Rep. Seth Grove

Maddy summaryHB 278 amends Pennsylvania's lobbying disclosure laws to increase transparency. It updates the definition of "personnel expense" to include all lobbying-related compensation (salaries, benefits, travel, etc.) for lobbyists, staff, and exempt individuals. The bill lowers the reporting threshold from $2,500 to $1 for expenses related to lobbying, requiring electronic reports for any amount above zero. It also establishes biennial registration for lobbyists (with automatic renewal) and mandates additional reporting when lobbyists work with entities exempt from standard registration. These changes directly affect lobbyists, lobbying firms, and principals who engage in lobbying activities within Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 236 amends Pennsylvania's obscenity law to explicitly exempt public libraries, school/university libraries, and state or municipal archives from the offense of displaying obscene materials. The bill updates Section 5903(j) of Title 18 to clarify that recognized historical societies, museums, public libraries, and educational institution libraries are not subject to these restrictions. This change directly affects libraries and archives operating under educational or governmental supervision by removing ambiguity about their legal protections. The amendment does not create new offenses but ensures these institutions can legally display materials as part of their public service.

Maddy summaryHB 125 proposes a constitutional amendment to change when the Pennsylvania General Assembly must convene, moving the regular session start date from the first Tuesday in January to December 1 each year. The amendment would require the legislature to meet annually on December 1, unless the Governor calls a special session under existing rules. The bill also outlines the approval process: after two legislative votes, the amendment must be advertised and then submitted to voters at the next applicable primary, general, or municipal election. If approved by voters, the change would take effect, altering the annual meeting schedule for the state legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 163 amends Pennsylvania's 1980 law to prohibit entities from "countries of concern" (including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, and Venezuela) and foreign governments from acquiring agricultural land, except through inheritance or as security for debt. It requires title companies to verify compliance with the law, imposing a $1,000 civil penalty for willful failure to do so, and authorizes the Attorney General to investigate violations. Violating entities must forfeit the land to the Commonwealth, which will sell it at auction; proceeds cover sale costs, reimburse the Attorney General for investigation expenses, pay lienholders, and then fund the General Fund. The law defines agricultural land broadly (including cropland and livestock operations) but excludes mineral rights and non-farm zoning.

Maddy summaryHB 160 amends Pennsylvania's prevailing wage law by raising the cost threshold for public construction projects subject to prevailing wage requirements from $25,000 to $257,000 (adjusted annually for inflation). The new threshold uses the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland to account for inflation each March. This change exempts smaller public projects (under $257,000) from prevailing wage rules, while larger projects remain covered. The amendment applies to contracts entered into 60 days after the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 115 establishes new ballot access rules for candidates running for specific offices in Pennsylvania, including U.S. President, U.S. Congress, statewide positions, state legislature, judgeships, and local offices. To appear on the ballot, candidates must either submit a petition with signatures or pay a set filing fee, with amounts ranging from $3,000 for state House candidates to $38,500 for presidential candidates. The bill requires the Department of State to collect these fees and distribute a portion to counties while retaining a fixed amount for administrative costs. This policy directly affects candidates seeking these offices by changing how they qualify for ballot placement.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ballot Access Improvement Act, establishes a new option for candidates in Pennsylvania to gain access to the ballot by paying a filing fee instead of submitting a traditional nomination petition. It applies to a wide range of offices, including federal positions, statewide roles, and local judgeships, allowing candidates to choose between the standard petition process or a direct fee payment. The legislation sets specific fee amounts based on the office sought, ranging from $3,000 for state representatives to $38,500 for the presidency, and outlines how these funds will be distributed to counties and the Department of State for election administration. Additionally, the bill defines strict deadlines for fee payment, mandates the issuance of receipts to candidates, and clarifies that these fees are non-refundable even if a candidate withdraws.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's budget rules by requiring the state to submit a seven-year financial plan to the General Assembly. The new requirement mandates that the budget include actual spending from the previous year, current available funds, the proposed budget for the next year, and estimated accounts for the following four years. This change directly affects how the executive branch prepares and presents financial information to lawmakers. The law will become active 60 days after it is signed.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called masked intimidation in Pennsylvania, which occurs when someone wearing a facial covering intentionally harasses, intimidates, or threatens another person or group with the goal of making them fear for their physical safety. The offense is classified as a third-degree misdemeanor, but the law includes specific exceptions that allow individuals to wear masks for purposes such as costumes, religious reasons, occupational safety, weather protection, or health measures like limiting the spread of illness. The legislation explicitly states that it does not infringe upon First Amendment rights and defines key terms like harassment and intimidation to focus on conduct based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, or gender identity.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's election laws to require that all voter registration applicants provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. It specifies acceptable documents, such as a valid passport, military ID, or a birth certificate paired with other supporting evidence, and mandates that election officials verify this information during the registration process. The legislation also establishes penalties for officials who fail to perform these duties and creates a legal pathway for individuals to sue if they believe their citizenship verification rights were violated. Additionally, it updates the rules for removing voter registration records, allowing for cancellation only when an elector is confirmed to be non-citizen or has moved away.