Rep. Danilo Burgos

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania real property laws to prevent homeowners and condominium owners from being blocked by deed restrictions or community rules from installing solar energy systems on their detached roofs or townhouse units. It establishes clear definitions for "solar energy systems" and "detached roofs" to ensure these protections apply to the correct types of residential properties. While the law prohibits outright bans, it allows homeowners' associations to set reasonable regulations regarding safety, aesthetics, and certification to maintain community standards. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted, giving communities time to update their governing documents.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts public access to eviction records in Pennsylvania by automatically placing such files under limited access seven years after the case is filed or once a judgment is satisfied. It prohibits courts, landlords, and consumer reporting agencies from sharing these records with the public or using them in tenant screening reports, while still allowing access to the parties involved, their attorneys, and specific entities like nonprofit researchers. Landlords are required to notify the court within 30 days if a tenant pays a money judgment in full or vacates the property by the agreed date. The legislation also creates a private right of action for tenants, allowing them to seek damages of up to two months' rent or $5,000, whichever is greater, along with attorney fees, if their eviction records are improperly disclosed.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill creates a new tax credit for active-duty military personnel, National Guard members, and reservists to encourage fitness spending. It allows these service members to claim up to $600 per year against their state income tax for costs related to sports and fitness activities, such as gym memberships or exercise equipment. The legislation also adds specific rules to the tax code that permit businesses to deduct the cost of providing free or discounted gym memberships to qualified military individuals, provided the discount does not exceed the standard membership price paid by others. These changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2023, and are administered by the Department of Revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates September 2024 as "Back to School Month" throughout Pennsylvania. It is a symbolic resolution intended to highlight the start of the academic year and the state's commitment to public education. The measure does not create new laws, funding, or administrative requirements but serves to recognize the importance of schools for students, families, and educators.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that officially recognizes October 2024 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month within Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or change government policies but serves to formally acknowledge the importance of employment opportunities for the state's approximately 2.7 million adults with disabilities. The resolution highlights the theme of providing access to good jobs for all and encourages employers and community organizations to promote inclusive hiring practices during the month.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Milk Marketing Law to update penalties for milk dealers and establish certification requirements for testers and weighers. It allows the regulatory board to accept a monetary fine instead of suspending a dealer's license for certain violations, while also mandating that all butterfat and component tests be conducted by certified professionals. The legislation creates new certification programs for milk testers and weighers, requiring applicants to pass exams and maintain records for two years. Additionally, it sets the term for these professional certificates at a maximum of two years and requires them to be displayed visibly at the place of employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Online Safety Protection Act, requires businesses that provide online services likely to be used by children to prioritize the privacy, safety, and well-being of minors over commercial interests. Companies covered by the law must conduct data protection impact assessments to ensure their products do not cause foreseeable physical, financial, or psychological harm, nor engage in discriminatory practices or use deceptive design tricks called dark patterns. The legislation also defines specific rules for how personal information can be collected and sold, while excluding deidentified data and publicly available information from these restrictions. Penalties are imposed on entities that fail to comply with these duties to protect children's best interests.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Net Operating Loss Transfer Program in Pennsylvania to allow certain new or expanding biotechnology and technology businesses to sell their unused tax losses to other companies. The program specifically targets businesses that have been operating in the state for five years or less and employ at least 15% of their U.S. workforce within Pennsylvania. Under the new rules, these "selling taxpayers" can transfer the value of their tax benefits to "purchasing taxpayers," who may then use those benefits to offset their own taxable income. The legislation also updates penalty provisions for tax violations and renumbers existing sections of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to reflect these changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2500 legalizes the adult use of cannabis in Pennsylvania by establishing a regulatory framework for its possession, sale, and consumption. The bill designates the Department of Agriculture as the primary agency responsible for overseeing the industry, including licensing businesses and enforcing rules on advertising, packaging, and laboratory testing. It creates two new funds to support the industry and promote social equity, while also imposing specific sales and excise taxes on cannabis products. Additionally, the legislation consolidates existing medical cannabis provisions and transfers certain regulatory powers from the Department of Health to the Department of Agriculture.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws to strengthen the legal protection of confidential communications between journalists and their sources during judicial and administrative proceedings. It ensures that interpreters for people with limited English proficiency or hearing impairments cannot be forced to reveal what was said in these protected conversations. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the definition of a "journalist" to include freelance and non-professional reporters while maintaining an exception for cases involving imminent threats of violence. The changes apply to all types of media, including newspapers, radio, television, and magazines, and will take effect 60 days after becoming law.