Rep. Joe Hamm

Maddy summaryHB 515, the Household Appliance Freedom Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state agencies and local municipalities from banning or restricting the sale, installation, or use of natural gas-powered home heating equipment, appliances, outdoor grills and stoves, and outdoor natural gas torches or lamps. The law allows individuals affected by such restrictions to file a civil lawsuit within 180 days seeking an injunction or damages. It becomes effective 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 514 allows Pennsylvania municipalities to spread saltwater brine (a byproduct of oil/gas drilling) on local roads for dust control or road stabilization, but only from wells that are *not* unconventional (like fracking sites). Municipalities can also delegate this task to others under their direct supervision. The bill prohibits state agencies from requiring additional approvals for this use, while requiring brine spreading to stay at least 150 feet away from all water bodies. This directly affects local governments managing roads and operators of conventional oil/gas wells. The law takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryHB 516 amends Pennsylvania's Construction Code Act by adding specific definitions for "recreational cabin" and "recreational campground" to clarify how the code applies to these structures. The bill defines a recreational cabin as a structure not used as a residence, for commercial purposes (except in campgrounds or state parks), limited to two stories, and meeting other usage criteria. It also defines a recreational campground as an establishment with five or more designated campsites offering amenities like hookups or pools, allowing seasonal stays but excluding RV/tent campsites in state parks. These definitions help local governments, property owners, and developers consistently apply the construction code to recreational properties.

Maddy summaryHB 424 allows Pennsylvania local governments (like cities, counties, or municipal authorities) to publish redundant legal advertisements online alongside traditional newspaper notices. If a newspaper fails to publish an ad on time, the online version becomes valid. Local governments must keep proof of both newspaper payment (like a receipt) and the online posting. This bill amends Titles 45 (Legal Notices) and 65 (Public Officers) to formalize this online redundancy option for public notice requirements. It directly affects political subdivisions responsible for legal advertising and public meeting notices.

Maddy summaryHB 427 requires funeral directors, funeral entities, and certain cemetery companies to notify a county's veterans affairs office within 96 hours when handling the remains of a veteran who lived in that county at the time of death. It specifically applies to cemetery companies only if they are interring cremated remains without prior funeral services. The bill mandates that these providers also give the veteran's family contact details for the county veterans office. This law directly affects funeral and cemetery businesses handling veteran remains in Pennsylvania. It creates a clear notification process to help veterans' families access burial benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 483 strengthens confidentiality protections for personal information provided during Pennsylvania firearm purchases. It makes all buyer details - including name - confidential, barring disclosure except when the buyer faces criminal prosecution related to the purchase. The bill imposes civil penalties of $1,000 per violation or three times actual damages (whichever is greater) on dealers, agencies, or individuals who illegally disclose this information. This directly affects firearm buyers, licensed dealers, and state/local agencies handling firearm transaction data. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 412 amends Pennsylvania law to expand group life insurance access for Pennsylvania National Guard members. It allows nonprofit associations to offer group life insurance to eligible Guard members who are on active duty for 30+ consecutive days under specific circumstances, including federal combat deployments, state emergency responses, or federally mobilized duty with state approval. The bill sets coverage limits at $400,000 per member and $100,000 per spouse or dependent, aligning with existing Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance standards. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 447 requires Pennsylvania public schools, private/parochial schools, and government entities to clearly include three specific pieces of information in all communications about immunization requirements: (1) the types of exemptions allowed, (2) that exemptions are accepted, and (3) how to obtain an exemption. This applies to all notices, postings, or publications related to immunization policies. The bill does not change existing immunization requirements or exemption rules but mandates transparent communication about them. It directly affects schools, districts, and government bodies managing student health records and enrollment. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 437 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's voting rules, requiring voters to present valid identification at all elections. It mandates that voters show a government-issued ID when voting in person (Section 12) and include proof of ID with mail-in ballots (Section 16). Voters without ID can request a free government-issued ID at the polling place (Section 19). This amendment would directly affect all Pennsylvania voters participating in elections, adding ID verification to existing residency and citizenship requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 452 removes disciplinary actions and refunds penalties for retail food facilities that were penalized for not following specific COVID-19 health protocols during Pennsylvania's state of emergency (March 6, 2020, to when the emergency ended). It covers violations related to the Disease Prevention and Control Law, Governor's orders, and health department guidance about the novel coronavirus. The bill requires health authorities to erase these records from official files and refund any penalties paid during the emergency period. This applies only to violations tied to the pandemic response, not general health code compliance.