Rep. Keith Greiner

Maddy summaryHB 189 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle registration law to exempt multipurpose agricultural vehicles from registration requirements. This change directly affects farmers who use such vehicles exclusively on their own farms or on highways connecting parts of a single farm or between two farms within 10 miles of each other. The bill specifies that these vehicles cannot be used for general public road travel outside of farm-related activities. The exemption applies only to vehicles owned or operated by the farm owner, not to commercial or non-agricultural vehicles. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 160 amends Pennsylvania's prevailing wage law by raising the cost threshold for public construction projects subject to prevailing wage requirements from $25,000 to $257,000 (adjusted annually for inflation). The new threshold uses the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland to account for inflation each March. This change exempts smaller public projects (under $257,000) from prevailing wage rules, while larger projects remain covered. The amendment applies to contracts entered into 60 days after the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 83) amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to allow minors aged 16 to 18 to consent independently to mental health treatment (both inpatient and outpatient) without parental permission. It establishes clear rules for when minors or parents can revoke consent and requires courts to hold a hearing within 72 hours if a minor objects to continued treatment, with strict criteria for overriding their wishes. The law explicitly excludes minors with "special needs" (defined as intellectual disabilities with adaptive limitations) from these provisions. It applies specifically to mental health services, not general medical care, and clarifies liability for providers who rely on a minor's consent.

Maddy summaryHB 105 clarifies Pennsylvania's inheritance tax law by explicitly stating that up to $100,000 of a decedent's estate is exempt from tax, with this exemption apportioned among all inheritances based on each inheritance's share of the total estate. The bill does not change the exemption amount but ensures the law clearly specifies it as $100,000. This affects Pennsylvania residents who inherit property, as the exemption reduces the taxable portion of their inheritance. The provision takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 85 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to clarify that discrimination against Jewish people based on religious creed includes actions defined as antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and its contemporary examples. The bill explicitly states that criticism of Israel, when similar to criticism of any other country, does not count as unlawful discrimination. This change directly affects employers, labor organizations, and others covered by the Human Relations Act, providing a clear standard for prohibited religious discrimination. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 114 establishes the Independent Energy Office within Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission to protect the state's electricity grid reliability and affordability. The office, led by an Energy Advocate appointed by the Consumer Advocate and confirmed by the Senate, will review state agency actions (like regulations or policies) to determine if they harm energy costs or grid stability. If an agency's action is found harmful, the office can require the agency to reverse it, and if the agency refuses, the office may block or reverse the action itself. This directly affects state agencies whose energy-related decisions are evaluated, with the goal of safeguarding consumer energy costs and grid operations.

Maddy summaryHB 54 amends Pennsylvania's Religious Freedom Protection Act to clarify what constitutes a "substantially burden" on religious exercise and restricts when government exceptions may apply. It adds specific definitions, including that a "substantially burden" occurs when government actions significantly constrain religious conduct, curtail expression, deny fundamental religious activities, compel violations of faith, prevent physical gatherings for worship, or authorize penalties for religious practice. The bill explicitly prohibits agencies from using emergency powers under the Governor's authority (Article IV, Section 20 of the Constitution) or the Disease Prevention Law as exceptions to religious freedom protections. This directly affects Pennsylvania residents seeking to exercise their religion without government interference, particularly during emergencies. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's budget rules by requiring the state to submit a seven-year financial plan to the General Assembly. The new requirement mandates that the budget include actual spending from the previous year, current available funds, the proposed budget for the next year, and estimated accounts for the following four years. This change directly affects how the executive branch prepares and presents financial information to lawmakers. The law will become active 60 days after it is signed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's stalking laws by clarifying the specific actions that constitute the crime of stalking under Title 18. It directly affects individuals who engage in repeated courses of conduct or communications toward another person, such as following someone without authority. The key provision defines stalking as knowingly or recklessly placing another person in reasonable fear of bodily injury or causing them substantial emotional distress. The bill also removes previous language regarding the intent behind these actions, focusing instead on the actual fear or distress caused. If passed, these changes would take effect 60 days after the law is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's stalking laws by clarifying how the offense is graded based on the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. Under the new provisions, a first stalking offense remains a misdemeanor, but it becomes a felony if the person has a prior history of violence against the same victim or family member. The legislation also establishes stricter penalties when an adult stalks a minor, elevating the crime to a felony depending on the age gap between them. These changes directly affect individuals charged with stalking and aim to provide clearer sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders and cases involving minors.