Rep. Rob Kauffman

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's legal rules to clarify how courts should determine the intent behind state laws when the wording is unclear. It specifically instructs judges to consider official interpretations provided by the General Assembly and administrative agencies as evidence of legislative intent. By codifying this approach, the legislation aims to ensure that the original purpose of statutes is respected during legal disputes. The changes apply immediately to all future cases involving statutory interpretation in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Milk Sanitation Law to explicitly permit permit holders to sell and manufacture dairy products labeled as containing raw milk. It achieves this by adding a new provision to the existing statute that overrides previous restrictions on such sales, while simultaneously removing a conflicting administrative regulation. The law applies directly to dairy producers and sellers who currently hold valid permits to sell milk in the state. The changes become effective 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow students attending private schools to join extracurricular activities offered by their local public school districts, provided the private school does not offer the same activity and the student meets all participation requirements. The legislation directly affects private school families and public school districts by creating a pathway for these students to participate in sports and other school organizations. The key mechanism is a new provision in Section 511 of the code that establishes these eligibility rules without changing existing laws for public school students. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to change the penalty for a specific violation of the law. Currently, the violation is classified as a misdemeanor with potential jail time or a fine, but this legislation would reduce it to a summary offense punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a fine of $500. The change directly affects individuals who commit the prohibited act outlined in clause (31) of the act's subsection (a). The bill is set to take effect 60 days after it is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Pennsylvania second-class townships to charge fees to fund the construction, maintenance, and operation of storm water management systems. The fees can be based on the properties that benefit from these facilities but must not exceed the minimum amounts required by federal and state environmental laws. Townships are required to offer exemptions or credits to property owners who install and maintain approved storm water facilities, including those following best management practices for normal agricultural operations. The legislation takes effect 60 days after being signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Taxpayer Dividend Program in Pennsylvania to refund a portion of state budget surpluses to resident individual taxpayers. The program would distribute funds from the General Fund and the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund to individuals who filed and paid taxes for the 2023 tax year. Money taken from the General Fund is limited to the existing surplus, while withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund require a two-thirds legislative vote and must leave at least 6% of the fund's value intact. The Department of Revenue is tasked with identifying eligible recipients and processing payments, with the goal of returning accumulated surplus money rather than using it for expanded government spending.