Rep. Dallas Kephart

Maddy summaryHB 1998 amends Pennsylvania's 1915 Workers' Compensation Act to update the schedule of compensation rates for injured workers and adjust procedures for handling claims through the Uninsured Employers Guaranty Fund. It directly affects Pennsylvania workers who suffer work-related injuries and employers required to carry workers' compensation insurance. Key provisions include revising the compensation amounts based on injury severity and clarifying how the Uninsured Employers Fund processes claims when an employer lacks coverage. The bill focuses on updating the legal framework for payments, not on new benefits or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1951 requires the Department of Corrections and the Office of Attorney General to follow specific procedures when lands containing state correctional institutions are offered for sale. The bill mandates that these agencies provide certain information to potential buyers and coordinate with the Attorney General's office before any sale can proceed. This directly affects state agencies managing correctional facilities and any entities seeking to purchase land currently housing prisons or related facilities. The key provision creates a formal process to ensure transparency and legal compliance during land sales involving correctional properties.

Maddy summaryHB 1867 would amend Pennsylvania's criminal code to prohibit courts from issuing extreme risk protective orders (ERPOs), which are court orders temporarily removing firearms from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others. This bill directly affects individuals who might be subject to such orders, as well as law enforcement and courts that currently use ERPOs under existing state law. The key provision would eliminate the legal mechanism for ERPOs in Pennsylvania, preventing judges from issuing these orders even when requested by law enforcement or family members. The bill is currently in the Judiciary committee following its referral on September 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1847 names a specific bridge on Pennsylvania Route 729 over Gazzam Run in Jordan Township, Clearfield County (Bridge Key 11527) as the "PFC Raymond Lee McGarvey Memorial Bridge." This bill directly affects the location by changing its official designation to honor PFC Raymond Lee McGarvey, a military service member. As a ceremonial resolution, it involves no policy changes or funding, solely commemorating an individual through a bridge naming. The bill is currently referred to the Transportation committee for consideration.

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 1410 updates Pennsylvania's CPA licensing law to modernize professional practice rules. It removes outdated requirements for out-of-state CPAs to prove "substantial equivalency" and replaces this with automatic mobility for qualified individuals seeking to practice in Pennsylvania. The bill also clarifies licensing for accounting firms, adds new discipline rules for violations, and revises certificate issuance procedures. These changes primarily affect licensed CPAs, accounting firms, and professionals seeking to practice in Pennsylvania under updated standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1689 creates a "Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development Program" within Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection. It allows businesses or developers seeking permits to pay for expedited reviews by qualified professionals (e.g., engineers, geologists) who meet specific experience and ethics requirements. The program mandates a 10-business-day priority review timeline for eligible permits, with the qualified professional conducting an initial review and the permitting entity completing a final review within established deadlines. This change directly affects applicants for permits under the PA EDGE tax credit program by providing a faster, structured process for permit approvals.

Maddy summaryHB 1682 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to require that if the state budget (general appropriation bill) isn't passed by June 30 for the next fiscal year, compensation for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the General Assembly is suspended until the budget is enacted. Once the budget passes, the suspended pay is paid retroactively starting July 1. This procedural bill directly affects state executive and legislative leaders by linking their pay to the timely passage of the annual budget. It does not change substantive policy but establishes a specific financial consequence for budget delays.

Maddy summaryHB 1619 establishes a new regulatory program within the Department of Revenue to oversee "skill gaming" (games where skill determines outcomes, not chance). It requires businesses offering such games to obtain licenses, comply with specific zoning rules for where they can operate, and follow new operational standards. The bill imposes both criminal penalties for serious violations and civil penalties for lesser breaches. This directly affects skill gaming businesses, local governments managing zoning, and the Department of Revenue, which gains authority to issue licenses and enforce rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1601 amends Pennsylvania's Regulatory Review Act to update procedures for reviewing state agency regulations. It requires a concurrent resolution (approval from both legislative chambers) for regulations deemed economically significant and establishes clear processes for reviewing disapproved regulations or those considered "withdrawn." The bill also clarifies definitions and procedures for handling proposed, final, and omitted regulations during the review process. This directly affects state agencies creating regulations and the legislature responsible for oversight.