Rep. Mike Cabell

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill, known as the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, authorizes the State Treasurer and various state retirement systems to invest public funds in Bitcoin and other digital assets. The legislation aims to protect the purchasing power of state money against inflation by allowing these entities to include digital currencies in their investment portfolios. To manage these assets safely, the law requires the use of secure custody solutions that keep private keys in encrypted, government-controlled environments and mandates regular security audits. Additionally, the bill permits the investment of state funds through exchange-traded products that track the value of digital assets.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Pennsylvania to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement among states to award all their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes nationwide. The law takes effect only when enough participating states collectively hold a majority of the Electoral College votes, ensuring the current system remains in place until the compact is fully active. If the agreement is triggered, Pennsylvania's chief election official would count statewide popular votes to determine the national winner and certify the corresponding slate of electors. The legislation also includes provisions for state withdrawal, definitions of key terms, and requirements for public transparency in vote counting.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill, known as the Digital Assets Authorization Act, prevents state and local governments from banning the use of digital assets like cryptocurrencies for legal transactions or from stopping individuals from keeping their own digital funds in personal wallets. It also explicitly allows residents to operate computer nodes that connect to blockchain networks for transferring assets or maintaining records. While the law protects these activities from government interference, it does not override existing regulations requiring businesses to hold specific licenses or report suspected financial crimes. The legislation takes effect 60 days after its passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ballot Access Improvement Act, establishes a new option for candidates in Pennsylvania to gain access to the ballot by paying a filing fee instead of submitting a traditional nomination petition. It applies to a wide range of offices, including federal positions, statewide roles, and local judgeships, allowing candidates to choose between the standard petition process or a direct fee payment. The legislation sets specific fee amounts based on the office sought, ranging from $3,000 for state representatives to $38,500 for the presidency, and outlines how these funds will be distributed to counties and the Department of State for election administration. Additionally, the bill defines strict deadlines for fee payment, mandates the issuance of receipts to candidates, and clarifies that these fees are non-refundable even if a candidate withdraws.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's budget rules by requiring the state to submit a seven-year financial plan to the General Assembly. The new requirement mandates that the budget include actual spending from the previous year, current available funds, the proposed budget for the next year, and estimated accounts for the following four years. This change directly affects how the executive branch prepares and presents financial information to lawmakers. The law will become active 60 days after it is signed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to allow breweries and limited distilleries to operate at the same physical location under a single entity. The key provision permits one business to hold both a brewery license and a limited distillery license, provided the manufacturing areas for each are clearly marked and may overlap. Both licenses must adhere to their specific operating hours, and any violations at the shared site can result in citations against one or both licenses. Additionally, businesses operating both types of licenses that serve alcohol on-site will be counted as a single entity when calculating state-mandated ratios.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to create new rules addressing the management of double utility poles, which occur when old poles remain alongside newly installed replacements because attached infrastructure has not yet been moved. The legislation requires companies that attach services like electricity or cable to these poles to register annually with the commission and provides a framework for utilities to notify them when they must migrate their equipment to new poles. It also establishes procedures for compensating utilities for costs related to removing abandoned attachments and authorizes the commission to impose civil penalties on owners who fail to comply with the new regulations. Additionally, the bill specifies that any costs utilities incur under these rules cannot be passed on to customers through higher rates.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates November 2024 as "Veterans and Military Families Month" to honor the state's large veteran population and their families. The measure serves as a symbolic gesture to acknowledge the sacrifices made by service members and to highlight the support provided by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. It does not create new laws or funding but directs a copy of the resolution to the relevant state department for record-keeping.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Pennsylvania's State Veterans' Commission to ensure broader representation of different veteran groups. It mandates that the commission include representatives from sixteen specific national veterans' organizations, such as the American Legion and VFW, along with four members appointed by the Governor who must be female or Vietnam-era veterans. The legislation also clarifies the roles of state-level leaders from the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars as nonvoting members. These changes aim to modernize the commission's composition while maintaining its existing structure under Pennsylvania law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Independent Energy Office within Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission to oversee the state's electricity grid. The office will be led by an Energy Advocate appointed by the Consumer Advocate, who has the authority to review actions by state agencies to ensure they do not harm energy reliability or affordability. If the Energy Advocate determines an agency action is harmful, they can first request the agency to reverse it, and if that fails, the office has the power to block or reverse the action itself. The office is also tasked with promoting the use of energy produced within Pennsylvania and operates subject to funding decisions by the state legislature.