Rep. Lee James

Maddy summaryHB 1079 makes it a crime to change a consumer's electric or natural gas supplier without their consent, protecting consumers from unauthorized service switches. The law imposes penalties: a first offense is a misdemeanor, while repeat offenses or cases involving vulnerable consumers (60+ years or care-dependent individuals) become felonies. Prosecution can be handled by local district attorneys or the Attorney General for multi-county or interstate cases, and this criminal law does not prevent the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission from taking administrative action. The bill directly affects utility companies, suppliers, and consumers by adding criminal consequences for unauthorized service changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1076 shortens Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for collecting most assessed taxes from 10 years to 7 years. It applies to taxes where the settlement, determination, or assessment becomes final after January 1, 2026, including taxes from nonfiled returns due after that date. The bill specifies that filing a tax lien does not extend this 7-year collection period. This change directly affects taxpayers with unpaid taxes and the Department of Revenue, which must collect within the new timeframe. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1094 creates a new tax credit for homeowners who rehabilitate historic properties in economically distressed areas of Pennsylvania. It directly affects homeowners who own and occupy as their primary residence certified historic properties located in designated "qualified census tracts" (areas at or below state median income or qualified opportunity zones). The credit covers qualified rehabilitation costs like structural repairs and exterior work, excluding property acquisition, interior improvements, or building expansions. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and Department of Community and Economic Development will administer the program and manage a dedicated fund to support the credit.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution (HR 2) designates March 25, 2025, as "National Medal of Honor Day" within the state. It symbolically recognizes the Medal of Honor - the military's highest award for valor - as first presented on March 25, 1863, and highlights Pennsylvania's 379 Medal of Honor recipients (second-highest in the U.S.). The resolution has no binding effect or new policy requirements; it solely serves to honor recipients and their service through a ceremonial designation. It does not directly affect any individuals or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1061 requires Pennsylvania voter registration applicants to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when applying to register. This applies to all registration methods - online, in-person, by mail, or with a driver's license application. Acceptable proof includes passports, birth certificates, military IDs, naturalization documents, or other government-issued IDs showing U.S. birthplace. The bill mandates that election officials verify citizenship during registration and adds penalties for officials who fail to comply. It directly affects anyone seeking to register to vote in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 369 amends Pennsylvania's land bank law by updating two key definitions in the property code. It changes "land bank jurisdiction" to allow two or more small municipalities (each with fewer than 10,000 residents) to form a land bank together through an agreement. The bill also expands "municipality" to include home rule, optional plan, and optional charter municipalities. These changes clarify which local governments can establish land banks under current law. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's HB 167 increases the amount financial institutions can pay directly to a deceased person's family without probate from $10,000 to $20,000. It requires families to provide a receipted funeral bill or an affidavit from a licensed funeral director to qualify for this payment. The bill affects banks, credit unions, and other savings institutions, which can now pay eligible family members (spouse, children, parents, or siblings) directly. This change eliminates the need for probate court approval for these smaller payments, streamlining the process for families handling final arrangements. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1047 creates a dedicated restricted account within the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund to specifically support agricultural research and extension services at Pennsylvania's land grant university. The bill mandates that the State Treasurer distribute these funds equally each month during the fiscal year, beginning within ten days of the appropriation. This payment is guaranteed to occur without delay, withholding, or blocking by other laws, regardless of whether the university receives other appropriations for the same fiscal year. The policy ensures dedicated, uninterrupted funding for these agricultural programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1041 allows a single business to hold both a brewery license and a limited distillery license at the same physical location in Pennsylvania. The bill requires that the areas for each operation be clearly separated (though they may overlap), specifies that both licenses must operate within permitted hours, and states that citations for violations can apply to either or both licenses. This directly affects breweries and distilleries seeking to combine operations under one roof, particularly those allowing on-premise consumption. The law modifies existing Liquor Code provisions (Sections 446 and 505.4) to formalize these dual-license arrangements. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1035 amends Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act by adding specific definitions for "advanced recycling" and related terms. It clarifies that plastic waste and waste tires processed through advanced recycling (using methods like pyrolysis) are no longer classified as "municipal waste" or "residual waste" under the law. This change directly affects facilities using advanced recycling technology, reducing their regulatory burden under existing waste management rules. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.