How our area legislators voted
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives in May passed the bills listed below and sent them to the state Senate for concurrence. Here’s how our area legislators voted on them:
House Bill 558
The bill would impose a cap of $20 on rental application fees, and is aimed at making applications more affordable for renters yet providing landlords with enough capital to perform necessary background checks.
Vote: 148-53
Yes: Jamie Barton, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
No: Gary Day
House Bill 1077
The bill would ensure all children who need glasses in this commonwealth can receive them, establishing a commission that would work with vision care professionals from local nonprofits in Pennsylvania to develop a statewide plan to provide follow-up vision examinations and glasses to youths who need them.
Vote: 150-51
Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 1752
The bill would direct the secretary of education to commission an independent feasibility study to evaluate using alternative assessments — such as the SAT, ACT and Smarter Balanced tests — in place of the traditional Statewide Keystone Exams for high school students.
Vote: 191-10
Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 183
The bill would extend to light duty service trucks the same ability as presently provided to tow trucks. They would be able to display blue lights on their light bar and taillights while they are stationary on the side of the road rendering assistance.
Vote: 201-0
Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 2076
The bill would establish a regulatory framework for next-generation geothermal energy development in Pennsylvania, including authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to regulate geothermal injection wells and create a permitting process, defining “Geothermal Resources” to encompass all geothermal technologies, establishing subsurface ownership rights for geothermal resources, and permitting abandoned oil and gas wells to be repurposed into geothermal wells.
Vote: 118-83
No: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 2106
The bill would expand the list of people entitled to notice of a guardianship petition and hearing by allowing for broad notification of guardianship petitions and proceedings.
Vote: 201-0
Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 2223
The bill would require electric utilities to evaluate and consider the use of advanced transmission technologies on new and existing service lines within their transmission siting applications filed with the PUC, which are currently required by law for all newly proposed transmission facilities.
Vote: 201-0
Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 2347
The bill would allow changes in the Administrative Code to ensure the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has the resources and mission to utilize public and private funds so that Pennsylvania can turbocharge energy production, keep energy bills down and create family-sustaining jobs in communities across the commonwealth.
Vote: 106-95
No: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 1485
The bill would extend eligibility for state death benefits to public works employees who respond to emergencies as or in junction with first responders. Following the example of a law passed in New Hampshire in 2022, this legislation would recognize the important service of our public works employees and pay tribute to those who die while performing their duties when we need them the most.
Vote: 196-5
Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 2237
The bill would phase out reporting obligations of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency with regard to the New Economy Technology Scholarship program it administers.
Vote: 201-0
Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader
House Bill 2340
The bill would allow the malt beverage tax credit that allows breweries that invest in their facility or equipment to claim a tax credit equal to the amount of capital expenditures they incurred, up to a maximum of $200,000, to be carried forward for up to five years and would permit tax credit recipients to sell their credits to other Pennsylvania breweries.
Vote: 194-7
Yes: Jamie Barton, Gary Day, Doyle Heffley, Zach Mako and Jack Rader