Rep. Perry Stambaugh

Maddy summaryHR 77 is a procedural resolution directing Pennsylvania's Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study transitioning the General Assembly to part-time status. The committee must review other states' legislative models (including session length, costs, and representation), Pennsylvania's legislative history, and constitutional amendment processes. The study will analyze potential cost savings and other impacts, with a report due within 18 months. This resolution does not change current law but prepares the legislature for future consideration of part-time status.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing Pennsylvania's fiscal calendar from annual to biennial (two-year) cycles by amending the state constitution. It requires the Governor to submit a two-year operating budget and capital budget instead of annual versions, and mandates a five-year financial plan covering two-year periods. Key provisions include updating debt limits and repayment rules to align with the new two-year fiscal periods, such as modifying how surplus funds are appropriated and how tax anticipation notes mature. The change directly affects state budgeting processes, the Governor's budget submissions, and the General Assembly's appropriations decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 548 strengthens Pennsylvania's state preemption of local firearm regulations by declaring that all aspects of firearm regulation - including purchase, sale, possession, and transportation - must follow state law, invalidating any conflicting local ordinances. It directly affects counties, municipalities, and townships that previously enacted stricter gun rules, as well as residents, gun dealers, or organizations challenging such local laws. Key provisions include creating legal remedies for those harmed by illegal local regulations (allowing lawsuits for damages, attorney fees, and injunctions) and explicitly stating that state law supersedes all local efforts. The bill takes effect in 90 days for its core preemption rules, requiring local governments to align with state firearm laws immediately.

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 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 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 454 repeals Pennsylvania's requirement for a license to carry a firearm (openly or concealed) for most individuals, making it legal to carry without a license statewide, including in Philadelphia where previous restrictions on public streets and property are removed. The bill also repeals provisions about proof of license and related exceptions, while maintaining existing prohibitions for convicted felons and other restricted locations like schools. Additionally, it includes a new provision for a sportsman's firearm permit and specific regulations for antique firearms. The changes directly affect law-abiding Pennsylvanians who previously needed a license for general firearm carry.

Maddy summaryHB 400 designates the passenger pigeon (*Ectopistes migratorius*) as Pennsylvania's official extinct species, with no direct impact on individuals or regulations. The bill's sole provision, in Section 2, formally establishes this designation through state law. It includes historical findings about the passenger pigeon's former abundance in Pennsylvania and its role in raising awareness about species preservation. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 402 creates the Agricultural Lands Condemnation Approval Board to review requests to take farmland for new highway projects. The board, composed of department officials and two farmer appointees, has 60 days to determine if a feasible alternative exists to condemnation; if it fails to act or finds no alternative, the project may proceed. This applies specifically to new highway construction (excluding existing road improvements like widening), directly affecting farmers whose land is targeted for such projects.

Maddy summaryHB 298 (Pennsylvania, 2025) requests federal approval for a waiver to change how medical assistance eligibility is managed for certain adults. It would allow Pennsylvania to deny eligibility for up to six months if nondisabled, nonpregnant adults aged 19-64 fail to report changes affecting their benefits, require biannual eligibility reviews (instead of annual), and eliminate automatic renewal requirements. The bill directly affects adults in this age group who don’t report income or other changes impacting their medical assistance. If approved, the state must report the waiver to state officials and publish it in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This focuses on administrative process changes, not eligibility criteria.