Rep. Aaron Bernstine

Maddy summaryHB 1680 requires school entities (including districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) to follow specific processes for curriculum changes and increase public access to course materials. It mandates that school boards present proposed curriculum changes at a regular meeting and cannot approve them until the next meeting. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, schools must post online links to primary course resources, syllabi, and state standards within 30 business days of updates, without violating copyright laws. The bill applies to all public and private schools covered under Pennsylvania's Public School Code.

Maddy summaryHB 1679 creates a new process allowing property owners or lessees to report registered voters at their address who do not actually reside there. If reported, election officials must immediately notify the voter and attempt to contact them at any alternative address on file to update their registration. This bill directly affects voters registered at an address where a property owner reports non-residency, aiming to verify voter addresses. It amends Pennsylvania election law to add this verification step under existing voter registration procedures, without changing voting eligibility or removing voters from rolls. The bill is procedural and would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1681 grants civil immunity to volunteer security officers of religious organizations in Pennsylvania for actions taken while protecting the organization's property or people. It protects these volunteers from lawsuits related to injuries or property damage caused during defensive actions, such as monitoring visitors or reporting incidents like theft or trespass. This immunity does not apply if the security officer acts recklessly, maliciously, or with gross negligence. The bill specifically covers volunteers (not paid staff) who provide security services as defined by their religious organization, which must be organized primarily for worship or spiritual development.

Maddy summaryHB 1662 would create a new tax credit under Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code for families who pay for early childhood education or learning materials for their children. Eligible taxpayers could reduce their state income tax bill by the amount spent on qualifying expenses, such as preschool tuition or educational supplies. The bill specifically targets child learning investments to offset costs for early education resources. It is currently referred to the House Finance Committee for further review.

Maddy summaryHB 1647 makes it a third-degree felony in Pennsylvania to possess, traffic, or import a "child sex doll" - defined as an anatomically correct doll resembling a child under 12 years old and intended for sexual use. The bill creates specific offenses for possessing such dolls, trafficking them (including manufacturing or selling), and importing them into the state, with possession of two or more dolls creating a legal presumption of trafficking intent. It includes an exception for common carriers (like shipping companies) who lack knowledge of the dolls' contents. This law directly affects individuals involved in handling these dolls, imposing criminal penalties without changing existing statutes on child sexual abuse.

Maddy summaryHB 1326 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change how school districts calculate student travel distances for attendance purposes and requires standardized reporting of pupil transportation data. It directly affects school districts by altering the method for measuring distance to determine if a student qualifies for transportation under attendance rules, and it impacts state funding by mandating specific data collection for reimbursement between districts and the Commonwealth. The bill establishes clear requirements for districts to track and submit transportation information, ensuring consistent data for state funding decisions. This policy change aims to standardize processes related to student transportation eligibility and funding allocation.

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 1614 repeals Pennsylvania's longstanding ban on Sunday hunting (except for specific exceptions like fox/coyote hunting and three designated days per year) and removes the requirement for hunters to obtain written landowner permission to hunt on those permitted Sundays. The bill directly affects hunters on private land during the three annual Sunday hunting days authorized by wildlife officials. Key provisions eliminate Sections 2303 and 2315 of the Game Code, which previously prohibited Sunday hunting and mandated written permission for private land hunting on those days. This change streamlines hunting access during designated seasons without altering the existing three-day allowance.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 1596 exempts certain personal electronics and school supplies from Pennsylvania's sales tax during a specific annual August period. It excludes from tax the purchase of personal computers, tablets, or related devices under $1,500 for individual nonbusiness use, and school supplies like notebooks, art materials, or calculators priced at $50 or less per item. The exemption applies only to individual purchases made during the "exclusion period" (the first Saturday to the third Saturday in August), not to business purchases or items like servers, video game consoles, or music discs. This bill directly affects consumers buying eligible items during the defined August sales tax holiday.