modified to hold one shell in the chamber and no more than five shells in a magazine, with a specific exception for individuals who have suffered an amputation or lost the total use of one or both hands. The legislation directly affects hunters and firearm manufacturers by defining what equipment is permitted during hunting seasons. If passed, the changes would take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.
This bill creates the PA WORKS Scholarship Grant Program and a trade career-incentive tax credit for Pennsylvania residents pursuing specific skilled trade careers in higher education. The scholarship provides up to $5,000 per academic year to students enrolled in approved courses such as carpentry, welding, plumbing, or electrical work, provided they maintain satisfactory academic progress and have not yet earned a bachelor's degree. Recipients must agree to live and work in Pennsylvania for 36 months in an in-demand occupation after completing their degree, with the scholarship amount prorated based on years of service and requiring repayment if they fail to meet these requirements. Additionally, the bill establishes a tax credit for business firms that hire graduates from these trade programs, though specific credit amounts and eligibility details are not fully detailed in the provided text.
HB 2161 requires public utilities in Pennsylvania to offer municipalities a written agreement before removing trees owned by cities or townships for service needs. If accepted, the utility must plant replacement trees within two years, using a specific method: measuring the removed tree’s size at breast height, halving that value, and planting that many two-inch replacement trees. Municipalities can also choose to accept a fee equal to the tree’s assessed value from a certified arborist instead of requiring new planting. This bill directly affects public utilities (like power or gas companies) and local governments that own trees along utility infrastructure.
SB 124 (Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code amendment) allows Pennsylvania taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in unreimbursed expenses related to donating a human organ (such as liver, kidney, or bone marrow) for transplantation. The deduction covers travel, lodging, lost wages, and medical costs incurred during the donation, but only for the tax year the transplant occurred and only once per lifetime. It does not apply to tax years before 2025 and cannot reduce taxable income below zero. This provision directly affects individuals who donate organs and seek tax relief for associated costs.
HB 289 requires all Pennsylvania public, charter, and private schools to test for radon gas in existing buildings starting with the 2026-2027 school year. If radon levels reach 4 picocuries per liter or higher, schools must install mitigation systems and retest until levels fall below that threshold, with new schools required to use radon-resistant construction. Testing must be done by certified professionals using specific protocols, and results must be shared with school boards, parents, teachers, and health officials. Schools with low radon levels must retest every five years, while those needing mitigation must retest every two years. This law directly affects all Pennsylvania school entities and aims to reduce exposure to radon, a radioactive gas linked to lung cancer.
HB 64 prohibits Pennsylvania employers from punishing employees (including firing, discipline, or threatening adverse actions) for refusing to attend or participate in employer-sponsored meetings about political matters (like elections or party support) or religious matters (like religious affiliation). Employers must post a notice of these rights within 30 days of the law taking effect, and employees can sue for violations like lost wages or retaliation within one year. The bill does not apply to required legal communications, job-related meetings, or voluntary participation in such matters. It allows employees to report violations without fear of retaliation and provides remedies like reinstatement, back pay, or attorney fees.
HB 678 requires labor brokers who supply construction workers to employers in Pennsylvania to register with the Department of Labor and Industry. It mandates brokers to pay fees, maintain registration validity, verify worker placements, and report changes, with the Department establishing a dedicated registration account for these fees. The bill imposes penalties for operating without registration or violating its requirements, directly affecting labor brokers in the construction industry. Key provisions include a verification system for worker placements, annual renewal of registration, and specific definitions clarifying which entities qualify as labor brokers versus subcontractors. This legislation aims to increase oversight of labor brokers handling construction workers, with penalties for noncompliance.
SB 100 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code concerning inheritance tax deductions. It increases the family exemption that can be deducted from the value of transferred property to a maximum of $100,000, if claimed by a family member. The bill also expands the list of deductible expenses to include bequests for religious services and funds placed in trust for the care and preservation of burial lots. These changes will apply to the value of property transferred after June 30, 2024, affecting estates subject to inheritance tax.
