Rep. Marci Mustello

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fee in Pennsylvania courts to help fund support services for children who are victims of specific sexual offenses and crimes against minors. When a person is convicted, pleads guilty, or enters a diversion program for these crimes, they must pay a fee ranging from $250 to $1,000 depending on the severity of the offense. The collected money goes into a state fund that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency uses to provide grants to children's advocacy centers. Courts are required to allow defendants who cannot afford the fee to pay it in installments, and the bill ensures that any restitution owed to victims is paid before this fee is collected.

Maddy summaryHB 1135 prohibits the use of paraquat, a specific chemical pesticide, within Pennsylvania. It defines paraquat by its chemical identifier (CAS number 4685-14-7) and includes related salts, making it unlawful for farmers, agricultural businesses, or any pesticide users to apply it in the state. The bill amends Pennsylvania's 1973 Pesticide Control Act to add this prohibition, effective one year after enactment, and overrides any conflicting existing regulations. This directly affects pesticide users and applicators operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill creates a limited tax credit program for manufacturers of malt or brewed beverages who make specific capital investments in their production facilities. Under the new rules, eligible companies can receive a tax credit for up to $200,000 in qualifying equipment purchases made during designated time periods, with the credit potentially usable over five years. The legislation also allows these tax credits to be sold to other taxpayers, who can then apply the credit against up to 50% of their own tax liability for that year. The Department of Revenue will oversee the program, including verifying taxpayer compliance before approving credit sales and setting guidelines for the process.

Maddy summaryHB 2491 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update rules regarding student transportation for public and charter schools. The bill clarifies that school districts must provide free transportation to charter school students within ten miles, mirroring the terms used for public school students, while also allowing districts to use public transit for certain routes. Additionally, the legislation restricts the use of common carriers like buses for transporting kindergarten through sixth-grade students and outlines specific conditions under which walking is permitted instead of providing a ride.

Maddy summaryHB 2442 amends Pennsylvania's Safe Drinking Water Act to allow the Department of Agriculture to issue temporary operating licenses to applicants seeking retail food facility permits. To qualify, applicants must prove they have submitted a complete public water system permit application and provide certified lab tests showing their water system meets federal standards. The temporary license remains valid only while the permit application is pending and automatically expires if the permit is issued, denied, or if the applicant fails to submit required compliance tests every six months.

Maddy summaryHB 2432 amends Pennsylvania's Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to increase prize limits for eligible organizations, such as charities and clubs, that run games of chance. The bill raises the maximum prize for a single chance to $3,000 and the seven-day aggregate prize limit to $50,000, while also establishing new monthly and annual caps for raffles. Additionally, it streamlines licensing by reducing the time required to issue a license to 10 days and clarifies the rules for auxiliary groups operating under a main organization's license.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania vehicle laws to provide temporary fuel price relief by reducing specific taxes on gasoline and fees for electric vehicle road users. For the first six months after it takes effect, the state will eliminate certain fuel taxes, and for the following six months, it will cut those fees by half. To ensure consumers benefit directly, the law requires fuel dealers to pass these savings on by lowering sale prices and prohibits them from keeping the tax reduction as extra profit. The Department of Revenue must estimate the resulting loss in state revenue, and the State Treasurer is then required to transfer that amount from a budget reserve fund to maintain highway maintenance financing.

Maddy summaryHR 362 is a procedural resolution that directs the House to discharge the Committee on Education from further consideration of House Bill 158, allowing HB 158 to move directly to the full House floor for a vote. This action bypasses the committee's review process, which typically requires committee approval before a bill can be debated on the floor. The resolution was placed on the calendar under Rule 53 on October 29, 2025, signaling it will now proceed to a floor vote. This change affects the legislative workflow for HB 158 but does not alter the content or policy of HB 158 itself.

Maddy summaryHR 340 is a procedural resolution that removes Senate Bill 186 from the Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource Protection, requiring the committee to cease further consideration of the bill. This allows Senate Bill 186 to move directly to the full House for debate and a vote. The resolution was placed on the calendar under Rule 53 on October 8, 2025, as part of the legislative process to advance stalled bills. It does not change policy but addresses a procedural delay in the committee.

Maddy summaryHR 339 is a procedural resolution that removes the House Committee on Health from further consideration of Senate Bill No. 9, allowing the full House to directly debate and vote on that bill. This action bypasses the committee's usual role in reviewing legislation. The bill was added to the calendar for floor consideration under Rule 53 on October 8, 2025, moving it closer to a full vote. It does not change policy but alters the legislative process for Senate Bill No. 9.