Maddy summarySB 791 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to provide new methods for school districts that span multiple counties or municipalities to calculate and standardize property tax revenues. It directly affects these multi-jurisdictional school districts by offering four options to set uniform tax rates across counties, including using market value calculations or adhering to statewide assessment ratios. The key mechanisms include requiring tax ratios to be uniform across counties, allowing districts to select the lowest assessment ratio for consistency, or adopting uniform millage rates under specific conditions. This aims to simplify tax collection and ensure fair revenue distribution for districts operating across county lines.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SR 115) designates June 2025 as "Dairy Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the dairy industry's economic significance - supporting over 47,000 jobs and contributing $11.8 billion annually - to raise awareness of the industry's value and hardships while encouraging the purchase of Pennsylvania-produced dairy products. The resolution has no binding policy impact and serves purely as a ceremonial acknowledgment.
Maddy summarySB 813 establishes Pennsylvania's HUB Zone Business Procurement Program to increase state contracting with businesses in designated underutilized areas. It requires state agencies to set contract-specific goals ensuring 20% HUB zone business participation on contracts between $100,000-$750,000 and 25% on larger contracts, with waivers available if agencies demonstrate "good faith efforts" to find qualified businesses. The program mandates agencies to compile verified business lists, monitor compliance monthly, and review utilization schedules. This directly affects Pennsylvania state purchasing agencies and for-profit businesses headquartered in designated HUB zones meeting federal certification criteria.
Maddy summarySB 692 amends Pennsylvania's medical assistance program to set limits on how payment rates can change for nursing facilities. It requires that nonpublic nursing facility payments stay at or above 90% of prior rates starting July 1, 2025, while county facility payments must maintain 100% plus any percentage change applied to nonpublic rates. These payment rate limits will remain in effect until June 30, 2026, or until a new rate-setting system replaces the current one. The bill directly affects county and nonpublic nursing facilities enrolled in Pennsylvania's medical assistance program.
Maddy summarySB 667 designates Hershey's Kisses as Pennsylvania's official state candy. The bill formally names the confection as a symbolic recognition of the Hershey Company's economic and cultural ties to the state, including its manufacturing presence and tourism impact. This is a ceremonial designation with no legal or regulatory effects on residents, businesses, or state operations. It takes effect immediately upon passage and remains in force as long as Hershey's corporate headquarters stays in Pennsylvania.
Maddy summarySB 773 amends Pennsylvania's cigarette tax rules by establishing a default percentage for retailers' operating costs, directly affecting cigarette sellers. Starting July 2026, this default rate will increase annually - from 9% (2026), to 10% (2027), 11% (2028), and 12% (2029 and beyond). Retailers can use actual lower costs for up to 12 months but must revert to the default rate afterward if they don’t provide proof. The bill changes how retailers calculate taxes on cigarette sales, requiring the new percentages to be applied to the basic cost of cigarettes.
Maddy summarySB 778 modifies Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to establish a formal approval schedule for city revitalization and improvement zones. It allows the Department of Community and Economic Development to initially approve two such zones and one pilot zone after the bill takes effect, then approve two additional zones annually starting in 2028. The bill directly affects cities seeking to create these designated zones, which typically offer tax incentives for development. It does not change tax rates or create new taxes, but streamlines the process for expanding these zones statewide.
Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SR 112 is a resolution petitioning Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention focused solely on three specific amendments: imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting federal power and jurisdiction, and restricting terms for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution explicitly prohibits the convention from considering changes to the Bill of Rights and includes detailed instructions to ensure it stays within these boundaries. It also specifies that Pennsylvania's delegates will be chosen by the state legislature and bound to oppose any proposals outside the designated topics. This is a procedural request to Congress, not a law, and does not directly affect any residents or entities.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 664 amends an existing law related to waste tire recycling to introduce new requirements for replacement tires. It mandates that when an individual replaces a vehicle tire at a business that sells tires, the business must keep the old tire for recycling. The individual is not permitted to remove the waste tire from the business. This provision applies to tires that no longer meet safety inspection standards or are expected to fail within three months, but not to tires that are only being repaired.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 310 mandates that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, high school students in Pennsylvania's public, nonpublic, and private schools must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduating. Students or their parents/legal guardians can choose to opt out of filing the FAFSA by submitting a state-developed form to their school. Schools are responsible for providing this opt-out form and may exempt students if they cannot be reached and no FAFSA or opt-out form is submitted. The bill clarifies that schools do not require personal financial information from students or families, and any inadvertently obtained information is not a public record.