Rep. Joe Hamm

Maddy summaryHB 1076 shortens Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for collecting most assessed taxes from 10 years to 7 years. It applies to taxes where the settlement, determination, or assessment becomes final after January 1, 2026, including taxes from nonfiled returns due after that date. The bill specifies that filing a tax lien does not extend this 7-year collection period. This change directly affects taxpayers with unpaid taxes and the Department of Revenue, which must collect within the new timeframe. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1069 modifies Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow military-connected students to enroll in schools before establishing residency. Specifically, it requires school districts to permit children of active-duty military members (with official transfer orders) to enroll immediately upon providing military orders and proof of intent to move (e.g., lease, home purchase contract). The bill mandates that schools accept transferred credits with their original grades for GPA calculations and requires families to submit residency proof within 45 days of the military transfer date. This directly affects military families relocating within Pennsylvania, ensuring continuity in education during relocations.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution (HR 2) designates March 25, 2025, as "National Medal of Honor Day" within the state. It symbolically recognizes the Medal of Honor - the military's highest award for valor - as first presented on March 25, 1863, and highlights Pennsylvania's 379 Medal of Honor recipients (second-highest in the U.S.). The resolution has no binding effect or new policy requirements; it solely serves to honor recipients and their service through a ceremonial designation. It does not directly affect any individuals or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 146) urges Congress to cooperate with efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. It argues that education policy should be managed by states like Pennsylvania, citing federal funding mandates and claims that the Department has not improved student outcomes (referencing NAEP data). The resolution does not change any laws or funding but formally requests federal action to transfer education authority to states. It reaffirms Pennsylvania's constitutional duty to manage its public education system for 1.7 million students across 500 school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1061 requires Pennsylvania voter registration applicants to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when applying to register. This applies to all registration methods - online, in-person, by mail, or with a driver's license application. Acceptable proof includes passports, birth certificates, military IDs, naturalization documents, or other government-issued IDs showing U.S. birthplace. The bill mandates that election officials verify citizenship during registration and adds penalties for officials who fail to comply. It directly affects anyone seeking to register to vote in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania that would ban all taxes on real property, including land and buildings owned by individuals or businesses. The change would take effect on July 1, 2030, and would apply to taxes imposed by the state government, local municipalities, school districts, or any other political subdivision within the Commonwealth. To become law, the amendment must pass both houses of the General Assembly and then be approved by voters in a statewide election. The bill argues that taxing property violates the inherent right to own and protect property, a principle recognized since Pennsylvania's founding in 1776.

Maddy summaryHB 1047 creates a dedicated restricted account within the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund to specifically support agricultural research and extension services at Pennsylvania's land grant university. The bill mandates that the State Treasurer distribute these funds equally each month during the fiscal year, beginning within ten days of the appropriation. This payment is guaranteed to occur without delay, withholding, or blocking by other laws, regardless of whether the university receives other appropriations for the same fiscal year. The policy ensures dedicated, uninterrupted funding for these agricultural programs.

Maddy summaryHB 569 amends Pennsylvania's Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to expand eligibility for death benefits. It explicitly includes coroners (and medical examiners) as covered personnel and adds a presumption that fatal heart attacks or strokes occurring during duty or within 24 hours of physical training/emergency response are work-related. This change directly affects surviving spouses, children, or parents of coroners, firefighters, ambulance/rescue personnel, law enforcement officers, and National Guard members who die in the line of duty. The bill updates the act's definition of "coroner" and ensures benefits are granted for these new circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 987 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities at public institutions of higher education, including state universities, community colleges, and state-related schools like Penn State and Temple. The bill prohibits requiring ideological statements (such as race-based declarations or DEI-related views), bans DEI offices and staff, mandates specific language in mission statements and handbooks, and restricts DEI-related training and spending. Public institutions must report compliance annually starting December 2025, and the bill allows tenure revocation for DEI violations. It explicitly excludes academic coursework, research, student organizations, and guest speakers from these restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1035 amends Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act by adding specific definitions for "advanced recycling" and related terms. It clarifies that plastic waste and waste tires processed through advanced recycling (using methods like pyrolysis) are no longer classified as "municipal waste" or "residual waste" under the law. This change directly affects facilities using advanced recycling technology, reducing their regulatory burden under existing waste management rules. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.