Rep. Danilo Burgos

Maddy summaryHB 423 establishes Pennsylvania's Future Voter Program, allowing high school students aged 16-17 to preregister to vote before turning 18. The bill requires schools to hold voter registration events during Constitution and Citizenship Day (September 17), providing applications and online registration opportunities for eligible students. Students who preregister will not be added to the voter registry until they reach age 18. The program mandates school entities to coordinate these events, with the Secretary of Education and Secretary of the Commonwealth overseeing implementation. This directly affects all high school students in Pennsylvania who are 16 or 17 years old.

Maddy summaryHB 435 amends Pennsylvania's Air Pollution Control Act to adjust monitoring requirements for cement plants. It allows the Department of Environmental Resources to remove opacity monitor requirements for cement plants already subject to federal particulate matter (PM) emissions limits, provided those plants use PM monitors. This directly affects cement facilities regulated under federal standards (40 CFR Pt. 63 Subpt. LLL). The change simplifies compliance by eliminating redundant monitoring where PM emissions are already tracked under federal law. The bill focuses on aligning state regulations with existing federal oversight for these facilities.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates January 2025 as "School Director Recognition Month" in Pennsylvania. It honors the 4,500 locally elected school directors who volunteer to lead public school districts, set educational standards, manage budgets, and advocate for students. The resolution does not create new laws or funding; it is a symbolic gesture to acknowledge their service. The House will send a copy to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association to support the recognition effort.

Maddy summaryHB 391 requires all school buses in Pennsylvania to install video monitoring systems by July 1, 2026. The system must include internal cameras covering every seat and either an external camera or a forward-facing camera to monitor the road ahead. School bus operators, including school districts and transportation contractors, will be directly affected by this requirement. The state Department of Transportation will create specific regulations to implement the law. This bill focuses on enhancing safety monitoring during school bus operations.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 32) designates March 16-22, 2025, as "Sunshine Week" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes an existing nonpartisan observance initiated by the American Society of News Editors and Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, which highlights open government and public access to information. The resolution urges all Pennsylvania residents to participate in this symbolic observance, which aligns with James Madison's birthday and focuses on the importance of transparency in government. It does not create new laws, affect any specific group, or alter legal obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 387 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require public schools to notify parents, guardians, or custodial parents about specific incidents involving students. It mandates timely notification for incidents that must be reported in school safety reports (Section 1319-B) or serious injuries occurring on school property, buses, or school activities. Schools must maintain updated contact information, use preferred notification methods (email, text, etc.), and train staff on these requirements. Non-compliant schools risk losing state funding, as specified in Section 1314-A(f). This directly affects all Pennsylvania public schools and their students' families.

Maddy summaryHB 358 requires newly constructed apartment buildings and condominiums that are at least two stories above grade to have a minimum of two elevators within one year of the regulations taking effect. Owners must ensure at least one elevator remains operational unless the outage was beyond their control. The law applies only to buildings constructed on or after the effective date of the new regulations, affecting developers and property owners of new multi-story residential projects. The bill defines "apartment building" as a structure housing three or more separate households and references existing condominium definitions in Pennsylvania law.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania House Resolution 27 urges the U.S. President and Congress to reexamine U.S. foreign policy toward Ethiopia. It cites concerns about Ethiopia's democratic backsliding, ethnic conflict, and human rights violations - including arbitrary arrests, civilian attacks, and restrictions on freedoms like speech and religion. The resolution calls for U.S. policy reassessment to support democratic institutions, protect human rights, and end violence against civilians. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change policy but formally expresses Pennsylvania's position to federal leaders.

Maddy summaryHB 357 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to exempt specific property transfers from realty transfer tax. It directly affects surviving spouses and minor children of public safety personnel (police, firefighters, etc.) who died while performing official duties, as defined by the 1976 Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act. The key provision excludes transfers where the property was the deceased's principal residence, and the transfer occurs within five years of death under defined conditions (e.g., the surviving spouse married within one year before the death, or the property was the deceased's residence regardless of the child's current residence). This creates a tax exemption for these specific family transitions without altering the broader tax structure. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 334 creates a $2,500 Pennsylvania Individual Recruitment and Retention Tax Credit for specific new professionals who move to the state after December 2024. It directly affects qualifying taxpayers certified in teaching (e.g., instructional or special education certificates), law enforcement (e.g., police academy graduates), or healthcare (e.g., registered nurses) who become Pennsylvania residents and secure employment in those fields. The credit reduces their state income tax bill for wages earned in qualifying roles, available for three consecutive years (including the first qualifying year), and requires proof of certification to the Department of Revenue. The credit expires December 31, 2030, and applies only to individuals becoming qualifying taxpayers between 2025 and 2027.