Rep. Aaron Bernstine

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for unintentionally causing death while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It directly affects drivers who kill someone while impaired, raising the penalty from a second-degree felony to a mandatory first-degree felony. The law also sets specific minimum prison terms, such as five years for a first offense and longer sentences for repeat offenders or those with prior DUI convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to exempt sales and use of specific baby items from state sales tax for a family's first child. The new provision allows parents to purchase child passenger restraint systems, formula feeding supplies, and teethers without paying tax, provided the child is their oldest or only child at the time of purchase. The Department of Revenue is required to publish online guidance to help clarify how these exclusions will be implemented. The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, or immediately if that date has already passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to temporarily exempt specific consumer goods from sales tax for a six-month period starting July 1, 2026. The temporary exclusions apply to ceiling fans and related accessories, single-use paper or plastic tableware, and swimwear with sun protection items, provided the purchase is made by an individual for personal rather than business use. To ensure clarity, the Department of Revenue is required to publish a list of exempt items and implementation guidance on its website during this time. The tax relief is limited to the six-month window following the bill's effective date, after which the standard sales tax rules will resume for these products.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates May 2026 as "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month" to highlight the impact of ALS on patients and their families. The bill does not change laws or allocate funding; instead, it serves as a symbolic gesture to increase public understanding of the disease and support ongoing research efforts. By formally recognizing the month, the resolution aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by those living with ALS and the importance of continued medical investigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Child Labor Act to clarify how minors can participate in student-learner and apprenticeship programs, allowing them to work in these roles as long as it complies with existing federal laws. It also permits high school graduates who have finished such programs to continue working in those occupations without additional restrictions beyond federal standards. To ensure consistency, the legislation cancels specific outdated regulations and requires the Department of Labor and Industry to develop new rules within a year or have the old rules expire in three years.

Maddy summaryHB 910 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to elevate "dealing in infant children" from a misdemeanor to a first-degree felony. It makes it a crime to trade, buy, sell, or deal with infants under one year old, directly targeting individuals involved in illegal infant trafficking. The bill explicitly excludes legal surrogacy and adoption from this offense. This law takes effect 60 days after enactment, focusing on criminalizing the commercial exchange of very young children.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill introduces a temporary sales tax exemption for household cleaning supplies, such as brooms, mops, vacuums, and detergents. The exemption applies only to individual buyers purchasing these items for personal, non-business use during a six-month window starting on July 1, 2026. The Department of Revenue will publish online guidance to help consumers understand the rules, and the law defines a purchaser as someone who pays by cash or credit within that six-month period, even if the delivery arrives later.

Maddy summaryThis bill would temporarily exempt Halloween costumes, decorations, pumpkins, and related accessories from Pennsylvania sales and use tax. The exemption applies only to individual buyers purchasing these items for personal, non-business use during a six-month period starting when the law takes effect. The Department of Revenue would be required to publish a list of exempt items online and may provide additional guidance on what qualifies. If passed, the tax break would begin on July 1, 2026, or later if the law is enacted after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to temporarily exempt the sales and use tax on fireworks, sparklers, and grills for individual buyers. The exemption applies only during a six-month window starting July 1, 2026, and is limited to items purchased for personal, non-business use. The legislation defines specific types of fireworks, sparklers, and grills eligible for the break while requiring the Department of Revenue to provide online guidance on the rule's implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to temporarily exempt children's books, toys, and musical instruments from sales and use tax. The exemption applies only to individual buyers purchasing these items for personal use during a six-month window starting when the law takes effect. The legislation defines eligible items as those marketed for children aged 12 and under and clarifies that the tax break applies if payment is made within the six-month period, even if delivery occurs later. Additionally, the Department of Revenue will publish online guidance to help consumers understand how to claim this temporary exclusion.