Rep. Lee James

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the exemption from vehicle registration for all-terrain vehicles used by police, fire, and emergency medical services in Pennsylvania. It allows these emergency vehicles to operate on public highways for longer distances without needing registration, depending on the county where they are used. Specifically, the exemption applies for up to two miles in first through third-class counties and up to 15 miles in fourth through eighth-class counties, provided the vehicles are primarily used off-road. The bill also requires these exempt all-terrain vehicles to display the standard visual and audible signals used by emergency vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to regularly review and assess the performance of its area agencies and programs. Under the new rules, the department must conduct annual evaluations, including onsite visits, to determine if agencies are following the law and to gather feedback from people using the services. The results of these reviews will be shared with the agencies and made available to the public online within thirty days. Additionally, the department must submit an annual report to the Governor and the state legislature containing statistical data on services provided to older adults.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state program to distribute money to Pennsylvania municipalities based on the value of tax-exempt properties located within their borders. It establishes a specific fund and requires county offices to collect detailed annual data on these properties, including owner information and assessed values, to calculate funding amounts. The Department of Community and Economic Development will oversee this process and distribute the funds, while counties that fail to submit the required reports by the deadline will lose their ability to receive any share of the money for that year.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 28, 2024, as "Jim Thorpe Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the legacy of the multi-sport athlete. The bill recognizes Thorpe's achievements in football, baseball, and basketball, as well as his historic Olympic performances and his role in founding the National Football League. It serves as a commemorative measure that celebrates his life and contributions to sports without altering any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge in Bigler Township, Clearfield County, as the Sergeant John Harold Branic Memorial Bridge to honor a local Marine who died in World War II. It requires the Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs displaying the new name for traffic in both directions. The legislation recognizes Sergeant Branic, the first Madera resident killed in the war, whose remains were identified decades after he was declared missing in action. The act takes effect 60 days after being passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs $1 million from the state's education budget to cover capital-related costs and deferred maintenance at Pennsylvania's four chartered schools for the deaf and the blind. The funds are to be split equally between each of the four schools, with the change applying retroactively to July 1, 2022. By adding this specific provision to the Public School Code, the legislation also repeals an older section of the Fiscal Code that is no longer needed.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution officially recognizes March 8, 2024, as International Women's Day within the state. The measure aims to honor the diverse accomplishments and aspirations of women by encouraging residents to participate in related events and activities. It highlights the significant contributions of women in various fields, including government, science, and the arts, while specifically noting the increased number of women in Pennsylvania's legislative leadership roles.

Maddy summaryHB 2279 establishes the Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program to provide tuition discounts for students attending specific in-demand occupations such as agriculture, engineering, and nursing. The bill defines key terms for the State System of Higher Education, including "in-demand occupation" as a job requiring high skills and offering family-sustaining wages, and creates new categories for university consolidations like the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. By amending the Public School Code of 1949, the legislation sets the legal framework and definitions necessary to administer this new scholarship initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge carrying Pennsylvania Route 351 over the Beaver River in Beaver County as the Sgt. Skip Haswell Memorial Bridge. The legislation honors Lloyd "Skip" Haswell, a local veteran and former police chief who passed away in 2024, by officially changing the bridge's name to reflect his service and community contributions. To implement this change, the bill requires the Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs displaying the new name for traffic traveling in both directions. The act is set to take effect 60 days after being passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Taxpayer Dividend Program in Pennsylvania to refund a portion of state budget surpluses to resident individual taxpayers. The program would distribute funds from the General Fund and the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund to individuals who filed and paid taxes for the 2023 tax year. Money taken from the General Fund is limited to the existing surplus, while withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund require a two-thirds legislative vote and must leave at least 6% of the fund's value intact. The Department of Revenue is tasked with identifying eligible recipients and processing payments, with the goal of returning accumulated surplus money rather than using it for expanded government spending.