Rep. Milou Mackenzie

Maddy summaryHB 776 requires Pennsylvania high school students to score at least 60% on a civic knowledge assessment to graduate or earn a general equivalency diploma, starting in the 2028-2029 school year. The bill amends the Public School Code to add this graduation requirement, which applies to all students except those with an individualized education program (IEP) if their IEP specifies an exemption. The assessment measures knowledge of civic topics like government structure and citizenship. This policy directly affects all Pennsylvania public high school students seeking graduation or a general equivalency diploma.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 759 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to update the definition of acceptable identification for voting. The bill specifies that voters must present one of several forms of ID, including a standard driver's license, a photo-less driver's license for religious objections, or alternative documents like state IDs, military IDs, or documents from Pennsylvania institutions (e.g., schools or care facilities). For mail-in or absentee voters without a driver's license, it allows using the last four digits of a Social Security number or other qualifying documents. These changes apply to all voters in Pennsylvania when casting ballots in person or by mail, clarifying existing ID requirements without eliminating the need for identification.

Maddy summaryHB 795 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require high schools (public, private, and parochial) to include at least four semesters of U.S. and Pennsylvania history and government courses in grades 7-12, emphasizing American republican principles. Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, these courses must also cover how victims suffered under specific authoritarian regimes - including Mao Zedong's China, Stalin's Soviet Union, Castro's Cuba, Lenin's Russia, Pol Pot's Cambodia, and Maduro's Venezuela - detailing impacts like poverty, starvation, and violence. The State Board of Education must issue implementing regulations by April 1, 2026, to enforce these curriculum requirements. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania high schools and their students through mandated instructional content.

Maddy summaryHB 748 requires all Pennsylvania public and charter schools (including cyber schools) to include litter prevention education in science classes for students in kindergarten through fifth grade starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates that this instruction be integrated into existing science curricula using materials developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It focuses on teaching students about making environmentally sound choices to preserve the state's natural beauty. The law applies to all school entities defined in the Public School Code and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 760 amends Pennsylvania's corporate net income tax rates under the 1971 Tax Reform Code, directly affecting corporations operating in the state. The bill reduces the annual corporate tax rate from 7.99% for 2025-2025 to 5.99% for 2026-2026, and further lowers it to 4% starting in 2027 and beyond. Key provisions include a phased reduction schedule with specific rates for each taxable year period, replacing prior rate structures. The changes take immediate effect upon enactment, altering the tax burden for corporations filing under Pennsylvania's corporate net income tax system.

Maddy summaryHB 791 adds a religious exemption to Pennsylvania's firefighter certification requirements. It allows individuals whose religion prohibits shaving or trimming beards to receive an exemption from beard-related training standards, provided they pass a fit test for self-contained breathing apparatus masks. The exemption applies only to certification standards under existing rules and requires meeting the State Fire Commissioner's mask seal standards. This directly affects individuals seeking firefighter certification who have religious objections to beard removal. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 752 amends Pennsylvania law to strengthen sex offender registration requirements for individuals classified as "sexually violent predators" under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.55(b)(3). It creates a new felony offense (second degree) for knowingly violating registration rules, and adds strict residency restrictions requiring these individuals to live at least 2,500 feet from schools or day-care centers. The bill mandates relocation within six months if they currently live too close to such facilities, or if new schools open nearby, with exceptions for lease expiration. This directly affects individuals subject to lifetime registration under Pennsylvania's sex offender laws.

Maddy summaryHB 796 amends Pennsylvania's inheritance tax rate for property transferred to siblings under the Tax Reform Code of 1971. Currently set at 12%, the bill changes this rate (though the new specific percentage is not detailed in the provided text) to apply to estates of decedents dying after June 30, 2025. It directly affects individuals inheriting property from siblings, as this tax rate governs such transfers. The bill modifies the existing tax provision without altering other categories like transfers to spouses or descendants. This change is a substantive policy adjustment to inheritance tax rates, not a procedural matter.