Rep. Brad Roae

Maddy summaryThis bill designates Bridge Key 25406 on Pennsylvania Route 346 over Willow Creek in Corydon Township, McKean County, as the "Private First Class Bruce A. Cobb Memorial Bridge." It requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs naming the bridge, honoring Cobb's military service and burial location in the area. The bill directly affects the bridge's official identification and signage for public traffic. (Procedural bill; summary focuses on the concrete naming action and sign requirement.)

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 summaryPennsylvania's House Resolution 125 is a petition to Congress requesting an Article V constitutional convention to propose amendments focused on three specific areas: imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting federal power and jurisdiction, and setting term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution specifies that any convention must be limited to these topics only, cannot consider changes to the Bill of Rights, and requires two-thirds of states to apply for the same purpose before Congress acts. It details Pennsylvania's delegate selection process (five members chosen by the legislature with voting rules) and includes conditions like Congress only setting the convention's time/place, states having equal voting power, and delegates disqualifying if accepting gifts. The resolution explicitly recommends ratification of any amendments through state legislatures rather than conventions.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates English as the official language of Pennsylvania and requires state and local government official documents and actions to be in English. It prohibits government policies that favor non-English languages or diminish English's role, while explicitly exempting public safety, health, and justice situations where other languages are necessary. The legislation also restricts the use of state funds to promote or demonstrate preference for languages other than English, with exceptions for foreign language instruction, Native American language preservation, and international commerce. Private businesses and individuals retain the right to use any language they choose, and the law does not apply when federal law requires otherwise.

Maddy summaryHB 912 standardizes Pennsylvania's process for issuing concealed firearm carry licenses. It requires a uniform application form (created by the State Police) where applicants must state a valid reason (like self-defense or hunting) and certify they meet legal eligibility. The bill mandates sheriffs to conduct specific background checks within 45 days and adds new requirements for the Attorney General to seek reciprocity agreements with all states for mutual recognition of firearm licenses, reporting progress annually. This directly affects firearm license applicants, local law enforcement, and the Attorney General's office. The bill does not change eligibility criteria but streamlines application procedures and expands interstate recognition efforts.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill requires public school districts to mail financial information reports to resident taxpayers by first-class mail. The financial data, which is already available online, must be sent starting with the 2024-2025 fiscal year and all subsequent years. The law applies to all public school entities in the state and aims to increase transparency by directly notifying taxpayers about school funding details. The bill takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania election procedures by clarifying the Secretary of the Commonwealth's responsibilities and improving how voters receive information about ballot questions. It requires the Attorney General to create plain English explanations for statewide ballot questions and mandates that the Secretary of the Commonwealth include these explanations in official election materials. For debt-related ballot questions, the Office of the Budget must prepare detailed fiscal notes in plain English outlining project costs, interest, and future expenses, which must be posted online and in voting areas. The bill also standardizes how ballot questions and fiscal notes appear on official ballots, allowing them to be printed below candidate names in a brief format determined by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryHB 854 requires school board members to recuse themselves from voting on collective bargaining agreements if their spouse, romantic partner, or household member is part of the bargaining unit covered by that agreement. The bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish this conflict-of-interest rule, directly affecting school board members during contract negotiations. Key provisions mandate automatic recusal for board members with personal ties to the employees covered by the agreement being voted on. The rule takes effect 60 days after enactment, aiming to prevent potential bias in negotiations.

Maddy summaryHB 810 amends Pennsylvania's PennWATCH Act to require state agencies to publicly disclose settlement details paid through specific programs (like employee liability claims or tort claims). It directly affects all Commonwealth agencies that pay settlements, as they must submit settlement information (including agency, claim date, legal basis, payment date, and amount) to the PennWATCH database within five business days. The bill mandates that this data be posted online within 30 days of payment and sent electronically to all state legislators every 30 days, starting January 1, 2025. The changes apply to all settlements paid under the Employee Liability Self-Insurance Program, Automobile Liability Program, Motor License Tort Claim Fund, notary bonds, and General Tort Claims Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 760 amends Pennsylvania's corporate net income tax rates under the 1971 Tax Reform Code, directly affecting corporations operating in the state. The bill reduces the annual corporate tax rate from 7.99% for 2025-2025 to 5.99% for 2026-2026, and further lowers it to 4% starting in 2027 and beyond. Key provisions include a phased reduction schedule with specific rates for each taxable year period, replacing prior rate structures. The changes take immediate effect upon enactment, altering the tax burden for corporations filing under Pennsylvania's corporate net income tax system.