Rep. Joe Hohenstein

Maddy summaryHB 2018 requires Pennsylvania law enforcement and courts to disclose specific criminal history records and abuse-related information to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board and local review teams. It directly affects domestic violence fatality review boards, teams, and the individuals whose records are shared. The bill establishes a formal Domestic Violence Fatality Review Program to collect and analyze this information for improving responses to domestic violence cases. Key provisions mandate the disclosure of certain records to these review bodies, aiming to better understand factors in domestic violence fatalities.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 402) urges the U.S. Congress to require meaningful accountability and civil rights reforms before approving new funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It directly addresses federal agencies by demanding reforms like enforceable use-of-force standards, independent reviews of serious incidents, and public release of body-camera footage after deaths or injuries during enforcement. The resolution cites the January 2026 deaths of two U.S. citizens during an ICE operation in Minneapolis as a catalyst for requiring transparency and oversight before additional federal appropriations are granted. It does not create new law but calls on Congress to condition future funding on specific, concrete reforms to protect civil rights and public safety.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Pennsylvania's Secretary of the Commonwealth to collaborate with the U.S. Secretary of State and federal partners to compile and publicly share a list of vetted humanitarian, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations in Haiti. It aims to help Pennsylvania residents - particularly those with Haitian connections - safely and effectively support relief efforts amid Haiti's ongoing crisis. The resolution also encourages state agencies and community groups to identify ethical partnership opportunities for aiding Haitian recovery, aligning with recent UN humanitarian reports on Haiti's needs. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but requests coordinated action to streamline assistance pathways.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 397) urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 2540, the SSI Savings Penalty Elimination Act. The resolution supports increasing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) resource limits from $2,000 (individual) and $3,000 (couple) to $10,000 and $20,000, respectively - adjusting for inflation since 1989. It directly affects SSI recipients (primarily seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals) who currently lose benefits or face penalties for holding savings or assets above current limits. The resolution notes that current rules cause over 70,000 annual benefit reductions and 40,000 terminations, limiting financial security and housing options.

Maddy summaryHB 2148 requires Pennsylvania school entities (including school districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) to adopt policies ensuring all students, parents, guardians, and school personnel can access school property regardless of immigration status. Specifically, schools must develop and publicly adopt inclusive policies within 90 days of the bill’s effective date, requiring school boards to approve these policies via public resolution with 45 days’ notice. Policies must be published in all languages spoken by students at home and reviewed quarterly to maintain accessibility. The bill explicitly prohibits immigration or law enforcement officials (including ICE, Customs, and local agencies acting under federal immigration authority) from restricting access to school zones without proper legal process. This directly affects all Pennsylvania public and private schools serving students, mandating concrete procedural changes to protect school access.

Maddy summaryHB 2134 amends Pennsylvania's emergency services laws to update grant programs for fire companies and emergency medical services (EMS) providers. It creates a new "Fire Department Identification Number" (FDID) system requiring the State Fire Commissioner to assign unique five-character codes to fire departments, hazardous materials teams, and specialty teams. The bill repeals outdated COVID-19 emergency grant programs and establishes new funding streams for hazardous materials teams, specialty teams, and standard fire/EMS company grants, while clarifying how funds are allocated and requiring annual reports. These changes directly affect fire companies, EMS providers, and the State Fire Commissioner's office by modernizing administrative processes and funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2129 repeals an existing provision about the expiration of unconventional gas well fees and establishes a new severance tax on natural gas extracted from unconventional gas wells. The tax applies to producers (companies or individuals extracting natural gas) starting July 1 of the year after the bill's effective date, calculated using base and additional tax rates. It creates a new tax administration framework in Chapter 43 of Pennsylvania's oil and gas statutes, including penalties for non-compliance. The bill explicitly states this new tax does not affect the existing collection and distribution of the unconventional gas well fee.

Maddy summaryHB 2127 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to adjust tax credit rules for waterfront development projects. It increases the maximum tax credit for businesses from 75% to 90% of their contribution and doubles the annual cap on total credits from $5 million to $10 million. The bill also requires the Department of Revenue to review applications and renewals from waterfront development organizations within 60 days and limits contributions used for future maintenance to no more than 15%. These changes directly affect businesses contributing to waterfront development projects and the organizations managing these projects.

Maddy summaryHB 2125 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to strengthen tenant protections in rental properties. It restricts evictions to four specific reasons: nonpayment of rent, a second or subsequent lease violation within six months, a change in land use, or property termination. The bill requires landlords to provide written notices via certified mail before eviction proceedings, with 20-day notice for rent nonpayment (April-September) or 30 days otherwise, and prohibits self-help evictions like lockouts. It also mandates that community rules be uniformly applied to all tenants and posted clearly, with a required "Important Notice" explaining tenant rights and eviction procedures. This bill directly affects tenants and landlords in rental properties governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act.

Maddy summaryHB 2126 requires Pennsylvania residents to obtain a new "firearm eligibility license" to purchase a firearm, making it illegal to possess a firearm without this license. The bill adds an exception allowing individuals with an expired carry license (within six months) to carry a firearm without penalty if eligible for renewal. It also ensures that individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm (including those without the eligibility license) cannot obtain a license to carry, affecting both firearm purchasers and carry license applicants.