Maddy summarySB 1277 amends Pennsylvania's Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act to update how local governments can offer property tax exemptions for deteriorated buildings and new construction in economically depressed areas. The bill clarifies definitions to include various types of distressed properties, such as those ordered vacated or demolished, and expands the scope to cover mixed-use and converted residential structures. It also establishes a public registry for these exemptions and requires local authorities to hold at least one public hearing before designating specific areas as deteriorated. Ultimately, the legislation provides a standardized framework for municipalities to implement tax relief aimed at revitalizing struggling neighborhoods.
Sen. Greg Rothman
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 576 amends Pennsylvania's tax code for mutual thrift institutions, such as credit unions, by adjusting their annual tax rates on taxable net income. Starting in 2025, the tax rate will gradually decrease from 7.95% to 4.99% over seven years, with specific rates set for each year through 2031. The bill also revises the net loss carryover rule, allowing institutions to deduct losses from the previous ten years (instead of three) when calculating current tax, but the deduction cannot exceed the current year's net income. Mutual thrift institutions must report and pay taxes annually by April 15 under these updated rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires oil and gas well operators in Pennsylvania to obtain a specific drilling permit before drilling wells that target the Utica shale formation or reach depths of 3,800 feet or more. The permit application process will follow existing state regulations for resource development, adding a new layer of administrative review for these specific deep-drilling projects. Directly affecting energy companies and land operators, the law mandates compliance with these permitting rules before any drilling begins in the designated geological horizons. The legislation takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's tax laws to increase the maximum annual historic preservation tax credit available to a single property owner from $500,000 to $1,500,000. The change directly affects qualified taxpayers who restore or rehabilitate historic buildings, allowing them to claim a larger tax credit against their state taxes. The Department of Community and Economic Development is responsible for reviewing and approving these credit certificates under the new limit. The legislation takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law.
Maddy summarySB 1279, known as the Reduce the Red Tape for Housing Act, aims to streamline housing construction permitting in Pennsylvania by requiring executive agencies to set specific processing timelines and adopt digital application systems. The bill introduces a new role called the Commonwealth Housing Regulatory Compliance Officer to coordinate between state agencies, local governments, and developers, while also allowing developers to hire independent third-party reviewers to expedite approvals. Additionally, the Office of Transformation and Opportunity must evaluate ways to improve the building materials supply chain and report on progress in reducing regulatory hurdles for housing projects.
Maddy summarySB 1281 amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to create a new process for faster approval of high-density housing projects. The bill requires the State Planning Board to establish rules allowing municipalities to approve specific residential developments on zoned lots without needing to update their comprehensive plans or land use regulations. These expedited approvals are limited to smaller housing units, such as duplexes, townhouses, and multi-unit buildings with fewer than 50 units, provided they meet existing density limits and are served by public utilities. The legislation also enables the use of pre-approved building plans and typical drawings to streamline the construction permitting process.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 328 designates June 2026 as 'The Month of the American Soldier' in Pennsylvania to honor the service and sacrifice of military personnel. This symbolic resolution does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change existing policies but serves to recognize the contributions of soldiers and their families. The text specifically highlights thirteen Pennsylvania natives who received the Medal of Honor or held high-ranking positions to exemplify the state's military tradition.
Maddy summarySB 1340 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require school districts to publish rules on their websites regarding home school students' participation in extracurricular activities, such as JROTC. It also mandates that school districts ensure JROTC programs are open to home school students who meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, the bill requires military families providing home instruction to notify their local school district within 30 days of starting.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 323 formally congratulates The Pennsylvania State University wrestling team on winning its 14th NCAA Division I Championship and honors Pennsylvania athletes who placed in both the men's and inaugural women's wrestling championships. The resolution highlights the team's historic dominance by citing specific records, such as setting a new tournament scoring record and producing multiple All-American wrestlers under head coach Cael Sanderson. It also recognizes individual achievements, including awards won by wrestlers like Mitchell Mesenbrink and the strong performance of Pennsylvania-native athletes across the tournament.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's school employee retirement system by clarifying which organizations are eligible to participate. It specifically prohibits certain school employees and any new hires at non-governmental entities from joining the retirement plan, while allowing current participants at those entities to remain enrolled until they leave their jobs. To manage the exit of ineligible organizations, the bill replaces standard withdrawal liability with a one-time administrative fee capped at 5% of the potential liability, which funds the administrative costs of removing these entities from the system.