Rep. Brenda Pugh

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution formally honors the memory of Berks County Police Officer Kristen M. Yeager, who died in the line of duty in May 2026. The bill outlines her personal background, educational achievements, and professional service to the Central Berks Police Department. It directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to her husband, Dustin Yeager, as a gesture of condolence from the General Assembly.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution formally designates September 2026 as "Suicide Prevention Awareness Month" and September 10, 2026, as "World Suicide Prevention Day." The bill cites national statistics regarding suicide rates and attempts to highlight the ongoing public health challenge. It does not mandate specific actions or funding but instead encourages residents of the Commonwealth to provide support for individuals in need.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution formally designates the week of October 4 through 10, 2026, as "Fire Prevention Week" in the state. The bill highlights specific fire risks associated with electronic devices, such as overheating power banks and damaged chargers, while emphasizing the importance of proper battery disposal and working smoke alarms. It urges residents, landlords, and businesses to adopt safety practices recommended by the National Fire Protection Association to reduce home fire hazards. Additionally, the resolution commends firefighters and other first responders for their ongoing efforts in fire prevention and emergency response.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania House Bill 2737 amends the state's Public School Code to require annual reporting on student wait lists for career and technical education programs. The bill mandates that area career and technical boards submit data on the number of students waiting for enrollment in specific programs to the Department of Education by July 1 each year. Additionally, it requires the Secretary of Education to report this wait list information, broken down by program, to the state legislature's standing education committees annually.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania House Bill 2738 amends state law to require the Public Utility Commission to submit an annual report by April 15 that compares utility rates across different service areas for gas, water, and waste water customers. Starting in 2027, this report must include a five-year historical summary of rate cases, supplier data, and the cumulative financial impact of various charges on residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The bill mandates that these impacts be presented using standardized usage assumptions and plain-language explanations for specific cost drivers such as infrastructure investments, fuel costs, and storm recovery. Additionally, the report must detail major electric transmission projects affecting Pennsylvania ratepayers and identify any regulatory provisions that create recurring implementation challenges or reduce bill transparency.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania House Bill 2735 updates the Public School Code of 1949 to restrict school districts from increasing real property taxes unless their projected ending fund balances meet specific limits. The bill establishes a sliding scale where larger districts with higher total budgeted expenditures must maintain lower percentages of committed, assigned, and unassigned funds compared to smaller districts. To ensure compliance, each district that approves a tax increase must submit certification data to the Department of Education by August 15 of each year starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania House Bill 2732 amends the Real Estate Tax Sale Law to prevent the forced sale of homes owned by seniors who are experiencing financial hardship. To qualify, an individual must be at least 65 years old, live in the property as their primary residence, and demonstrate that their household income is at or below the federal poverty level or that they face significant obstacles such as high medical costs or caregiving duties. If a homeowner applies for this protection before a court confirms a tax sale, the county tax bureau must pause all sale proceedings and work with the owner to create a written repayment plan for the delinquent taxes. This protection remains in effect until the property is sold, it is no longer the owner's primary home, or the owner passes away, though the estate may continue the repayment plan for up to twelve months after the owner's death.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania House Bill 2731 directs the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to work with the Department of General Services to procure opioid antagonists through a competitive process. The bill mandates that cost-effectiveness must account for at least 90% of the decision-making weight, while also considering product efficacy, availability, brand type, and shelf life. Additionally, it requires the department to submit an annual report on the procurement strategy and vendor selection to legislative committee leaders starting in 2028.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates December 7, 2026, as "Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day" to honor the service members and civilians affected by the 1941 attack. The bill highlights a specific connection between the state and the event by noting that the USS Pennsylvania was present at Pearl Harbor and sustained casualties. It encourages residents to pause in remembrance, honor World War II veterans, and recognize the resilience of the people of Hawaii.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania House Bill 2729 creates a new misdemeanor of the third degree for animal hoarding, defined as keeping animals in conditions that are unsanitary, unhealthful, malodorous, or dangerous to people, animals, or property. The bill specifies that each animal kept in violation constitutes a separate offense, but it excludes animals classified as agricultural commodities from this definition. For sentencing, the law requires a mental health evaluation of the defendant before any sentence is scheduled. If the court finds that the defendant suffered from a psychological or psychiatric disability at the time of the offense, it must order treatment and stay legal action pending a report on that treatment. Upon successful completion of treatment, the court must order the forfeiture of the animals, prohibit future ownership, reverse the conviction, and expunge the arrest record.