Rep. Seth Grove

Maddy summaryHB 1208 amends Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law to allow construction sites disturbing 1 to 5 acres of land to apply for a waiver from the standard stormwater discharge permit requirement. This waiver follows a specific federal regulation (40 CFR 122.26(b)(15)(i)) that governs stormwater permits for smaller projects. The bill directly affects smaller construction developments by offering a streamlined permitting path instead of the usual process. It does not change pollution control standards but simplifies compliance for sites within this size range.

Maddy summaryHB 1182 would allow biological mothers to seek court-ordered financial support from biological fathers for an unborn child, starting from the mother's first prenatal medical visit. Courts could order retroactive payments and require fathers to pay based on their financial ability, but paternity establishment would need the mother's consent and couldn't risk harm to the unborn child. The bill excludes cases where a father terminated parental rights solely for sperm donation used in artificial insemination. This amendment to Pennsylvania's domestic relations law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1184 imposes a temporary pause on new or expanded health insurance coverage requirements (mandated benefits) in Pennsylvania. It directly affects insurers and employers who would otherwise be required to cover new treatments, equipment, or provider-specific services under health insurance policies. The bill requires the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study existing state-mandated health benefits by December 2026, analyzing their costs, fiscal impact, and effectiveness. The study must also determine if current mandates trigger federal payment obligations. The moratorium takes effect immediately and remains in place until the committee submits its report.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends House Rule 45(a) to establish a Pennsylvania House Election Observer Program (PA HEOP) under the Government Oversight Committee. It allows current House members or candidates to request bipartisan election observers for House election districts 30 days before an election, with observers granted full access to all election processes (voting, counting, etc.) at polling locations and election offices. The committee must develop observer guidelines, notify election officials of observer assignments, and submit post-election reports assessing ballot security and vote totals. The program directly affects House members/candidates making requests, county election offices, and election workers, while maintaining strict rules prohibiting observers from handling ballots or interfering with voting procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1181 amends Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to clarify how employers can recover costs from third parties when a work injury is caused by someone else. It specifies that attorney fees and expenses must be shared between employers and employees based on the portion of compensation the employer paid. The bill also allows employers to seek reimbursement for payments made for injuries initially deemed non-compensable, if agreed upon during settlement. This affects employers, employees, and third parties involved in workers' compensation claims where a third party is liable.

Maddy summaryHB 1156 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to strengthen eligibility verification for medical assistance and food stamp programs. The bill requires the state department to regularly review data from other agencies, including monthly checks for gambling winnings over $3,000 (via the Gaming Control Board), death records (from the Department of Health), and residency changes (via out-of-state EBT), plus quarterly checks for employment and income changes (from Labor and Revenue). It also prohibits the department from accepting eligibility determinations from health insurance exchanges without verification and bans self-attestation for key factors like income, residency, or household composition without prior verification. These changes update the verification process to align with current data-sharing capabilities.

Maddy summaryHB 541 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle registration law to expand who can verify lost, stolen, damaged, or illegible license plates. It allows trained staff in state legislators' district offices (after department-approved training) and contracted messenger service employees to serve as authorized representatives for this purpose. The bill directly affects vehicle owners needing to replace plates by adding these new verification options. It does not change fees, timelines, or the core registration process, only specifying who may complete the verification step.

Maddy summaryHB 1105 requires Pennsylvania state agencies to undergo regular zero-based budget reviews, mandating that every program be justified from scratch at least once every five years. Starting in 2026, the Secretary of the Budget must review approximately one-fifth of the state budget annually, with agencies required to submit detailed plans explaining each program's legal basis, estimated impacts if discontinued, and itemized costs for maintaining services at both minimum and current levels. This directly affects all state agencies and the Budget Secretary, shifting budget decisions away from incremental adjustments to past spending. The bill aims to eliminate outdated programs by requiring agencies to prove the necessity and cost-effectiveness of each activity through specific documentation, not just historical spending patterns. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1076 shortens Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for collecting most assessed taxes from 10 years to 7 years. It applies to taxes where the settlement, determination, or assessment becomes final after January 1, 2026, including taxes from nonfiled returns due after that date. The bill specifies that filing a tax lien does not extend this 7-year collection period. This change directly affects taxpayers with unpaid taxes and the Department of Revenue, which must collect within the new timeframe. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1061 requires Pennsylvania voter registration applicants to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when applying to register. This applies to all registration methods - online, in-person, by mail, or with a driver's license application. Acceptable proof includes passports, birth certificates, military IDs, naturalization documents, or other government-issued IDs showing U.S. birthplace. The bill mandates that election officials verify citizenship during registration and adds penalties for officials who fail to comply. It directly affects anyone seeking to register to vote in Pennsylvania.