Rep. Rob Kauffman

Maddy summaryHB 897 requires Pennsylvania state agencies to prioritize purchasing "American-made" supplies, defined as goods assembled within the United States. The bill adds this definition to procurement rules and mandates agencies to incorporate prioritization into their buying policies. If an agency determines a supply isn’t American-made or unavailable in sufficient quantities, it must publish the decision in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, allowing 30 days for objections with evidence. Affirmed determinations exempt specific supplies from the prioritization requirement.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill requires public school districts to mail financial information reports to resident taxpayers by first-class mail. The financial data, which is already available online, must be sent starting with the 2024-2025 fiscal year and all subsequent years. The law applies to all public school entities in the state and aims to increase transparency by directly notifying taxpayers about school funding details. The bill takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania election procedures by clarifying the Secretary of the Commonwealth's responsibilities and improving how voters receive information about ballot questions. It requires the Attorney General to create plain English explanations for statewide ballot questions and mandates that the Secretary of the Commonwealth include these explanations in official election materials. For debt-related ballot questions, the Office of the Budget must prepare detailed fiscal notes in plain English outlining project costs, interest, and future expenses, which must be posted online and in voting areas. The bill also standardizes how ballot questions and fiscal notes appear on official ballots, allowing them to be printed below candidate names in a brief format determined by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryHB 898 requires Pennsylvania gas stations to display clear, standardized labels on fuel dispensers showing the exact federal and state taxes for both gasoline and diesel fuel. The labels must list individual taxes (federal gasoline tax, state gasoline tax, federal diesel tax, state diesel tax) and their combined totals in a consistent location. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will design these labels, update them within 60 days of any tax rate changes, and cover all costs for retailers - no fees for initial or replacement labels. This bill directly affects fuel retailers and the Department of Agriculture, aiming to increase transparency about tax costs for consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most construction and land development projects to obtain an erosion and sediment control permit from Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) before starting earth disturbance work (like clearing land or building). It sets a 45-day deadline for DEP to process permits, or 20 days if a licensed engineer submits the application, and mandates clear written reasons for denials. The DEP must also submit an annual report to the legislature by January 31st, detailing permit applications, approvals, processing times, staff workload, and fees collected by industry sector. This directly affects construction companies, developers, and the DEP, which must manage permits and reporting under new timelines and transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 869 exempts nonpublic schools and home education programs in Pennsylvania from state emergency orders during disaster declarations, such as those issued by the Governor or the Secretary of Health under Pennsylvania law. This applies to institutions like church schools, home school groups, nonprofit schools, and one-room schools that meet legal requirements for educating students. The bill adds this exemption to the Public School Code of 1949, meaning these schools would not be required to close or follow specific health directives during declared emergencies. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 854 requires school board members to recuse themselves from voting on collective bargaining agreements if their spouse, romantic partner, or household member is part of the bargaining unit covered by that agreement. The bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish this conflict-of-interest rule, directly affecting school board members during contract negotiations. Key provisions mandate automatic recusal for board members with personal ties to the employees covered by the agreement being voted on. The rule takes effect 60 days after enactment, aiming to prevent potential bias in negotiations.

Maddy summaryHB 864 repeals Pennsylvania's Clean Vehicles Program regulations (25 Pa. Code Ch. 126 Subch. D), which governed state-level requirements for electric and low-emission vehicles. This directly affects automakers, dealers, and consumers participating in Pennsylvania's clean vehicle initiatives. The bill removes specific regulatory requirements without establishing new rules, effective 60 days after enactment. It is a procedural change eliminating existing code provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 857 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to update reimbursement rates for emergency ambulance services under Medicaid programs. It requires the state to pay ambulance providers the higher of either Medicare's 2023 rates or current Medicaid ambulance fees (as updated in 2023) for services provided to Medicaid enrollees starting January 1, 2024. For services where patients declined transport, new rates based on 2025 Medicare data or updated Medicaid fees will apply beginning July 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed emergency medical services agencies that provide ambulance transport to Medicaid beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryHB 834 requires all Pennsylvania public agencies (including state, local, judicial, and legislative bodies) to post monthly financial disbursement records online by the end of each month. Agencies must also certify quarterly to the Auditor General that all prior quarter records are publicly available. The Auditor General will conduct periodic audits to verify compliance, and individuals can sue agencies for violations to obtain court-ordered corrections, with potential recovery of attorney fees. This bill directly affects how public funds are disclosed, making monthly spending data immediately accessible to the public rather than requiring annual reports.