Maddy summaryHB 1596 exempts certain personal electronics and school supplies from Pennsylvania's sales tax during a specific annual August period. It excludes from tax the purchase of personal computers, tablets, or related devices under $1,500 for individual nonbusiness use, and school supplies like notebooks, art materials, or calculators priced at $50 or less per item. The exemption applies only to individual purchases made during the "exclusion period" (the first Saturday to the third Saturday in August), not to business purchases or items like servers, video game consoles, or music discs. This bill directly affects consumers buying eligible items during the defined August sales tax holiday.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1557 provides temporary disability pay for Pennsylvania police and firefighters (enforcement officers) who contract COVID-19 or are quarantined due to exposure during the state's declared pandemic emergency. It ensures these officers receive compensation under existing law when temporarily unable to work because of the illness or quarantine. Benefits are limited to 60 days per illness incident. The bill clarifies and extends disability benefits specifically for enforcement officers affected by the pandemic, as defined in the Governor's March 2020 emergency declaration.
Maddy summaryHB 808 amends Pennsylvania's judicial code to remove time limits for filing certain legal actions. It specifically targets statutes of limitations within Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure), effectively allowing lawsuits to be filed without time restrictions in affected cases. The bill would directly impact individuals or entities involved in civil or legal proceedings where time limits would otherwise prevent claims. As a procedural change to court procedures, it focuses on altering legal timing rules rather than creating new programs or affecting specific groups by name. The bill was referred to the Judiciary committee but was laid on the table in June 2025, indicating it did not advance further.
Maddy summaryHB 1517 would amend Pennsylvania's vehicle registration laws to allow private vendors to design custom license plates for vehicle owners. This change directly affects drivers who wish to choose non-standard plate designs and vendors seeking to sell these customized options. The bill establishes a new process within the state's vehicle registration system for vendor-designed plates, replacing the current requirement for state-only designs. It does not alter vehicle registration fees or requirements beyond this plate design option.
Maddy summaryHB 940 amends Pennsylvania's definition of "sexual abuse or exploitation" in child protective services law (Title 23, Section 6303). It expands the definition to explicitly include behaviors like viewing a child's intimate parts, participating in sexual conversations via digital means, and simulated sexual activity for sexual gratification. The bill also clarifies that consensual activity between two 14-year-olds within four years of age is excluded from this definition. This change directly affects how child protective services agencies and courts categorize and respond to alleged child sexual abuse cases. The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment.
Maddy summaryHB 1449 amends Pennsylvania law regarding the expenses paid by the Office of the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania (OCAP). It increases the annual registration fee OCAP pays to the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania from $200 to $400 for each magisterial district judge and Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge position. The bill clarifies that OCAP directly funds a monthly journal for legal updates, while other expenses, such as the registration fee, are covered by the annual appropriation for magisterial district judges.
Maddy summaryHB 1419 amends Pennsylvania's domestic relations law to strengthen penalties for repeatedly violating protection-from-abuse orders. It creates tiered misdemeanor fines based on prior contempt violations: $500 minimum for a second offense, $500 for a third, and $500 for three or more offenses. The bill also removes jury trial rights for first-time violators (while guaranteeing legal counsel) and requires fines to fund domestic violence programs without replacing existing funding. This directly affects individuals who repeatedly disregard court-ordered protection from abuse. The changes aim to increase accountability for violating protective orders.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates April 2025 as "Community College Month" in Pennsylvania to recognize community colleges' role in the state's education and economy. It highlights that community colleges serve over 240,000 students - many from low-income or minority backgrounds - provide affordable pathways to degrees, and partner with over 2,000 employers to train workers for high-demand jobs like nursing and truck driving. The designation is ceremonial and does not create new laws or funding.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Adjunct Prosecutor Division within Pennsylvania's Office of Attorney General to assist district attorneys with criminal investigations and prosecutions. District attorneys can request adjunct prosecutors (qualified bar members) to work under their direction on specific cases, including grand jury proceedings, court litigation, and evidence review. The division is funded through a new "Adjunct Prosecutor Division Restricted Account" in the State Treasury, which receives annual appropriations from the General Assembly. The bill establishes clear procedures for requesting assistance, assigning prosecutors, and defines their scope of authority while requiring district attorney oversight.
Maddy summaryHB 1124 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to protect eligible seniors from losing property tax or rent rebates due to automatic Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). It directly affects seniors currently receiving these rebates who exceed income limits solely because of COLAs. The bill modifies the definition of "income" to specifically state that seniors eligible as of December 31, 2024, remain eligible if their income limit is exceeded only due to Social Security COLAs. This exception applies until December 31, 2028. The change ensures these seniors maintain their rebate eligibility during temporary income spikes caused by federal COLAs.