Rep. Jim Haddock

Maddy summaryHB 272 establishes a grant program to help Pennsylvania municipalities and emergency service facilities (like fire stations, police departments, and ambulance services) install solar energy systems. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the program, awarding competitive grants to cover eligible costs such as solar equipment, installation, permits, and site assessments. Applicants must submit a site assessment and verify contractors meet licensing, safety, and legal requirements through an affidavit. The program also requires the department to provide technical assistance and educational resources about solar energy projects.

Maddy summaryHB 204 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to require temporary workers processing ballots at central tabulation centers to take an oath promising faithful performance of their duties. It also specifies that compensation paid to these temporary workers is not considered taxable income under Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code. The bill directly affects county election boards and temporary election workers handling ballot processing. This change modifies administrative procedures for election tabulation centers without altering voting methods or election results.

Maddy summaryHB 169 creates a program allowing local and regional police departments in Pennsylvania to purchase used pursuit vehicles (police patrol vehicles) from the state at fixed prices. The Department of General Services must allocate up to 10% of the Pennsylvania State Police's used pursuit vehicle inventory for this program, requiring payment via organization check before purchase. Police departments must submit a form detailing desired vehicles, and the state will notify them when matching vehicles become available. The bill specifies that prices are set by the department and not subject to negotiation, with rules for administration to be developed by the department. This applies only to existing state-owned patrol vehicles, not new purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 182 designates Bridge Key 8377 on Pennsylvania Route 53 over Bear Rock Run in Lilly Borough, Cambria County, as the Corporal James D. Sloan Memorial Bridge. The bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs on the bridge, based on the General Assembly's findings that Corporal James D. Sloan, a Marine Corps veteran who died by suicide in 1971 due to post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the Vietnam War, received multiple military medals including the Purple Heart and Combat Action Medal. This is a naming resolution with no direct policy changes or affected populations beyond the bridge signage.

Maddy summaryHB 181 requires all political subdivision authorities (like water districts or housing boards) in Pennsylvania to maintain a publicly accessible website with specific transparency details. The bill mandates that these websites include each board member's name, term length and expiration date, contact email, the appointing official's name and office, and links to the governing government entity's website. It directly affects every authority created by a local government, ensuring residents can easily identify leadership and accountability structures. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment, requiring authorities to update their public information practices.

Maddy summaryHB 56 amends Pennsylvania's terroristic threats law (Title 18, §2706) to increase penalties for certain threats. It reclassifies specific terroristic threats as felonies of the third degree instead of misdemeanors if they cause diversion from normal operations (e.g., in buildings or public transit) or target protected locations like schools, churches, government buildings, or community centers. The bill directly affects individuals who make threats against these specific places or disrupt public activities. The key change is upgrading the offense severity for threats against vulnerable locations or causing operational disruptions, without altering the basic definition of terroristic threats.

Maddy summaryHB 117 requires insurers to include a clear, separate notice with reimbursement payments for emergency medical services provided by non-network EMS agencies. This notice must explain the service details (date, agency), clarify that the recipient is responsible for the EMS bill, and detail payment options - including whether the insurer already paid the agency or if the recipient owes copays/deductibles. The notice must be printed on red paper with "STOP" in 24-point bold and "Read this notice before depositing payment" in 18-point bold, using at least 10-point font size. The bill directly affects insurers sending such payments and the covered persons receiving them, ensuring transparency about billing responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHB 112 amends Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law to clarify which vehicles are covered under the law. It adds a new definition for "farm equipment" as new, unused vehicles exclusively designed for agricultural use (like planting or harvesting) that are registered in Pennsylvania. This change explicitly includes farm equipment under the definition of "new motor vehicle" in the law, ensuring these vehicles qualify for lemon law protections. The bill directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses purchasing or leasing such vehicles in Pennsylvania. The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 108 requires all Pennsylvania municipalities (including cities, boroughs, and townships) to establish a "real property emergency services fund" financed by a $25 fee paid by both buyers and sellers during real estate transactions. The fund can only be used for specific emergency services expenses, such as purchasing/maintaining firefighting equipment, firehouse construction, firefighter and emergency medical personnel salaries, and ambulance maintenance. Municipalities must deposit the fees into the fund, impose a $250 penalty for non-payment, and annually publish reports detailing fund usage. The bill mandates biennial audits of the fund and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 107 amends Pennsylvania's Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to allow licensed organizations (such as nonprofits and charities) to accept electronic payments for games of chance and conduct online raffles. The bill requires organizations to verify that online raffle buyers are physically located in Pennsylvania and at least 18 years old before accepting payment. It permits credit/debit cards and mobile payment services for raffle tickets but prohibits sales outside Pennsylvania or to minors. The legislation also removes a conflicting regulation in the Pennsylvania Code to align with these new provisions.