Rep. Nancy Guenst

Maddy summaryHB 319 modifies Pennsylvania's hunting license rules to simplify access for active-duty military personnel. It removes two previous requirements: military members no longer need to be assigned to a facility outside Pennsylvania or on temporary leave in the state to qualify for resident hunting licenses. The bill now allows any Pennsylvania resident serving full-time in the U.S. Armed Forces to obtain a resident hunting license by meeting only two criteria: residency and active duty status. This change directly affects active-duty military members stationed within Pennsylvania, streamlining their license process without altering fees or adding new restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 332 requires Pennsylvania public schools (K-12) to incorporate media literacy education into their curriculum starting the school year after the law takes effect. The state Department of Education must develop an age-appropriate model curriculum within six months, covering skills like identifying bias, recognizing misinformation, understanding media influence, and evaluating messages. School districts must adopt this curriculum, and the state will provide free resources and teacher training through public websites. This law directly affects all Pennsylvania public school students and educators by mandating concrete media literacy instruction.

Maddy summaryHB 314 amends Pennsylvania law to allow county commissioners to use telecommunications devices (like phones or computers with audio capability) for public meetings and to count remote participants toward quorum requirements. The bill directly affects county commissioners and the public by enabling virtual attendance at county board meetings while maintaining legal validity for decision-making. Key provisions include adding Section 12503(c) to permit audio-based remote participation and amending Section 12504(a) to include teleconferenced commissioners in quorum calculations. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment, standardizing remote meeting procedures for county governance.

Maddy summaryHB 287 establishes the Survivor-Centered, Accessible, Fair and Empowering Housing Trust Fund within Pennsylvania's state treasury. The fund provides emergency, transitional, and permanent housing programs with support services specifically for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking, including their immediate family members. It requires housing programs to be accessible regardless of an individual's sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency will manage the fund, and the bill amends the state's Fiscal Code to create this dedicated funding source. This is a direct policy change creating a new state trust fund for targeted housing assistance.

Maddy summaryHB 310 proposes a constitutional amendment to end Pennsylvania school districts' authority to levy property taxes after June 30, 2029. It requires the state to fund school districts annually with amounts equal to their 2029 property tax revenue (minus debt service) through new state and local taxes on retail sales, income, and earned income. These new tax revenues would be deposited into a dedicated "Stabilization of Education Fund" exclusively for school support, prohibiting any future property taxes on school districts. The amendment would replace property tax reliance with a statewide funding mechanism for school district budgets.

Maddy summaryHB 315 amends Pennsylvania's sales tax discount rules to provide clearer, tiered incentives for businesses that file and pay taxes promptly. It replaces the previous discount structure with a new system offering fixed per-return discounts: $25 for monthly filers, $75 for quarterly filers, and $150 for semiannual filers. Additionally, it adds a revenue-based discount: 1% on the first $1 million of taxable sales, plus 0.25% on amounts above that threshold. This bill directly affects businesses required to file and pay sales tax in Pennsylvania, making prompt payment more financially beneficial through these specific, predictable discount tiers.

Maddy summaryHB 295 amends Pennsylvania's Dog Law to strengthen licensing and sales restrictions for kennels and dog breeders. It prohibits kennel operators and dealers from selling dogs bred by individuals who received serious USDA violations (like critical animal handling violations) within the past two years. The bill also expands license revocation for kennel license holders convicted of animal cruelty offenses (including misdemeanors) and adds whistleblower protections for employees reporting violations under the law or related federal regulations. These changes directly affect dog breeders, kennel operators, and dealers who must comply with stricter licensing rules and sales bans.

Maddy summaryHB 296, the Beagle Freedom Act, prohibits dealers and kennels from selling dogs or cats bred by individuals or facilities that have received certain USDA violations, such as critical violations or two consecutive housing access issues. It requires kennels and animal testing facilities handling research animals to offer dogs and cats for adoption through a local shelter or adoption organization if they no longer need the animal and it poses no health or safety risk, with the offer remaining available for up to 21 days before euthanasia. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the Department of Agriculture on adoptions and provides liability protection for compliant entities. This legislation directly affects research breeders, kennels, and animal testing facilities in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 294 adds whistleblower protections for employees reporting potential violations of Pennsylvania's riot and disorderly conduct laws. It designates these employees as covered under the existing 1986 Whistleblower Law when reporting violations in good faith, and treats businesses/nonprofits/government entities as employers under that law for such reports. The bill also amends a statute to exempt animal research conducted lawfully under federal or state law at qualifying research facilities from the riot/disorderly conduct subchapter. This directly affects employees who report violations and research facilities conducting permitted animal studies. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 286 allows Pennsylvania seniors meeting specific criteria to lock their property tax payments at the "base year" amount. To qualify, applicants must be at least 65 years old (or meet widow/widower/disabled criteria), live in their home for 10+ years, and have household income under $45,000 annually. Political subdivisions would implement the program through annual applications requiring proof of ownership, tax payment history, and income eligibility. The Department of Revenue would track participation and submit a legislative report by 2030.