Rep. Jake Banta

Maddy summaryHB 172 amends Pennsylvania's utility billing rules to require public utilities to provide customers with clear payment deadlines: 20 days for residential customers and 15 days for nonresidential customers without late fees. It mandates itemized bills showing separate charges for basic service, taxes, and fuel adjustments, and specifies how fuel adjustment costs must be calculated for bimonthly or quarterly billing cycles. The bill also prohibits utilities from billing for service older than 12 months, except in cases of fraud, meter tampering, or pending commission proceedings. These changes directly affect residential and commercial utility customers across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 2138 creates a new legal standard for lawsuits alleging "negligent marketing" of firearms by manufacturers or sellers. It requires plaintiffs to prove four specific conditions before a lawsuit can proceed: (1) marketing directly targeted legally prohibited firearm owners, (2) encouraged unlawful firearm use, (3) showed a direct causal link to harm, and (4) demonstrated the manufacturer violated a specific regulatory statute. If these conditions aren't met, courts must dismiss the case and award fees to the defending manufacturer or seller. The bill directly affects plaintiffs seeking to sue firearm companies and provides stronger legal protections for those companies.

Maddy summaryHB 2137 creates a new "Military Event License Exemption" program for eligible military personnel and veterans in Pennsylvania. It exempts qualifying individuals (veterans with 30%+ service-connected disability, active/reserve members or veterans with Purple Heart, plus one assistant per person) from hunting license fees during approved events. Events must be hosted on private land with landowner approval, last no more than seven days, include no more than 10 participants, and require 14-day advance applications with documentation. The bill also modifies regulated hunting grounds permits to allow labeled packaging instead of tagging for birds killed under permit authority. (Bill: HB 2137, Section 2701(d) and 2928(f.1))

Maddy summaryThis bill narrows who can legally kill wildlife to protect farm property in Pennsylvania. It restricts the definition of "person" to only: (1) owners/lessees of farms under the state's Right-to-Farm Law, (2) their immediate family living on the farm, (3) household members residing there, or (4) employees regularly working the farm. Previously, broader categories like general land cultivators were included, but this amendment limits the exception strictly to active agricultural operations. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 170 modifies Pennsylvania's vehicle registration and inspection rules for farm vehicles. It creates three new weight-based categories (AA, BB, CC) for exempt farm vehicles, each with specific travel limits: Type AA (under 10,000 lbs) may travel up to 50 miles, Type BB (10,001-17,000 lbs) up to 25 miles, and Type CC (over 17,000 lbs) up to 10 miles between farms or related business locations. The bill also establishes corresponding biennial fees ($24-$100) based on vehicle weight and requires a valid inspection certificate for operation. This directly affects farmers using vehicles over 17,000 lbs, who must now display inspections but face fewer travel restrictions than non-exempt vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis procedural bill removes the Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations from further consideration of House Resolution 278. It allows House Resolution 278 to move directly to the full House for debate and voting under Rule 53, bypassing the committee review process. The bill itself does not change policy but alters the legislative path for another resolution.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 25, 2025, as "Disabled American Veterans Day" in Pennsylvania to honor veterans wounded in military service and recognize the advocacy and support provided by the Disabled American Veterans organization. It does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges these contributions through a state-recognized observance. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania residents by establishing a symbolic day of recognition for these veterans and the organization.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's process for disposing of unserviceable road and bridge materials, including millings (road surface fragments collected during repairs). It requires the state to first offer such materials for free to the local political subdivision (county, city, borough, or township) where they were used, if that subdivision agrees to transport them. If declined, materials are sold to other political subdivisions at the best price, with bidding for multiple requests, and all sales must be used for road, bridge, or street projects. Proceeds from sales are deposited into the Motor License Fund, which supports transportation infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 2066 repeals Pennsylvania's inheritance tax system by removing Article XXI ("Inheritance and Estate Tax Act") from the 1971 Tax Reform Code. This eliminates the state-level inheritance tax that would have applied to property transferred upon death. The bill directly affects individuals who would have owed this tax on estates or gifts, removing a layer of state taxation on inherited assets. The repeal is comprehensive, striking the entire framework of definitions, exemptions, and procedures related to inheritance tax from the tax code.

Maddy summaryHB 2032 amends Pennsylvania's retirement system rules for state employees and officers, affecting how they join, contribute to, and receive retirement benefits. It changes membership requirements (making some participation mandatory or optional), adjusts how years of service count toward benefits, and updates rules for ending retirement payments (annuities). The bill directly impacts current and future state workers by altering their retirement eligibility, contribution amounts, and benefit calculations under the state system. It does not change general public benefits but specifically targets state employee retirement program administration. The bill is currently under review by the State Government committee.