Rep. Lee James

Maddy summaryHB 1821 designates a specific bridge (Bridge Key 69488 on State Route 3005 over North Witmer Run in Irvona Borough, Clearfield County) as the "World War II Veteran Pvt. Wilbur Russell Rea Memorial Bridge." The bill commemorates Pvt. Wilbur Russell Rea, a local WWII soldier who died in combat in Okinawa in 1945, by requiring the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain directional signs naming the bridge. This is a commemorative resolution with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1815 would repeal the 1935 Individual Net Income Tax Act (P.L.970, No.314), which was the state's original personal income tax law. This bill removes the outdated 1935 statute from the legal code. The repeal would affect the state's tax legal framework but would not change current tax rates or filing procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1813 repeals Pennsylvania's 1932 Emergency Relief Sales Tax Act, which imposed a 1% tax on sales of tangible personal property during a specific six-month period ending February 1933. The bill removes this historical tax provision, which was designed to fund emergency relief during the Great Depression and expired decades ago. No new taxes, requirements, or affected parties are created by this repeal, as the original law was never active in modern times. This is a straightforward legislative cleanup of an obsolete statute with no current impact on taxpayers or businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 1803 establishes an Advisory Council focused on PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome), conditions affecting children's health. The bill defines the council's responsibilities, including providing guidance to state health officials on these conditions. This council will be created within the state government, with members appointed to address medical, research, and support needs. The bill does not amend existing laws but creates a new advisory structure to improve care for children impacted by PANDAS and PANS.

Maddy summaryHB 1789 amends the state's Right-to-Know Law to update definitions and clarify exceptions for public records. It directly affects government agencies and officials responsible for managing public records, as it changes how certain terms are defined and specifies when records may be exempt from disclosure. The bill modifies existing sections of the law to provide clearer guidance on what qualifies as a public record and under what circumstances access might be restricted. This is a procedural update to administrative procedures, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1770 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require public schools to offer an additional math program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This program would provide extra math instruction to help young students build foundational math skills during their early school years. The bill directly affects all K-5 public schools in Pennsylvania and the state education department, which would be responsible for developing and overseeing the program. It adds a specific requirement to the state's educational standards without changing existing curriculum structures.

Maddy summaryHB 1782 designates September 17 as "Constitution Day" in Pennsylvania, aligning with the federal observance established in 1962. The bill encourages publicly funded schools and universities to hold educational programs about the U.S. Constitution on that date but explicitly states it does not require employers to treat the day as a paid holiday or official holiday. This is a symbolic designation without new mandates or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1763 aligns Pennsylvania's tax credit program with a federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship organizations. It requires scholarship organizations in Pennsylvania to verify their tax-exempt status, maintain separate accounts for scholarship funds, provide scholarships to at least 10 students from different schools, spend 90% of income on scholarships, and verify applicants' household income to ensure eligibility. Organizations must submit compliance documentation by June 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, with the state department confirming their eligibility for the federal tax credit. This directly affects scholarship organizations seeking to participate in the federal tax credit program, ensuring they meet federal requirements to allow donors to claim tax benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 1756 allows volunteer fire companies, nonprofit rescue squads, ambulance services, and senior citizen centers in Pennsylvania to apply for electricity rates matching residential service costs instead of commercial rates. To qualify, these organizations must sign a one-year contract with their utility provider. The bill amends Pennsylvania's Public Utilities code (Title 66) to require utilities to offer this rate option upon request. This change directly affects eligible nonprofit organizations by potentially lowering their electricity costs through simplified rate access. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1299 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to regulate automatic renewal and continuous service offers. It requires businesses to clearly disclose renewal terms, pricing after trials, and cancellation options in a way consumers can retain, and to allow online cancellation. The law applies to most subscription-based goods/services but excludes health clubs, federally regulated utilities, natural gas/electricity contracts, and insurance entities. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under existing enforcement mechanisms.