Rep. Brenda Pugh

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 2140 limits water and wastewater rate increases for residential customers in Pennsylvania. It caps rate hikes at the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the northeast region, preventing increases exceeding inflation. The bill also requires utilities to stop charging for completed infrastructure projects once costs are recovered and mandates that the Public Utility Commission prioritize service affordability over non-essential capital costs when reviewing rate cases. This directly affects residential households and water/wastewater utilities operating in Pennsylvania.

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 summaryHB 170 modifies Pennsylvania's vehicle registration and inspection rules for farm vehicles. It creates three new weight-based categories (AA, BB, CC) for exempt farm vehicles, each with specific travel limits: Type AA (under 10,000 lbs) may travel up to 50 miles, Type BB (10,001-17,000 lbs) up to 25 miles, and Type CC (over 17,000 lbs) up to 10 miles between farms or related business locations. The bill also establishes corresponding biennial fees ($24-$100) based on vehicle weight and requires a valid inspection certificate for operation. This directly affects farmers using vehicles over 17,000 lbs, who must now display inspections but face fewer travel restrictions than non-exempt vehicles.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 923 amends the State Lottery Law to redirect lottery revenue toward providing pharmaceutical assistance for elderly residents. It directly affects seniors who qualify for prescription drug aid under state programs by modifying eligibility determination procedures. The key provision updates how income and asset thresholds are calculated to determine who qualifies for this assistance. The bill became law on November 24, 2025, after approval by both legislative chambers and the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 1528 establishes the Grand-family Assistance Program to provide financial support to grandparents and other relatives raising grandchildren. It creates a dedicated fund to make regular payments to local area agencies on aging, which will administer the program and assist eligible families. The bill requires the Department of Aging to manage the program and oversee fund distribution, ensuring direct support reaches affected relatives caring for children. This policy change directly affects grandfamilies and local aging services agencies through structured financial aid and administrative responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2058 would amend Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to establish a regulatory framework for kratom. This bill would directly affect businesses selling kratom products and consumers who use it by subjecting kratom to new state regulations. Key provisions would include setting product safety standards, labeling requirements, and distribution rules for kratom under the existing drug regulation system. The bill aims to bring kratom under the state's formal regulatory structure without banning its use.