Rep. Jeanne McNeill

Maddy summaryHB 817 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to add a new rule for school district tax increases. It prohibits the Department of Education from approving a school district's request to raise certain taxes if that district received an exception under prior tax rules for the previous two fiscal years. This directly affects Pennsylvania school districts seeking to increase local taxes, requiring them to avoid recent exceptions to gain departmental approval. The bill modifies existing tax approval procedures without changing the public referendum requirement for tax hikes.

Maddy summaryHB 816 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's tax code, creating a new standard for homeowners to qualify for relief from real property taxes. It would allow the state legislature to establish income-based thresholds, exempting homeowners from paying the portion of their local property tax on their primary home that exceeds a certain percentage of their household income. This directly affects homeowners who pay local property taxes and meet income criteria set by the legislature. As a constitutional amendment, it requires approval by the General Assembly and then by voters in a statewide election. The bill does not specify income percentages or implementation details, only authorizing future legislation to create such standards.

Maddy summaryHB 786 changes Pennsylvania's educational gratuity program to require only one year of Pennsylvania residency immediately before applying, down from the previous five-year requirement. The program provides financial assistance to children of disabled or deceased veterans who are between 16 and 23 years old. This amendment, effective 60 days after enactment, simplifies eligibility by reducing the residency threshold for qualifying applicants.

Maddy summaryHB 739 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Professional Nursing Law to modernize terminology and clarify roles for advanced practice nurses. It replaces "certified registered nurse practitioner" with "APRN-CNP" throughout the law, defines "collaboration" requirements for new APRN-CNPs (requiring 3,600 practice hours before independent work), and updates definitions for "medical nutrition therapy" and "population focus areas." The bill explicitly removes the State Board of Nursing's authority to license APRN-CNPs, shifting that responsibility elsewhere. These changes directly affect registered nurses seeking advanced practice certification and the Board's regulatory role in nursing licensure.

Maddy summaryHB 724 amends Pennsylvania's tax code to prohibit businesses from deducting expenses related to opposing workers' unionization efforts. It applies to all business entities operating in Pennsylvania - including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships - that spend money to influence employees against forming or joining labor organizations. The law specifically blocks tax deductions for costs like hiring anti-union consultants, running campaigns against unionization, or other activities aimed at discouraging union membership. This change increases taxable income for businesses engaging in such activities, directly affecting employers in the state who previously deducted these expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 723 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to require state departments to check if applicants for tax credits or benefits have engaged in anti-union activities within the past decade. It directly affects businesses or individuals seeking tax benefits by blocking eligibility if they have: - Faced federal or state unfair labor practice complaints (e.g., under NLRB rules or Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act), - Settled union-related charges without formal complaints, or - Violated court orders or state labor board decisions. The bill adds specific screening steps to the tax credit application process, defining "anti-union activity" through clear legal references. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 736 amends Pennsylvania's property tax exemption rules for charitable institutions, clarifying that tax-exempt status applies only when property is used for the institution's primary purposes (e.g., hospitals, universities, charities). It specifies that property used for commercial activities or not regularly essential to the institution's mission loses exemption eligibility. The bill directly affects qualifying nonprofit institutions and local governments collecting property taxes. Key provisions require all revenue from exempt property to support the institution's core mission, not commercial ventures, and explicitly deny exemptions for commercial use. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 737 clarifies tax exemption rules for charitable institutions under Pennsylvania's General County Assessment Law. It specifies that hospitals, universities, and charitable organizations (including residential housing providers receiving federal low-income subsidies) retain tax exemption only if their property isn't used commercially and all revenue supports their charitable mission. The bill adds that subsidized housing units must have at least 95% federal funding to maintain exemption, with any surplus monitored and used solely for charitable purposes. This directly affects institutions relying on tax-exempt status for property ownership and operations.

Maddy summaryHB 715 amends Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act of 1968 to increase penalties for employers who pay workers below the required minimum wage. It reclassifies violations based on the number of offenses and the total unpaid wages: under $150 for a first offense is a summary offense, while over $150 for a first or second offense becomes a misdemeanor, and third or subsequent offenses are felonies. The bill also establishes that each week an employee is underpaid and each affected employee counts as a separate offense, making penalties more severe for repeated violations. Employers cannot avoid liability by having employees agree to work for less than the minimum wage.

Maddy summaryHB 718 amends Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law to strengthen wage enforcement, directly affecting employers (including state/local governments, corporations, and contractors) and workers owed unpaid wages. It requires the Department of Labor to collect quarterly data on wage violations, fines, unpaid wages, and complaint resolution, then submit semiannual reports to lawmakers and post them publicly. The bill mandates quarterly investigations of "high-violation industries" (those with 25+ violations in two years) and updates penalties to $2,000 per violation or triple unpaid wages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees. Employers failing to pay within 10 days of notice face these penalties, with each week of underpayment counted as a separate violation.