Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new defined contribution retirement plan for employees of Pennsylvania counties, shifting the system from a traditional model to one where individual accounts track investment performance. Under the new rules, both employees and their employers must make regular contributions to separate personal accounts, with any investment gains or losses applied directly to those specific accounts. The legislation also introduces a "pickup" provision where the county covers the cost of mandatory employee contributions by reducing the employee's paycheck, while allowing for optional voluntary savings. All funds in the plan are held in a trust managed by the county board, which is responsible for setting plan terms, handling investments, and ensuring compliance with federal tax laws.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill allows local taxing districts in Pennsylvania, such as counties, cities, and school districts, to offer residents the option to pay their taxes in up to twelve monthly installments instead of a single lump sum. Under the new rules, these payment plans can be established through local ordinances or resolutions, but taxpayers will not receive any discounts or interest reductions for paying over time. The legislation takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law, giving local governments time to update their collection systems to accommodate the expanded payment options.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit program in Pennsylvania designed to help parents pay for their children's education outside of the public school system. It allows taxpayers who have eligible school-age children not currently enrolled in public schools to claim up to $8,000 per child annually for qualified expenses such as private school tuition, tutoring, educational software, and standardized test fees. The credit can be used to reduce state tax liability or, if the amount exceeds the tax owed, it will be refunded to the taxpayer. To receive the benefit, parents must file a claim with the Department of Revenue, which will distribute the funds either via direct deposit or certified mail.
Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution designates June 23, 2024, as "Widows' and Widowers' Day" to acknowledge the approximately 681,800 widowed individuals in the state. The measure expresses condolences to those who have lost a spouse and encourages them to seek support from family, friends, and counselors. It does not create any new laws or change existing programs but serves as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness about the challenges faced by widowed residents.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "establishment" under Pennsylvania's human trafficking laws to include various venues such as hotels, motels, truck stops, and transportation hubs. It mandates that owners and managers of public lodging establishments provide human trafficking awareness training to their employees within 90 days of hiring or the bill's effective date, with specific content on identifying victims and reporting signs of exploitation. The legislation also requires these businesses to maintain records of employee training for two years and submit proposed training materials to the Department of Labor and Industry for approval. Additionally, the bill introduces enforcement mechanisms, including administrative and criminal penalties for violations, while allowing for affirmative defenses if an establishment can prove it took reasonable steps to prevent trafficking.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania law to update the definition of child pornography by explicitly including artificially generated depictions of minors. It specifically targets images created using artificial intelligence or photo editing software that appear to show a child under 18 in prohibited sexual acts or in a sexually suggestive manner. The legislation clarifies that these digital creations are illegal even if no real child was physically involved in their production. This change directly affects individuals who possess, control, or view such manipulated visual materials. The law will take effect 60 days after it is signed into force.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax laws by adjusting personal income tax rates and eliminating a specific tax on the gross receipts from the sale of electric energy. It requires electric utilities to pass the savings from these tax changes directly to consumers through reductions in state tax surcharges, with civil penalties of up to $5,000 for companies that fail to do so. Additionally, the legislation mandates that $6 million annually be transferred to the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund starting in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The bill also establishes a revenue-neutral reconciliation rule that will remain in effect until the end of 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum from exercising any jurisdiction or authority within Pennsylvania. It explicitly bans state and local government agencies from enforcing, implementing, or complying with any rules, regulations, fees, taxes, or mandates issued by these three international groups. The law takes effect 60 days after being signed into legislation.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Public School Employees' Retirement Board and the State Employees' Retirement Board to livestream their public meetings and post unedited video and written records online for at least three years. It also clarifies that sensitive investment information, such as details about alternative investments, will remain confidential to protect financial interests but will eventually become public once the risk of competitive harm or negative impact on investment value no longer exists. Additionally, the legislation mandates that specific basic details about alternative investment vehicles, including the manager's identity and the amount of money committed, must always be accessible to the public. These changes aim to increase transparency in how the boards manage records and conduct business while safeguarding sensitive financial data.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to purchase or lease aircraft for official government use, with costs charged to the agencies or the General Assembly that utilize them. To ensure accountability, the legislation requires public officials to sign declarations confirming flights are exclusively for official business and prohibits lobbyists and their principals from riding on these planes. Additionally, the department must maintain a publicly accessible online log detailing trip purposes, such as event names and meeting attendees, while restricting out-of-state flights to emergency situations only.