Rep. Nancy Guenst

Maddy summaryHB 185 adds a temporary sales and use tax exemption in Pennsylvania for Energy Star and WaterSense products sold or used during a specific annual period. The exemption applies to products certified by the EPA for energy efficiency (Energy Star) or water efficiency (WaterSense) during the week of April 22-29 each year, starting in 2025. This directly affects retailers selling these products and consumers purchasing them during that week, as they would not pay state sales tax on qualifying items. The change modifies the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to exclude these products from taxation during this designated timeframe. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 199 creates the State Emergency Supplemental Grant Program to provide additional financial assistance to Pennsylvania residents and businesses after they receive the maximum federal disaster aid. The program, administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, offers grants covering the gap between federal assistance and actual disaster damage (up to $10,000 for federally declared disasters) or a state-determined amount for state-declared disasters. It establishes a dedicated fund financed by an annual $5 million transfer from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, with funds limited to essential items like housing, medical care, and temporary rental - excluding home improvements, luxury goods, or pre-existing damage.

Maddy summaryHR 10 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study how Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers can be improved to better serve individuals with disabilities. It directly affects over 2 million Pennsylvanians with disabilities who rely on HCBS waivers administered by the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), including those excluded from eligibility despite meeting federal disability criteria. The study will examine five key areas: whether waivers meet medical needs, compare payment rates across programs, analyze service menus, address barriers to community living, and investigate low employment rates (16% in integrated settings) for waiver participants. The goal is to identify concrete changes to improve access, affordability, and outcomes for people using these programs.

Maddy summaryHB 168 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to update the definition of "income" for senior citizens' property tax and rent rebate eligibility. It adds a provision allowing seniors who were eligible for these rebates as of December 31, 2018, to retain benefits if household income temporarily exceeds limits solely due to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). This replaces a previous temporary rule that expired in 2016 for seniors eligible as of December 31, 2012. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania seniors receiving property tax or rent rebates who experience automatic income increases from Social Security COLAs.

Maddy summaryHB 186 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to adjust appeal deadlines for unemployment benefit disputes. It extends the standard appeal window from 21 to 30 days for claimants and employers challenging benefit determinations, and adds a 60-day appeal period when a decision date is revised more than one year after the original notice. These changes directly affect unemployed workers (claimants) and employers who dispute benefit awards or payment decisions. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 192 repeals outdated language requiring psychological services to be provided on school premises for nonpublic school students. It updates the definition of "professional employees" to explicitly include school social workers, counselors, psychologists, and nurses in Pennsylvania schools. The bill mandates that school social workers must hold a new educational specialist certificate issued by the Department of Education, which must be created within 60 days. Additionally, it adds rules requiring schools to share student health records when students transfer and to retain those records for at least two years after a student leaves.

Maddy summaryHB 195 establishes Pennsylvania's Mental Health Workforce Retention Program under the Human Services Code. It provides $5,000 grants to mental health workers who are Pennsylvania residents and have worked with adolescents for at least seven consecutive years, using a lottery system to select recipients. The program allocates up to $1 million annually from a $5 million appropriation (continuing from the General Fund), with grants exempt from income tax. The program expires on June 30, 2030, and is open to workers in psychology, counseling, social work, or human services.

Maddy summaryHB 194 creates Pennsylvania's Mental Health Professional Student Loan Forgiveness Program, targeting mental health workers serving children and adolescents. It allows eligible residents who complete qualifying degrees (like social work, counseling, or psychology) and work in early childhood-to-adolescence mental health roles to receive up to $22,500 in loan forgiveness after signing a 7-year employment contract. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers the program, requiring applicants to prove residency, partial degree completion, faculty recommendations, and secure employment in the specified field. Participants must maintain employment for seven years or repay the forgiven amount if they leave the field early, fail to comply, or provide false information. This directly affects mental health professionals in Pennsylvania seeking relief from student debt while addressing workforce needs in youth mental health.

Maddy summaryHB 56 amends Pennsylvania's terroristic threats law (Title 18, §2706) to increase penalties for certain threats. It reclassifies specific terroristic threats as felonies of the third degree instead of misdemeanors if they cause diversion from normal operations (e.g., in buildings or public transit) or target protected locations like schools, churches, government buildings, or community centers. The bill directly affects individuals who make threats against these specific places or disrupt public activities. The key change is upgrading the offense severity for threats against vulnerable locations or causing operational disruptions, without altering the basic definition of terroristic threats.

Maddy summaryHB 86 amends Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law to change the composition and term length of the State Board of Nursing. The bill reduces board members' terms from six to four years and specifies that six of the nine appointed nursing members must be registered nurses (with at least three holding Master's degrees), two must be licensed practical nurses, and one must be a licensed dietitian-nutritionist. It also adds requirements for public representation on the board, prohibiting members representing the public from having financial ties to dietitian services or having household members who are dietitians. These changes directly affect who serves on the State Board of Nursing, not nursing practice standards or patient care. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.