Rep. Thomas Kutz

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to identify and maintain a list of run-of-the-river dams across the state. Owners and permittees of these specific dams must mark the areas above, below, and adjacent to the structures with signs and buoys to warn swimmers, anglers, and boaters about potential hazards. The legislation also mandates that the department publish this list and a map of dam locations on its website, while owners are responsible for repairing or replacing any damaged or removed warning markers within 30 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state Department of Health to hold annual regional meetings with long-term care nursing facilities to gather feedback on how the department conducts its surveys. The primary goal is to improve cooperation and communication between the department and these facilities, with the option to hold meetings either in-person or virtually. Any information shared during these meetings is protected from being used in criminal, civil, or administrative cases, unless the data is unrelated to facility performance, knowingly false, or independently verified. Additionally, records collected during these sessions are exempt from public access under the state's Right-to-Know Law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to clearly explain all mandatory fees students must pay, such as enrollment or incidental charges. Institutions must list these fees, along with their purpose and how the money will be spent, on their public websites and student portals before the fees are charged. Additionally, schools must report the total amount collected and how those funds were used to the state Department of Education by November 15 each year. The law applies to both public state schools and private accredited institutions operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "establishment" under Pennsylvania's human trafficking laws to include various venues such as hotels, motels, truck stops, and transportation hubs. It mandates that owners and managers of public lodging establishments provide human trafficking awareness training to their employees within 90 days of hiring or the bill's effective date, with specific content on identifying victims and reporting signs of exploitation. The legislation also requires these businesses to maintain records of employee training for two years and submit proposed training materials to the Department of Labor and Industry for approval. Additionally, the bill introduces enforcement mechanisms, including administrative and criminal penalties for violations, while allowing for affirmative defenses if an establishment can prove it took reasonable steps to prevent trafficking.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates July 2024 as MECP2 Duplication Syndrome Awareness Month in Pennsylvania to highlight a rare genetic condition that primarily affects boys. The bill aims to increase public understanding of the disorder's symptoms, which include severe gastrointestinal issues, frequent respiratory infections, and treatment-resistant seizures, while also noting its strong link to autism. By officially recognizing this month, the legislation seeks to draw attention to the challenges faced by affected families and the ongoing research into potential future treatments.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution urges the U.S. Congress to oppose federal laws that would restrict how consumers and small businesses choose their payment methods. The bill argues that government mandates on financial transactions could weaken national security and reduce innovation in the payments industry. It specifically calls for preventing rules that might require surcharges for credit card use or force a shift to centralized payment systems. The resolution frames these market-based choices as essential for protecting consumer privacy and maintaining the security of the American financial system.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill amends the state's Tax Reform Code to update how corporations can deduct net losses against their taxable income. It establishes new rules that increase the maximum amount of net loss a company can use to reduce its tax bill in any given year, with the limit rising over time until it reaches 100% of taxable income for years starting after December 31, 2024. The legislation also clarifies how long past losses can be carried forward to offset future profits, extending the carryover period for losses generated after 1997 to 20 years. These changes directly affect corporations filing state income tax returns by allowing them to lower their current tax liability more aggressively when they have incurred losses.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax laws by adjusting personal income tax rates and eliminating a specific tax on the gross receipts from the sale of electric energy. It requires electric utilities to pass the savings from these tax changes directly to consumers through reductions in state tax surcharges, with civil penalties of up to $5,000 for companies that fail to do so. Additionally, the legislation mandates that $6 million annually be transferred to the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The bill also establishes a revenue-neutral reconciliation rule that will remain in effect until the end of 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to issue refunds to insurance carriers that paid a specific assessment in 2009 related to the Workers' Compensation Security Fund. To qualify for the refund, which includes the original amount plus interest, carriers must submit a verification form within 60 days of a public notice, while companies that went into liquidation in 2009 are excluded. The legislation also requires the department to report the total amount of refunds issued to state legislative committee chairs within 180 days of the process concludes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax laws to exempt first-time home buyers from state realty transfer taxes and grants local governments the authority to impose their own real estate transfer taxes. Under the new state provision, individuals who have never owned a single-family home in any state can avoid the transfer tax when purchasing such a property, provided that all buyers listed on the deed are first-time purchasers. Conversely, the bill allows specific local entities, such as cities, boroughs, and school districts, to vote on whether to levy a local transfer tax on property transactions within their boundaries. If a local government chooses to enact this tax, the exemption for first-time home buyers will not apply to that local levy.