Rep. Joe Hamm

Maddy summaryHB 179 would allow Pennsylvania schools to provide or sell milk produced within the state for meals and snacks. It directly affects school districts and Pennsylvania dairy farmers by enabling them to use locally produced milk in school food programs. The bill removes current restrictions that prevent schools from prioritizing Pennsylvania milk in procurement. This policy change aims to support the state's dairy industry through school contracts.

Maddy summaryHB 1854 would amend Pennsylvania's vehicle code to establish a formal process for designating specific public roads as snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) routes. It directly affects snowmobile and ATV operators who use public roads, as well as local authorities responsible for road maintenance and safety. The bill creates clear procedures for local governments to identify, mark, and maintain designated routes while ensuring they meet safety standards. This aims to provide legal clarity for riders and reduce conflicts on non-designated roads.

Maddy summaryHB 1846 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to exempt compensation earned by individuals under 18 years old from personal income tax. This provision directly affects minor workers, such as teenagers with part-time jobs or summer employment, by excluding their earnings from taxable income. The bill adds a new tax exemption clause (303(a.7)(2)(i)(F)) specifying that compensation received by under-18 taxpayers is not subject to tax. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 1838 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle code to clarify and expand the authority of state and local transportation departments to install traffic-control devices like signs, signals, and barriers. It directly affects state agencies (such as PennDOT) and municipal governments managing roadways. The key provision streamlines the process for erecting these devices by updating statutory language governing their installation. This is a procedural change focused on administrative clarity, not new safety requirements or funding. The bill is currently referred to the Transportation committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1817 would amend Pennsylvania's criminal code to create a specific offense for interfering with or impeding first responders - such as police, firefighters, or paramedics - while they are performing emergency duties. The bill would add this as a new provision under the section on obstructing governmental operations, defining prohibited actions like physically blocking, threatening, or hindering emergency personnel. This change would make such interference a distinct criminal violation, potentially subjecting offenders to penalties under state law. The bill is currently under review by the Judiciary committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1815 would repeal the 1935 Individual Net Income Tax Act (P.L.970, No.314), which was the state's original personal income tax law. This bill removes the outdated 1935 statute from the legal code. The repeal would affect the state's tax legal framework but would not change current tax rates or filing procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 1813 repeals Pennsylvania's 1932 Emergency Relief Sales Tax Act, which imposed a 1% tax on sales of tangible personal property during a specific six-month period ending February 1933. The bill removes this historical tax provision, which was designed to fund emergency relief during the Great Depression and expired decades ago. No new taxes, requirements, or affected parties are created by this repeal, as the original law was never active in modern times. This is a straightforward legislative cleanup of an obsolete statute with no current impact on taxpayers or businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 1763 aligns Pennsylvania's tax credit program with a federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship organizations. It requires scholarship organizations in Pennsylvania to verify their tax-exempt status, maintain separate accounts for scholarship funds, provide scholarships to at least 10 students from different schools, spend 90% of income on scholarships, and verify applicants' household income to ensure eligibility. Organizations must submit compliance documentation by June 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, with the state department confirming their eligibility for the federal tax credit. This directly affects scholarship organizations seeking to participate in the federal tax credit program, ensuring they meet federal requirements to allow donors to claim tax benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's state constitution that explicitly prohibits denying or limiting rights based on sex. It would directly affect all Pennsylvanians by requiring the state to guarantee equal rights regardless of gender, strengthening legal protections against sex-based discrimination. The key mechanism is amending the constitution to include this explicit guarantee, making such discrimination unconstitutional. Currently, the bill has been referred to the Judiciary committee for review.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1746) is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment related to sessions of Pennsylvania's General Assembly. The provided context does not describe the specific changes to session timing, duration, or other mechanics proposed by the amendment. No details are given about who would be directly affected by this constitutional change. As a procedural constitutional amendment proposal, the summary is limited by the lack of substantive bill text or description in the available context. The resolution was recently referred to the State Government committee on July 21, 2025.