Rep. Kyle Donahue

Maddy summaryHB 724 amends Pennsylvania's tax code to prohibit businesses from deducting expenses related to opposing workers' unionization efforts. It applies to all business entities operating in Pennsylvania - including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships - that spend money to influence employees against forming or joining labor organizations. The law specifically blocks tax deductions for costs like hiring anti-union consultants, running campaigns against unionization, or other activities aimed at discouraging union membership. This change increases taxable income for businesses engaging in such activities, directly affecting employers in the state who previously deducted these expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 723 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to require state departments to check if applicants for tax credits or benefits have engaged in anti-union activities within the past decade. It directly affects businesses or individuals seeking tax benefits by blocking eligibility if they have: - Faced federal or state unfair labor practice complaints (e.g., under NLRB rules or Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act), - Settled union-related charges without formal complaints, or - Violated court orders or state labor board decisions. The bill adds specific screening steps to the tax credit application process, defining "anti-union activity" through clear legal references. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 736 amends Pennsylvania's property tax exemption rules for charitable institutions, clarifying that tax-exempt status applies only when property is used for the institution's primary purposes (e.g., hospitals, universities, charities). It specifies that property used for commercial activities or not regularly essential to the institution's mission loses exemption eligibility. The bill directly affects qualifying nonprofit institutions and local governments collecting property taxes. Key provisions require all revenue from exempt property to support the institution's core mission, not commercial ventures, and explicitly deny exemptions for commercial use. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 737 clarifies tax exemption rules for charitable institutions under Pennsylvania's General County Assessment Law. It specifies that hospitals, universities, and charitable organizations (including residential housing providers receiving federal low-income subsidies) retain tax exemption only if their property isn't used commercially and all revenue supports their charitable mission. The bill adds that subsidized housing units must have at least 95% federal funding to maintain exemption, with any surplus monitored and used solely for charitable purposes. This directly affects institutions relying on tax-exempt status for property ownership and operations.

Maddy summaryHB 612 amends Pennsylvania's Scrap Material Theft Prevention Act to require scrap processors and recycling facilities to collect specific identification details from sellers during scrap material transactions exceeding $100 or involving catalytic converters. Key provisions include collecting driver's license copies, vehicle license plate numbers, seller signatures, and for catalytic converters, vehicle details (year/make/model/VIN), photographs of the converter, and the seller. The bill also mandates a 48-hour payment hold on catalytic converter transactions until law enforcement or a judge authorizes release, with facilities required to keep converters intact during this period. Violations carry fines starting at $5,000 for catalytic converter non-compliance and up to $2,500 for other failures, with repeat offenses classified as misdemeanors.

Maddy summaryHB 609 requires builders to notify residential property owners about construction defects they discover. Builders must send a written notice within 30 days via certified mail, including a description of the defect, the reason for knowing about it, and their contact information. This applies only to residential properties and does not apply if 15+ years have passed since construction. Builders who fail to notify (without reasonable cause) must pay the owner’s actual damages, but the notice itself doesn’t create liability or limit other legal remedies. The bill takes effect in 60 days.

Maddy summaryHB 626 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Labor and Industry to create and distribute a clear, plain-language notice to sheriffs about local building and zoning requirements after real estate foreclosure sales. The notice must list municipal contacts, indicate whether each municipality enforces Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code, and explain permit needs for property construction. Sheriffs must then provide this notice to all purchasers at sheriff's sales - both online and at the sale location - so new owners understand mandatory building rules before starting work. This applies specifically to properties sold under Pennsylvania's Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law and Real Estate Tax Sale Law. The notice must be updated annually by the Department and delivered to sheriffs by December 31 each year.

Maddy summaryHB 669 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to establish standardized early voting procedures for all county elections. The bill requires counties to offer in-person early voting for 30 days before each election (ending the day before Election Day), with specific operating hours: weekday mornings to mid-afternoon, extended hours on the final weekend, and additional holiday hours. It mandates county boards to set up permanent early voting locations based on population size (e.g., at least one location in each of the three largest municipalities in counties over 250,000 people). This directly affects all registered Pennsylvania voters by expanding access to early voting through structured, location-based provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 665 amends Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act to strengthen testing requirements for residual waste facilities. It requires facilities handling residual waste to test incoming waste and outgoing drainage water (leachate) for specific contaminants: water quality chemicals (chloride, bromide, sulfate, nitrate), hazardous characteristics (toxicity, corrosivity, ignitability), and naturally occurring radionuclides (uranium, radium, radon). Facilities must compare these test results quarterly and report them to the state environmental department and local municipalities. This directly affects waste processing and landfill operators managing residual waste, ensuring more comprehensive monitoring of potential environmental impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 654 amends Pennsylvania's State Lottery Law to expand access to the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly Needs Enhancement Tier (PACENET). It raises the income eligibility thresholds for seniors: single individuals with annual incomes between $14,500 and $45,000, and married couples with combined incomes between $17,700 and $55,000, will now qualify. The bill also allows applicants to round income amounts to the nearest whole dollar when reporting. This change directly affects Pennsylvania seniors who rely on PACENET for subsidized prescription drugs by making the program available to more low-to-moderate-income elderly residents.