Rep. Ryan Warner

Maddy summaryHB 154 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to establish new requirements for voting machine certification and operation. It requires the Secretary of the Commonwealth to examine and approve machines, including testing software, fail-safes, and equipment reliability, and mandates that newly approved machines after 2026 must use open-source software, be manufactured in the U.S., and comply with federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines. County election boards must publicly test machines 35 days before elections, with notices published online and video recordings shared publicly. Existing machines purchased before 2026 are exempt from new requirements. The bill directly affects county election boards, voting machine vendors, and election security processes across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 112 amends Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law to clarify which vehicles are covered under the law. It adds a new definition for "farm equipment" as new, unused vehicles exclusively designed for agricultural use (like planting or harvesting) that are registered in Pennsylvania. This change explicitly includes farm equipment under the definition of "new motor vehicle" in the law, ensuring these vehicles qualify for lemon law protections. The bill directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses purchasing or leasing such vehicles in Pennsylvania. The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 89 requires Pennsylvania telecom companies to respond to equipment or infrastructure failures within 90 minutes if the failure prompts volunteer firefighters to deploy. If they fail to respond on time, the company must pay the volunteer fire company $1,000 for each hour the firefighters are actively deployed. This applies specifically to volunteer fire departments as defined under Pennsylvania law (35 Pa.C.S. § 7802). The bill creates a direct financial obligation for telecom companies when their failures disrupt emergency response, targeting infrastructure reliability for volunteer fire services.

Maddy summaryHB 70 changes Pennsylvania's regular antlered deer hunting season to begin on the first Monday following Thanksgiving each year. This directly affects deer hunters across the state by establishing a fixed seasonal start date, overriding previous regulations. The bill amends Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to implement this specific opening date. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania vehicle laws to establish a new road user charge specifically for electric vehicles. The new fee, set to begin on April 1, 2025, is designed to generate revenue for state roads and bridges, while also updating motorcycle inspection requirements. The legislation takes effect immediately upon approval, with most other provisions becoming active within 60 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's authority to hire and set pay for waterways patrolmen and other staff. It requires the executive director to appoint these employees based on state classification plans and mandates that full-time conservation officers be paid at the same rate as Pennsylvania State Police members. The changes apply to compensation earned after the law takes effect 60 days from passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's election laws to require that all voter registration applicants provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. It specifies acceptable documents, such as a valid passport, military ID, or a birth certificate paired with other supporting evidence, and mandates that election officials verify this information during the registration process. The legislation also establishes penalties for officials who fail to perform these duties and creates a legal pathway for individuals to sue if they believe their citizenship verification rights were violated. Additionally, it updates the rules for removing voter registration records, allowing for cancellation only when an elector is confirmed to be non-citizen or has moved away.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania resolution designates the week of May 12 through 18, 2024, as "Food Allergy Awareness Week" to highlight the prevalence and risks of food allergies. The bill does not alter laws or allocate funding but serves to draw public attention to the nine major food allergens and the challenges faced by millions of Americans. It was referred to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee but was subsequently laid on the table, meaning it did not proceed to a vote.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania House Bill 1684 updates state laws regarding child custody by establishing clearer definitions for terms like "equal parenting time" and "supervised physical custody." The bill introduces a rebuttable presumption that shared physical custody and equal parenting time are in a child's best interest during temporary custody orders, requiring courts to maximize time with each parent unless specific factors suggest otherwise. It also outlines new procedures for obtaining temporary custody orders based on affidavits and agreements, while expanding the list of factors judges must consider, including any criminal convictions of the parents. These changes aim to standardize how courts evaluate custody arrangements and ensure that parenting plans are explicitly detailed in legal orders.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax laws by adjusting personal income tax rates and eliminating a specific tax on the gross receipts from the sale of electric energy. It requires electric utilities to pass the savings from these tax changes directly to consumers through reductions in state tax surcharges, with civil penalties of up to $5,000 for companies that fail to do so. Additionally, the legislation mandates that $6 million annually be transferred to the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The bill also establishes a revenue-neutral reconciliation rule that will remain in effect until the end of 2024.