Rep. Ed Neilson

Maddy summaryHB 272 establishes a grant program to help Pennsylvania municipalities and emergency service facilities (like fire stations, police departments, and ambulance services) install solar energy systems. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the program, awarding competitive grants to cover eligible costs such as solar equipment, installation, permits, and site assessments. Applicants must submit a site assessment and verify contractors meet licensing, safety, and legal requirements through an affidavit. The program also requires the department to provide technical assistance and educational resources about solar energy projects.

Maddy summaryHB 208 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to establish a $25 filing fee for candidates seeking specific party positions, including delegates or alternate delegates to national party conventions and members of national or state party committees. This fee must be paid by certified check, money order, or cash when submitting nomination petitions to the county board of elections. All collected fees will be deposited into the county's General Fund. The bill directly affects candidates for these party roles, not general election candidates.

Maddy summaryHB 210 requires businesses (such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores) to post signs in visible restroom locations - including stalls, mirrors, and above hand dryers - with the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline number (1-888-373-7888) and a statement about legal protections for trafficking victims. The signs must be at least 8.5x11 inches, feature the hotline number in bold and large font, and be available in English, Spanish, and any other language required by the Voting Rights Act in the business's county. The Department of Labor and Industry will design and provide the sign template online for businesses to print. This law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 169 creates a program allowing local and regional police departments in Pennsylvania to purchase used pursuit vehicles (police patrol vehicles) from the state at fixed prices. The Department of General Services must allocate up to 10% of the Pennsylvania State Police's used pursuit vehicle inventory for this program, requiring payment via organization check before purchase. Police departments must submit a form detailing desired vehicles, and the state will notify them when matching vehicles become available. The bill specifies that prices are set by the department and not subject to negotiation, with rules for administration to be developed by the department. This applies only to existing state-owned patrol vehicles, not new purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 184 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971 to exempt books sold at retail by public libraries from state sales tax. This policy change directly affects public libraries across Pennsylvania, removing a sales tax burden on book sales to patrons. The bill adds a new exclusion (section 204(77)) to the tax code, specifying that sales of books by public libraries are not subject to the state's sales tax. The provision takes effect 60 days after enactment.

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 196 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to increase the number of valid signatures required on nomination petitions for school director candidates in primary elections, from 10 to 100. This change directly affects candidates seeking nomination for school board positions within their political party. The bill modifies Section 912.1(35) of the Election Code to mandate these 100 signatures from registered and enrolled party members. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

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 116 amends Pennsylvania's aggravated assault law to specifically include assaults against individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. The bill adds a new provision making it a felony of the second degree to intentionally or knowingly cause bodily injury to such individuals or attempt to do so, regardless of their age. It defines "intellectual disability" as significantly subaverage intellectual functioning with limitations in adaptive skills and "autism spectrum disorder" as defined in existing law. This change directly affects people with these conditions by strengthening legal protections and increases penalties for offenders targeting them.

Maddy summaryHB 104 amends Pennsylvania's protection from abuse law to define "electronic monitoring device" and allow courts to mandate its use for high-risk defendants. The bill defines a GPS-enabled device worn on the wrist or ankle that continuously tracks location within 100 miles, with data retained indefinitely by police. Courts may require this device for defendants found to pose a substantial risk of violating protection orders or committing crimes against victims, setting specific distance limits and restricted locations. The device must stay in place for the full duration of the protection order unless removed for "good cause" with notification to the victim. This directly affects individuals subject to abuse protection orders who are deemed high-risk by courts.