Rep. Jamie Walsh

Maddy summaryHR 278 is a Pennsylvania state resolution designating September 12, 2025, as "The Day of the Bible" within the state. It is a commemorative resolution with no legal effect or policy changes, solely intended to recognize the Bible through a symbolic designation. The bill does not impose obligations on individuals, institutions, or the government, nor does it alter existing laws. It was referred to committee and reported as amended in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2156 allows Pennsylvania municipalities to create voluntary programs where they combine the electricity purchases of residential customers within their area to negotiate lower rates with power suppliers. The bill requires municipalities to secure rates below the default utility rate for participants, disclose program terms clearly (including potential lack of savings), and allow customers to opt out anytime without penalty. If savings are achieved, municipalities may collect a capped administrative fee (up to 1% of the savings), but participants pay no enrollment fees and remain under their electric distribution company's billing system. This directly affects residential customers in participating municipalities who choose to join the program, with all programs limited to customers within the same utility service territory.

Maddy summaryHB 2158 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act by adding specific kratom-related compounds to Schedule I, the most restrictive category for controlled substances. The bill prohibits possession, sale, or distribution of any product containing 7-hydroxymitragynine at 2% or more of total alkaloids, or synthetic versions of kratom alkaloids like mitragynine. This change directly affects businesses selling kratom products and individuals who use such substances, making them illegal without medical authorization. The policy change aligns with existing Schedule I criteria of high abuse potential and no accepted medical use.

Maddy summaryHB 2153 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to redirect property tax revenue from data centers toward tax relief for homeowners and farmers. It defines "data center" as facilities primarily housing AI infrastructure (including servers, power systems, and AI equipment) and requires school districts to use all revenue from data center property taxes to fund homestead and farmstead tax exclusions. In the first fiscal year data center taxes are fully collected, all revenue must cover these exclusions; in subsequent years, the amount equals the first year's revenue. School districts must itemize these exclusions on tax bills, showing the original tax, exclusion amount, and final payment. This directly affects school districts collecting data center taxes and homeowners/farmers receiving reduced tax bills.

Maddy summaryHB 2138 creates a new legal standard for lawsuits alleging "negligent marketing" of firearms by manufacturers or sellers. It requires plaintiffs to prove four specific conditions before a lawsuit can proceed: (1) marketing directly targeted legally prohibited firearm owners, (2) encouraged unlawful firearm use, (3) showed a direct causal link to harm, and (4) demonstrated the manufacturer violated a specific regulatory statute. If these conditions aren't met, courts must dismiss the case and award fees to the defending manufacturer or seller. The bill directly affects plaintiffs seeking to sue firearm companies and provides stronger legal protections for those companies.

Maddy summaryHB 2139 defines "cell-cultured protein" (lab-grown meat made from animal cells grown outside the animal) and prohibits its manufacturing, sale, delivery, holding for sale, or offering for sale in Pennsylvania. The bill directly affects companies developing or selling lab-grown meat products within the state. Key provisions establish a legal definition for this emerging food technology and ban all commercial transactions involving it. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment, creating a clear regulatory restriction on this specific food product type.

Maddy summaryHB 1768 establishes four new grant programs to support Pennsylvania's local food system. It provides incentives for schools and institutions to purchase local food (Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant), offers financial assistance to farmers for production improvements (Keystone Producer Grant), supports food distribution networks (Keystone Assistance Grant), and funds school meal programs sourcing from local farms (Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account). The Department of Agriculture and Department of Education would administer these programs and manage the grant allocations. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania farmers, schools, food distributors, and local food businesses by creating new funding mechanisms to strengthen regional food systems.

Maddy summaryThis procedural bill removes the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations from further consideration of House Resolution 278. It allows House Resolution 278 to move directly to the full House for debate and voting under Rule 53, bypassing the committee review process. The bill itself does not change policy but alters the legislative path for another resolution.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's process for disposing of unserviceable road and bridge materials, including millings (road surface fragments collected during repairs). It requires the state to first offer such materials for free to the local political subdivision (county, city, borough, or township) where they were used, if that subdivision agrees to transport them. If declined, materials are sold to other political subdivisions at the best price, with bidding for multiple requests, and all sales must be used for road, bridge, or street projects. Proceeds from sales are deposited into the Motor License Fund, which supports transportation infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 2066 repeals Pennsylvania's inheritance tax system by removing Article XXI ("Inheritance and Estate Tax Act") from the 1971 Tax Reform Code. This eliminates the state-level inheritance tax that would have applied to property transferred upon death. The bill directly affects individuals who would have owed this tax on estates or gifts, removing a layer of state taxation on inherited assets. The repeal is comprehensive, striking the entire framework of definitions, exemptions, and procedures related to inheritance tax from the tax code.