Rep. Rob Kauffman

Maddy summaryHB 61 amends Pennsylvania's Cosmetology Law by updating the official definition of "esthetics" in Section 1. The revised definition specifies that esthetics includes facial massage, applying cosmetic products, removing facial hair (via tweezers, blades, depilatories, or wax), and dyeing eyelashes or eyebrows. This change directly affects licensed estheticians and cosmetology professionals who perform these services, clarifying the scope of their regulated practice under state law. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 63 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to adjust school safety training requirements for cyber charter schools. It allows these schools to waive in-person training or provide an alternative training option for employees who exclusively work remotely and are not physically located in Pennsylvania. The change specifically updates Section 1310-B of the Code to create this exception for remote-only staff. This policy adjustment applies only to cyber charter school employees and does not affect traditional school staff or training mandates for in-person school settings. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 110 amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to allow minors aged 18 or older to consent independently to mental health treatment without parental permission, raising the age from 14. It also clarifies that minors aged 18+ control their mental health treatment records, while parents or legal guardians retain full access to all medical, dental, and health records for minors under 18. The bill includes provisions for minors to revoke consent for treatment and requires court review if a minor objects to continued inpatient care. These changes directly affect minors seeking mental health services and their parents, streamlining consent processes while balancing minor autonomy with parental access.

Maddy summaryHB 94 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow parents or guardians of school-aged children to opt their child out of school-imposed face covering or mask requirements. This applies when masks are required due to health department mandates (like those under the Disease Prevention and Control Law) or school board policies. Schools must provide a simple online opt-out form without requiring an excuse and must prohibit discrimination against students who opt out, including exclusion from activities or locations. The bill directly affects parents, guardians, and schools in Pennsylvania, changing how mask mandates are implemented in educational settings.

Maddy summaryHB 68, the State-Owned Vehicle Assignment Limitation Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state officials (members of the General Assembly) from being assigned or leasing state-owned vehicles for official use, effective 60 days after enactment. The bill directly affects legislators who previously received state vehicles, banning new assignments while allowing current users to retain their vehicles until they leave office or return the vehicle. Exceptions apply for emergency response duties requiring vehicle use. The law aims to restrict the use of public funds for personal vehicle assignments by lawmakers, with no new leases or assignments permitted after the effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 54 amends Pennsylvania's Religious Freedom Protection Act to clarify what constitutes a "substantially burden" on religious exercise and restricts when government exceptions may apply. It adds specific definitions, including that a "substantially burden" occurs when government actions significantly constrain religious conduct, curtail expression, deny fundamental religious activities, compel violations of faith, prevent physical gatherings for worship, or authorize penalties for religious practice. The bill explicitly prohibits agencies from using emergency powers under the Governor's authority (Article IV, Section 20 of the Constitution) or the Disease Prevention Law as exceptions to religious freedom protections. This directly affects Pennsylvania residents seeking to exercise their religion without government interference, particularly during emergencies. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Pennsylvania's election commission to create a process allowing homeowners and landlords to report voters registered at their addresses who no longer live there. When such a report is made, the commission must immediately notify the affected voter and attempt to reach them at any other known address to update their registration information. The law adds this reporting mechanism to existing voter removal procedures without replacing them, and it becomes effective 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the creation of a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on Pennsylvania State Capitol grounds to honor military members who died in service and their families. The monument, designed by Woody Williams and Kenton Blackwood, will consist of four black granite slabs featuring inscriptions and scenes representing homeland, patriotism, family, and sacrifice. The MI Charitable Foundation is designated to fund and manage the construction and ongoing maintenance of the site, while the Department of General Services will assist in preparing the location and facilitating the project. The specific location is defined as the area south of the Forum Building, east of the Speaker K. Leroy Irvis Office Building, and north of Walnut Street.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Administrative Code to establish a new set of rules governing how state agencies process permit applications. It creates a strict 30-day deadline for agencies to either approve or deny requests for permits, renewals, or modifications, and it mandates that incomplete applications be returned to applicants within 10 days with a specific list of missing information. To prevent delays, the law includes a provision where an application is automatically deemed approved if the agency fails to act within the statutory timeframe or if the applicant submits a sworn affidavit confirming that all legal requirements have been met. These changes apply to various regulated activities but explicitly exclude personal licenses issued to individuals by professional boards.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Ballot Access Improvement Act, establishes a new option for candidates in Pennsylvania to gain access to the ballot by paying a filing fee instead of submitting a traditional nomination petition. It applies to a wide range of offices, including federal positions, statewide roles, and local judgeships, allowing candidates to choose between the standard petition process or a direct fee payment. The legislation sets specific fee amounts based on the office sought, ranging from $3,000 for state representatives to $38,500 for the presidency, and outlines how these funds will be distributed to counties and the Department of State for election administration. Additionally, the bill defines strict deadlines for fee payment, mandates the issuance of receipts to candidates, and clarifies that these fees are non-refundable even if a candidate withdraws.