Rep. Jake Banta

Maddy summaryHB 691 amends Pennsylvania's Public Official Compensation Law to update how annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) are calculated and published for state legislators and legislative leaders. The bill maintains that COLA will continue to be based on the Consumer Price Index for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland area, with adjustments calculated using the most recent 12-month data. It specifies that adjusted salaries for legislators must be published within 10 days of determination, while adjustments for legislative leaders (like the Speaker or Majority Leader) must be published 20 days before the change takes effect. This bill directly affects the compensation of all members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and their top leadership.

Maddy summaryHB 647 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to require county election boards to enter agreements with the judicial system. Specifically, it directs boards to receive records about county residents claiming juror ineligibility due to citizenship status and investigate the voter registration of those individuals. This provision directly affects county election boards by adding a new administrative duty to verify voter eligibility through jury qualification records. The bill does not change voting rights or election procedures, but creates a formal process for cross-checking voter registration with jury eligibility claims. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 585 amends Pennsylvania's statutory interpretation rules by adding "legislative interpretations" to the list of factors courts must consider when determining a statute's meaning. Specifically, it revises Section 1921(c)(8) of Title 1 to explicitly include how lawmakers themselves interpreted a law as a valid consideration. This change directly affects courts and legal interpreters when resolving ambiguities in existing Pennsylvania laws. The bill makes a technical adjustment to statutory construction procedures without creating new policies or affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryHB 582 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to exclude the sale of firearms and ammunition from state sales and use tax. It directly affects firearm retailers and buyers, as these items will no longer be subject to tax when purchased at retail. The bill adds a specific exclusion (section 204(77)) defining "firearm" as a weapon designed to expel projectiles via explosives and "ammunition" as bullets or shells for such weapons. This change takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 546 creates a military exception for minors under 18 seeking a junior driver's license in Pennsylvania. It allows the state to count time spent with a learner's permit and driving practice hours completed in another state toward eligibility requirements. This applies specifically to minors who are family members of active duty military members living in Pennsylvania with them, hold a valid out-of-state learner's permit, and have received a Pennsylvania learner's permit. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation must credit this prior experience if all conditions are met.

Maddy summaryHB 515, the Household Appliance Freedom Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state agencies and local municipalities from banning or restricting the sale, installation, or use of natural gas-powered home heating equipment, appliances, outdoor grills and stoves, and outdoor natural gas torches or lamps. The law allows individuals affected by such restrictions to file a civil lawsuit within 180 days seeking an injunction or damages. It becomes effective 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 514 allows Pennsylvania municipalities to spread saltwater brine (a byproduct of oil/gas drilling) on local roads for dust control or road stabilization, but only from wells that are *not* unconventional (like fracking sites). Municipalities can also delegate this task to others under their direct supervision. The bill prohibits state agencies from requiring additional approvals for this use, while requiring brine spreading to stay at least 150 feet away from all water bodies. This directly affects local governments managing roads and operators of conventional oil/gas wells. The law takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 424 allows Pennsylvania local governments (like cities, counties, or municipal authorities) to publish redundant legal advertisements online alongside traditional newspaper notices. If a newspaper fails to publish an ad on time, the online version becomes valid. Local governments must keep proof of both newspaper payment (like a receipt) and the online posting. This bill amends Titles 45 (Legal Notices) and 65 (Public Officers) to formalize this online redundancy option for public notice requirements. It directly affects political subdivisions responsible for legal advertising and public meeting notices.

Maddy summaryHB 447 requires Pennsylvania public schools, private/parochial schools, and government entities to clearly include three specific pieces of information in all communications about immunization requirements: (1) the types of exemptions allowed, (2) that exemptions are accepted, and (3) how to obtain an exemption. This applies to all notices, postings, or publications related to immunization policies. The bill does not change existing immunization requirements or exemption rules but mandates transparent communication about them. It directly affects schools, districts, and government bodies managing student health records and enrollment. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 451 reinstates licenses suspended or revoked for failing to comply with Pennsylvania's pandemic-related health orders during the state's emergency period (March 6, 2020, to when the Governor's proclamation ended). It directly affects healthcare professionals and other licensed workers whose licenses were disciplined for non-compliance with specific COVID-19 protocols, including Governor proclamations, health department orders, or pandemic guidance. The bill automatically removes these disciplinary actions from records without requiring new applications or hearings. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.