Rep. Tim Briggs

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that designates July 5, 2026, as "Venezuelan Independence Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the nation's 1811 declaration of independence from Spain. The text highlights historical connections between Philadelphia and the Venezuelan independence movement, noting that the city has long served as a hub for revolutionary ideas and hosts a statue gifted by Venezuela. Additionally, the resolution acknowledges the current Venezuelan community in the state, which numbers over 6,500 residents. As a symbolic measure, the bill does not alter laws or policies but serves to recognize historical ties and celebrate cultural heritage.

Maddy summaryHB 1505 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949 to clarify definitions related to early learning programs. The bill specifically updates terminology used in the existing law to better define what constitutes early learning programs within the state's educational framework. This change directly affects school districts, early learning providers, and state education agencies by providing clearer standards for program classification and reporting under the Public School Code. The bill focuses solely on refining definitions, not creating new programs or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 36 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to clarify the Office of State Inspector General's structure and authority. It adds a definition for "enforcement officer" as staff meeting specific criteria (including prior law enforcement classification under 71 Pa.C.S. § 5102), employed by the office to enforce duties under Section 506-A. The bill also explicitly grants enforcement officers the authority to carry firearms during official duties after completing required basic and annual firearms training, subject to the Inspector General's written policies. The changes take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to ban government agencies from signing nondisclosure agreements related to data centers. The law prohibits any contract that restricts the public from accessing information about the construction, development, or location of these facilities. If an agency signs such an agreement, the contract is considered void and unenforceable. The bill defines a data center as a facility used to process, store, or transmit data using computers and software.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to study current bail and pretrial release practices across the state. The study aims to identify inconsistencies in how bail amounts are set for similar defendants in different jurisdictions and to develop recommendations for more uniform procedures. The Commission must submit its findings and suggestions for reform to the House of Representatives within two years. This resolution does not change existing laws immediately but initiates a review process to potentially improve fairness in pretrial decision-making.

Maddy summaryHB 2154 establishes Pennsylvania's Prison Industry Enhancement Authority to create job opportunities for incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities through partnerships with private industry. The bill requires private companies to employ incarcerated people under specific guidelines, including setting fair wages (with deductions allowed for room/board, victim compensation, and family support), while explicitly prohibiting displacement of civilian jobs or privatization of prisons. It mandates that private sector prison industry programs must operate within the state's "open market" and cannot create competitive advantages for participating businesses. The law aims to develop work skills for post-release employment and strengthen family ties through structured compensation mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to study pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections. The study will examine current insurance coverage for treatments, the number of available specialists, common misdiagnoses, and policy actions taken by other states. The Commission is required to consult with medical organizations, insurers, and advocacy groups before submitting a report with recommendations to the House within 18 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to allow local governments to temporarily halt the submission of new data center development applications. Under the new provision, a municipality can adopt a resolution at a public meeting to pause these submissions for up to 180 days, a period that begins retroactively from the date of public notice. During this pause, local authorities may update their zoning laws regarding data centers, and any applications received while the pause is in effect will be evaluated under the new rules. The legislation defines a data center as a facility primarily used for housing servers or data storage systems with specific backup power and cooling infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 2198 repeals the Computer Data Center Equipment Incentive Program from Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971. This bill eliminates tax exemptions and refunds previously available for investments in data center equipment, such as servers, cooling systems, and energy infrastructure. The repeal directly affects computer data centers and their owners/operators who previously qualified for these tax benefits under Article XXIX-D. The policy change removes a specific tax incentive program without creating new provisions. This is a procedural change to the tax code, ending an existing program for data center equipment investments.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax code to update definitions for tax benefits and establish new rules for computer data centers and infrastructure projects. It prohibits the state from certifying any new computer data centers after the law takes effect, effectively ending the current incentive program for such facilities. Additionally, the legislation creates a new certification process for the Governor's Responsible Infrastructure Development program, which sets standards for clean firm energy, including requirements for nuclear, hydro, wind, solar, and hydrogen sources. These changes aim to clarify how tax benefits are administered and to guide future infrastructure investments toward specific energy standards.