Rep. Joe Hamm

Maddy summaryHB 1354 requires Pennsylvania public school districts to allow private school students who reside in the district to participate in after-school sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities if their private school does not offer the same activity and they meet all participation requirements. The law directly affects private school students seeking access to public school programs and public school districts managing extracurricular offerings. It mandates inclusion only when the private school does not provide equivalent opportunities, without changing funding or administrative requirements. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1316 amends Pennsylvania's sales tax filing rules to adjust deadlines based on a business's previous year's tax liability. It requires businesses with annual tax bills between $25,000 and $100,000 to file monthly returns starting in 2025, including a 50% prepayment of their expected tax for the month. Businesses with bills over $100,000 follow similar monthly filing rules with the same prepayment requirement. This change replaces quarterly filings for these businesses and adds a 5% penalty for late payments on the prepayment amount. The bill affects businesses meeting specific tax liability thresholds under Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code.

Maddy summaryHB 1292 requires broadband grant programs under Pennsylvania's Broadband Development Authority to comply with the state's prevailing wage law. It mandates that grant materials include prevailing wage requirements and directs the Department of Labor to create new wage classifications specifically for broadband infrastructure workers, such as teledata linemen, groundmen, and cable splicers. The department must set fair wages based on federal standards and include labor market surveys to determine rates. This affects broadband project funders and contractors receiving state grants, ensuring workers on these projects earn locally established fair wages.

Maddy summaryHB 1273 repeals Pennsylvania's requirement that taxpayers make payments of $15,000 or more electronically for personal income tax, along with related penalties for non-compliance. It replaces these rules by adding a new provision requiring the Department of Revenue to accept all payment methods without penalties for taxpayers. This bill directly affects individuals and businesses paying Pennsylvania personal income tax, removing a specific electronic payment mandate and associated fines. The changes take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, making all payment methods equally acceptable without penalty.

Maddy summaryHB 1271 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to add protections for free speech at public colleges and universities. It prohibits public institutions from creating "bias reporting systems" that could lead to punishment for speech, including political expression, protests, or guest speakers. The bill also bans punishing students or staff for "protected expressive activity" and prevents charging higher security fees based on speech content. Public institutions must maintain harassment policies but cannot use them to suppress protected speech. This applies to all 14 public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania, including state universities and community colleges.

Maddy summaryHB 1272 amends Pennsylvania's electric utility laws to restructure the industry by defining key terms and setting new requirements for electric distribution companies. It introduces "long-term resource adequacy agreements" (where companies invest in new generation resources like natural gas, nuclear, battery storage, or renewable energy in exchange for customer surcharges) and mandates that utilities procure power through a "prudent mix" of spot market purchases, short-term contracts, and long-term contracts (up to 30 years) designed to ensure reliable service at reasonable cost. The bill directly affects electric distribution companies, which must now follow these procurement rules, and Pennsylvania customers, who may see costs reflected in nonbypassable surcharges. The law requires the state commission to evaluate utility plans based on achieving "reasonable cost" generation supply while maintaining reliability, with specific findings needed for approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1131 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to prohibit public schools from selling or offering competitive foods containing specific artificial dyes during the school day. The bill bans six dyes (Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) in foods sold on school grounds that compete with federally reimbursable meals like school lunches. It defines "competitive food" as any food sold during school hours that competes with National School Lunch Program meals. The prohibition applies to all public schools in Pennsylvania and takes effect July 1, 2027. This is a direct policy change restricting certain food additives in school food sales, not a health recommendation.

Maddy summaryHB 1258 creates a new "Personalized Education Program" (PEP) option under Pennsylvania's Public School Code, allowing parents or guardians to educate children outside traditional public schools. It requires parents to submit an annual affidavit to the school district superintendent detailing the program supervisor, child's information, curriculum outline (including required subjects like English and history), immunization records, and background checks for household members. The program must provide at least 180 days or 900 hours of annual instruction for elementary students (990 hours for secondary), with specific subject requirements. PEPs are explicitly excluded from being classified as "nonpublic schools" under the code, and relocation between school districts requires a formal transfer letter process. This directly affects parents, guardians, and program supervisors managing education for children in these alternatives to public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1265 revises Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules under the Public School Code, effective after December 31, 2027. It establishes four new certificate types with defined grade spans: Early Childhood (pre-K to grade 3), Elementary/Middle (K-8 with subject limits in upper grades), Middle/Secondary (grades 6-12), and Specialized Areas (pre-K to grade 12). Existing certificates remain valid, and current teacher preparation program students enrolled before December 31, 2025, may complete under prior rules. The bill directly affects public school teachers, certification programs, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Maddy summaryHB 1207 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to improve clarity for voters on ballot questions, particularly constitutional amendments. It requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to create plain English summaries of proposed amendments and ballot questions, explaining their purpose and effects. These summaries must be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, included in election materials by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and posted at polling locations. The bill updates existing procedures by specifying the Legislative Reference Bureau - not the Attorney General - as the entity responsible for drafting these explanations and setting ballot wording standards. This directly affects voters receiving clearer information, election officials distributing materials, and the Legislative Reference Bureau in its new role.