Rep. Andrew Kuzma

Maddy summaryHB 981 standardizes Pennsylvania voter registration forms and creates a new process for sharing applicant information with state agencies. It requires election commissions to send voter registration details (name, residence/mailing addresses) to the Department of Transportation, Human Services, Revenue, and local governments within 30 days. The bill mandates that all registration forms include a notice explaining this data sharing, which agencies will use to verify residency and connect applicants with eligible services. This directly affects voters completing registration forms, election offices handling applications, and state/local agencies providing services tied to residency.

Maddy summaryHB 975 creates a new state crime in Pennsylvania for trafficking undocumented immigrants. It makes it a third-degree felony to encourage or induce an undocumented immigrant to enter or remain in the state by concealing, harboring, or shielding them from law enforcement or federal immigration authorities, which violates federal law. The offense becomes a second-degree felony if it creates a substantial risk of serious harm, death, involves a minor, or involves knowledge of forced labor or sex work. This law directly affects individuals who facilitate undocumented immigrants' presence in Pennsylvania through concealment, clarifying that such actions are punishable under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 978 updates Pennsylvania's Election Code with technical procedural changes. It modifies requirements for election officers to be sworn in (Section 406), updates candidate affidavit rules (Section 630.1), and clarifies nomination petition rules (Section 909), including how petitions may be formatted and circulated. The bill also replaces all references to "justice of the peace" with "magisterial district judge" throughout the code. These changes affect election officials, candidates, and voters by standardizing administrative procedures in election administration.

Maddy summaryHB 438 amends Pennsylvania's Local Tax Collection Law to allow taxpayers to remove a deceased spouse's name from real estate tax bills. It directly affects homeowners who are now required to submit a written request and a death certificate to both their tax collector and county assessment office. The key provision, added as Section 6.1, creates a formal process for this removal without requiring court action. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 333 adds two specific road segments to Pennsylvania's state highway system under the Township State Highway Law. It designates Bow Creek Road (T-612) in Dauphin County and Susquehanna Trail (T-956) in York County as state highways after required improvements. The bill requires local townships (South Hanover and East Hanover in Dauphin County, Conewago in York County) to formally accept the turn-back of these existing roads from the state before maintenance responsibility transfers. Once accepted and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the state Department of Transportation will no longer maintain these routes, shifting responsibility to the townships. This is a procedural update to highway maintenance jurisdiction, not a new funding or service.

Maddy summaryHB 952 requires public utilities in Pennsylvania to provide landlords with written notice at least seven days before terminating utility service to a property they own. Landlords must have previously notified the utility in writing about their ownership interest, and utilities must send the notice via mail, email, or text (with the landlord's prior consent for electronic contact). If the issue causing the termination isn't resolved, a final notice must be sent by mail on the termination date. This applies to landlords but excludes "landlord ratepayers." The bill aims to prevent abrupt service disruptions for property owners.

Maddy summaryHB 958 amends Pennsylvania's 1978 Storm Water Management Act to update the Department of Environmental Resources to the Department of Environmental Protection and clarify its responsibilities. The bill requires the department to provide technical assistance to local governments for implementing storm water plans and conduct annual water quality testing of surface waters, with backup options for testing if resources are limited. It also streamlines the approval process for watershed storm water plans and clarifies grant eligibility for municipalities and counties to cover storm water management costs. These changes directly affect local governments, small storm sewer systems, and the state environmental department in managing storm water infrastructure and water quality.

Maddy summaryHB 685 requires Pennsylvania schools to accept U.S. currency as payment for admission to school-sponsored activities, such as athletic events, assemblies, or field trips. It applies to all school entities, including public school districts, charter schools, and private schools participating in school activities. The bill mandates that cash must be accepted when fees are charged, while allowing schools to also accept other payment methods like credit cards. It defines "cash" as U.S. coins and paper money recognized as legal tender and clarifies that schools may refuse payments in large denominations that exceed the fee amount.

Maddy summaryHB 920 amends Pennsylvania's bail procedures under Title 42, requiring courts to apply returned cash bail toward restitution, fines, fees, and costs in criminal or delinquency cases unless the defendant or depositor demonstrates undue hardship. It directly affects individuals who post cash bail (defendants or third parties) by changing how unclaimed bail funds are handled after a case concludes. Key provisions include mandating written notice to depositors about this rule before accepting cash bail and specifying that funds must cover court-ordered payments unless hardship is proven. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 941 amends Pennsylvania law to set a five-year statute of limitations for prosecuting certain major offenses, meaning prosecutors must file charges within five years of the crime's commission. It specifically applies to offenses like attempted murder (without actual murder), conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, burglary, fraud, robbery, and witness intimidation, among others listed in the bill. The bill does not change the crimes themselves but establishes a uniform five-year deadline for initiating prosecutions for these specific offenses. This change affects prosecutors who must file charges within this timeframe and defendants who may face charges within the new window. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.