Rep. Mark Gillen

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 866) expands free hunting and furtaking license access in Pennsylvania for eligible disabled veterans. It allows resident disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a service-connected disability (such as loss of one or more limbs or 100% disability) to receive free licenses for 10 specific activities, including regular hunting, bear hunting, archery, and migratory bird hunting. The change modifies existing exemptions under Section 2706(b)(1) to include these additional license types without fee. This directly affects Pennsylvania residents who are disabled veterans meeting the VA certification criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 843 amends Pennsylvania's Manufactured Home Community Rights Act to strengthen residents' ability to purchase their community when it faces closure. It requires community owners to provide 120 days' written notice to residents, local authorities, and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency before closing, with residents given at least 180 days to vacate. The bill mandates that owners negotiate in good faith with resident associations representing 25% of spaces or nonprofits acting on residents' behalf, and establishes a process for residents to match competing offers or use a mutually agreed appraiser to set purchase prices if negotiations fail. This ensures residents can prevent displacement by buying the community, with the option to assign purchase rights to local housing authorities to maintain affordable housing.

Maddy summaryHB 177 creates "Keystone Opportunity Dairy Zones" in Pennsylvania to support the state's dairy industry. It provides tax benefits - including exemptions, deductions, and credits - for businesses processing at least 75% Pennsylvania milk into dairy products within designated zones. To qualify, businesses must be located in a zone, process Pennsylvania milk locally, and meet specific requirements under the act. The bill directly affects dairy farmers, processors, and local governments by offering financial incentives to boost economic development in the sector.

Maddy summaryHB 849 creates a new felony offense for child abuse offenders who fail to comply with registration requirements under Pennsylvania law. It makes it a felony of the second degree (or first degree for repeat violations) to miss registration deadlines, provide inaccurate information, fail to verify address or employment, or skip required counseling. The bill requires offenders to register with the Pennsylvania State Police, update details regularly, and provide complete personal information, with police authorized to arrest without a warrant for violations. This directly affects individuals convicted of child abuse offenses who are subject to registration under existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 810 amends Pennsylvania's PennWATCH Act to require state agencies to publicly disclose settlement details paid through specific programs (like employee liability claims or tort claims). It directly affects all Commonwealth agencies that pay settlements, as they must submit settlement information (including agency, claim date, legal basis, payment date, and amount) to the PennWATCH database within five business days. The bill mandates that this data be posted online within 30 days of payment and sent electronically to all state legislators every 30 days, starting January 1, 2025. The changes apply to all settlements paid under the Employee Liability Self-Insurance Program, Automobile Liability Program, Motor License Tort Claim Fund, notary bonds, and General Tort Claims Fund.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 2025 as "Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It is a symbolic designation with no new policies, funding, or regulatory changes. The resolution acknowledges colorectal cancer statistics and the importance of screening, but does not alter health programs or requirements. It serves solely to recognize the disease through an official state observance.

Maddy summaryHB 767 would allow Pennsylvania vehicle owners to obtain a special license plate featuring the Gadsden flag (a yellow flag with a coiled rattlesnake and the phrase "Don't Tread On Me") for an additional $26 fee on top of regular registration. The plate would be available for passenger cars, light trucks under 14,000 pounds, and motorcycles. This is a procedural change adding a new plate option, not a substantive policy shift affecting vehicle regulations or safety.

Maddy summaryHB 765 amends the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Compact to give governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey the power to veto specific actions taken by the bridge commission within 10 days of receiving certified meeting minutes. It also requires the commission to undergo biennial performance audits jointly conducted by Pennsylvania’s Auditor General and New Jersey’s State Auditor, with reports due by December 31 of odd-numbered years. These changes apply to the commission’s management of toll bridges and related facilities over the Delaware River, which are jointly operated by Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The bill adds oversight mechanisms without altering the commission’s core responsibilities for bridge operations and maintenance.

Maddy summaryHB 756 requires Pennsylvania prosecutors to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if they learn during a criminal case that a defendant is not a U.S. citizen or is present in the U.S. illegally under federal immigration law (8 U.S.C. Ch. 12). This affects criminal defendants with non-citizen status or potential immigration violations. The bill mandates that Commonwealth attorneys provide this notification "at any point during the course of a criminal proceeding" when they reasonably obtain such information.

Maddy summaryHB 762 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to exempt volunteer emergency service organizations from paying state sales and use tax on protective equipment. The bill specifically covers volunteer EMS companies, fire companies, and rescue companies - defined as nonprofit groups providing emergency medical, fire, or rescue services. It excludes purchases like helmets, turnout gear, boots, gloves, and respiratory protection units from taxation when bought for members performing their duties. This tax exemption will apply to sales occurring on or after July 1, 2025.