Rep. Rob Kauffman

Maddy summaryHB 252 requires Pennsylvania school entities (like districts, charter schools, and cyber schools) to obtain written parental permission before students can access or use any mental health services digital platform. Schools must provide parents a 30-day written notice detailing the platform’s purpose, structure, and practices before implementation, including clear information on how to grant or withdraw consent. Parents can revoke permission anytime in writing, and schools must immediately stop facilitating platform access upon receipt of withdrawal. The bill also ensures parents may request to be present during their child’s use of the platform (unless documented cause for exclusion exists) and access or delete student data collected via the platform per federal privacy laws.

Maddy summaryHB 217 amends Pennsylvania's tax code to require businesses to deduct start-up costs (like initial expenses for new ventures) entirely in the year incurred, rather than spreading deductions over multiple years as permitted under federal rules. This change affects new businesses and entrepreneurs with start-up expenses by altering how they calculate state personal income tax. The bill also allows business net losses to offset other income in the same tax year. These provisions apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 227, the "Honesty in Teaching Act," prohibits Pennsylvania public schools (including districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) and their contractors from compelling students to adopt beliefs that suggest any group is inherently superior or inferior based on protected characteristics like race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. It bans communications promoting discrimination or group-based superiority (Section 3(a)), requires teacher training focused on fostering independent thinking over advancing personal beliefs (Section 3(e)), and mandates contracts with contractors include a statement prohibiting "prohibited indoctrination" (Section 4). Complaints about violations can be filed with school boards, with penalties for false claims under Pennsylvania law (Section 5). The bill directly affects public school employees, contractors, and students by restricting specific instructional content while allowing discussion of controversial topics.

Maddy summaryHB 258 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all Pennsylvania elections to be conducted by in-person ballot at polling places, including early voting as permitted by law, while preserving voting secrecy. It would amend the state constitution to replace current language allowing for "other voting methods" with a specific mandate for in-person voting. The amendment must be approved by both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and then ratified by voters in the next qualifying election. If adopted, it would fundamentally change Pennsylvania’s election method by standardizing in-person voting as the primary process.

Maddy summaryHB 259 amends Pennsylvania's definition of "child sexual abuse material" in Title 18 to clarify what constitutes illegal content. It adds specific criteria for material involving children under 18, including depictions of lewd exhibition of genitals (if patently offensive), material appealing to prurient interest under community standards, and material lacking serious literary or educational value. This change directly affects law enforcement and prosecutors who identify and prosecute violations of child sexual abuse laws. The bill updates existing legal language without creating new penalties, effective 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 236 amends Pennsylvania's obscenity law to explicitly exempt public libraries, school/university libraries, and state or municipal archives from the offense of displaying obscene materials. The bill updates Section 5903(j) of Title 18 to clarify that recognized historical societies, museums, public libraries, and educational institution libraries are not subject to these restrictions. This change directly affects libraries and archives operating under educational or governmental supervision by removing ambiguity about their legal protections. The amendment does not create new offenses but ensures these institutions can legally display materials as part of their public service.

Maddy summaryHB 125 proposes a constitutional amendment to change when the Pennsylvania General Assembly must convene, moving the regular session start date from the first Tuesday in January to December 1 each year. The amendment would require the legislature to meet annually on December 1, unless the Governor calls a special session under existing rules. The bill also outlines the approval process: after two legislative votes, the amendment must be advertised and then submitted to voters at the next applicable primary, general, or municipal election. If approved by voters, the change would take effect, altering the annual meeting schedule for the state legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 155 requires voting system vendors in Pennsylvania to annually disclose known defects in electronic voting systems by January 1 of odd-numbered years, including the defect's impact and corrective measures. Vendors must also report new defects within 30 days. The Department of State can suspend sales, leases, or election use of defective systems and impose a $25,000 civil penalty plus investigation costs for failures to disclose or cure defects. This bill directly affects voting system vendors, the Department of State, and county election boards, which may request investigations into suspected defects. The law aims to ensure transparency and accountability in electronic voting system safety without altering voter eligibility or ballot counting procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 124 amends Pennsylvania's Regulatory Review Act to require state agencies to provide detailed documentation when adopting guidance from international bodies like the World Health Organization, United Nations, or World Economic Forum. Specifically, agencies must submit a regulatory analysis form including (1) a statement showing how the international guidance applies to Pennsylvania, and (2) a detailed explanation of the data source used to justify its applicability, with the burden of proof on the agency. This applies to all new proposed regulations that reference such international guidance. The bill adds these requirements to the existing review process for state regulations, effective 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 126 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to update the affidavit candidates must file with their nomination petitions for public office. It requires candidates to affirm their residence, eligibility, and that they are not running for multiple offices in the same election, while also confirming compliance with election laws and campaign finance rules. For party positions like delegates or committee members, the affidavit must state party membership and that the candidate isn't seeking the same office through multiple parties. This applies to all candidates for state, county, city, and local offices, except presidential candidates who only need to provide a mailing address in their petition.