Rep. Roni Green

Maddy summaryHB 1770 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require public schools to offer an additional math program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This program would provide extra math instruction to help young students build foundational math skills during their early school years. The bill directly affects all K-5 public schools in Pennsylvania and the state education department, which would be responsible for developing and overseeing the program. It adds a specific requirement to the state's educational standards without changing existing curriculum structures.

Maddy summaryHB 1773 amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to legalize adult recreational cannabis use for individuals aged 21 and older. The bill establishes a regulatory framework for cannabis businesses, including licensing requirements, and imposes two specific taxes: a gross receipts tax on all cannabis sales and an excise tax on cannabis products. It also repeals outdated provisions in the existing Liquor Code that conflict with this new system. The bill is currently under review by the Health committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1778 establishes a pilot program called the Essential Energy Stability Fund to provide limited financial assistance for utility bills to eligible low-income households during off-season periods (outside regular peak billing cycles). The fund would use a dedicated state appropriation to help households manage unexpected energy costs when they might face financial strain. This temporary program is designed to test whether targeted off-season support can improve energy affordability for vulnerable residents. The bill focuses on concrete funding for direct assistance, not broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1762 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish a 12-month residency requirement for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. It directly affects students enrolling at Pennsylvania's public higher education institutions (including community colleges, State System universities, and State-related institutions) starting in the fall 2025 semester. To qualify for lower in-state tuition rates, students must have lived in Pennsylvania continuously for at least 12 months prior to enrollment. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, or immediately thereafter.

Maddy summaryHB 1761 prohibits water utilities and municipal authorities from charging "standby fees" to specific groups. It directly affects volunteer fire companies, nonprofit rescue squads, and nonprofit ambulance services (if they own/occupy buildings with fire protection systems and pay for them), as well as residential property owners with automatic fire protection systems. The bill defines a "standby charge" as an extra fee beyond the actual cost of water service for fire protection systems, and bans this practice. Existing charges for affected groups will continue until the next billing cycle after the law takes effect. The law amends both municipal and utility statutes to enforce this prohibition.

Maddy summaryHB 1756 allows volunteer fire companies, nonprofit rescue squads, ambulance services, and senior citizen centers in Pennsylvania to apply for electricity rates matching residential service costs instead of commercial rates. To qualify, these organizations must sign a one-year contract with their utility provider. The bill amends Pennsylvania's Public Utilities code (Title 66) to require utilities to offer this rate option upon request. This change directly affects eligible nonprofit organizations by potentially lowering their electricity costs through simplified rate access. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1754 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971 to update the definition of "compensation" for personal income tax purposes. It specifically clarifies that "compensation" includes salaries, wages, bonuses, and certain deferred income payments under federal law, while explicitly excluding government benefits like Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), TANF, and retirement payments. The bill does not change tax rates or create new taxes but provides clearer rules for what counts as taxable income under the state's tax code. This technical update primarily affects how Pennsylvania employers and taxpayers report income for state tax filing.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1755 amends Pennsylvania's Public Utilities code to include "tow truck operators" and "towing" in its official definitions. The bill grants the Public Utility Commission the authority to set insurance requirements for tow truck operators, similar to existing regulations for motor carriers. It mandates that all tow truck operators must carry public liability insurance or a surety bond for each vehicle, providing a minimum of $750,000 in coverage for accident claims involving bodily injury, death, or property damage.

Maddy summaryHB 1299 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to regulate automatic renewal and continuous service offers. It requires businesses to clearly disclose renewal terms, pricing after trials, and cancellation options in a way consumers can retain, and to allow online cancellation. The law applies to most subscription-based goods/services but excludes health clubs, federally regulated utilities, natural gas/electricity contracts, and insurance entities. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under existing enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 1668 allows first-class cities in Pennsylvania to create property tax incentives for owners of residential high-rise buildings to install automatic fire sprinkler systems and monitoring devices. It directly affects building owners in cities like Philadelphia by offering tax abatements or relief programs to encourage these safety upgrades. The bill amends the Fiscal Code to authorize this approach, focusing on concrete policy changes without mandating specific actions.