Rep. Pat Harkins

Maddy summaryHB 1299 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to regulate automatic renewal and continuous service offers. It requires businesses to clearly disclose renewal terms, pricing after trials, and cancellation options in a way consumers can retain, and to allow online cancellation. The law applies to most subscription-based goods/services but excludes health clubs, federally regulated utilities, natural gas/electricity contracts, and insurance entities. Violations would be treated as unfair trade practices under existing enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHR 285 is a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to study whether creating a registry for individuals who abuse vulnerable populations (such as seniors, people with disabilities, or those in care facilities) would be practical. The study would examine how such a registry might function, including potential benefits and implementation challenges. This resolution does not establish a registry but would inform future legislative decisions about one. It directly affects vulnerable populations by potentially leading to new safeguards if the study recommends action.

Maddy summaryHB 1358 updates Pennsylvania's lodging laws to directly protect hotel employees. It requires hotels to safeguard workers from retaliation for reporting safety issues or violations, replacing vague existing rules with specific protections. The bill imposes fines on hotels that violate these new safeguards, targeting employers who fail to prevent retaliation. This law affects all Pennsylvania hotels and lodging businesses, focusing on concrete changes to employee safety and enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates July 17, 2025, as "100th Anniversary of American Legion Baseball Day" within Pennsylvania. It is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the centennial of American Legion Baseball in the state, with no binding legal effect or direct impact on individuals or policies. The resolution was adopted by the legislature on July 8, 2025, as a symbolic gesture honoring this youth sports program's history.

Maddy summaryThe provided context does not include details about the specific changes made by HB 956 to Pennsylvania's aggravated assault laws. While the bill's title indicates it amends Title 18 regarding aggravated assault, the context lacks the concrete policy provisions, definitions, or affected groups necessary to describe what the bill actually does. Without this information, a factual summary of its mechanisms or direct impact cannot be provided. Legislative actions (like passage and referral) are noted but do not describe the bill's content.

Maddy summaryHB 103 amends Pennsylvania's fish and boat laws to address unsecured, abandoned, or derelict vessels in waterways, directly affecting boat owners and operators who leave vessels unattended. The bill requires owners to properly secure boats to prevent abandonment and establishes a process for reporting derelict vessels to local authorities. It imposes fines for violations, including failure to secure a boat or leaving it unattended in a way that creates a hazard. This law becomes effective upon the governor's approval, as signed into law on July 7, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1410 updates Pennsylvania's CPA licensing law to modernize professional practice rules. It removes outdated requirements for out-of-state CPAs to prove "substantial equivalency" and replaces this with automatic mobility for qualified individuals seeking to practice in Pennsylvania. The bill also clarifies licensing for accounting firms, adds new discipline rules for violations, and revises certificate issuance procedures. These changes primarily affect licensed CPAs, accounting firms, and professionals seeking to practice in Pennsylvania under updated standards.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 18, 2025, and September 18, 2026, as "State Grange Day" in Pennsylvania to celebrate the Pennsylvania State Grange's 152nd and 153rd anniversaries. It directly affects the Pennsylvania State Grange organization and its members by formally recognizing their anniversary through a state-level designation. The resolution is purely ceremonial, with no binding requirements or policy changes beyond this symbolic recognition, and it was adopted by the Pennsylvania House on June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to allow public assistance recipients to use their benefits to purchase diapers and menstrual hygiene products through a new waiver program. This directly affects low-income individuals and families enrolled in public assistance programs who currently cannot use their benefits for these essential items. The key provision adds diapers and menstrual hygiene products to the list of eligible purchases under an administrative waiver, changing the existing code to expand access to basic necessities. The bill does not change benefit amounts or eligibility criteria but creates a new pathway for purchasing specific hygiene products. It passed the legislature in June 2025 and was referred to the Health & Human Services committee for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 8, 2025, as "Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy Day" in Pennsylvania to honor his military service and community leadership. It specifically recognizes Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy, a Tuskegee Airmen veteran who flew 21 combat missions in WWII, later served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Congressional Gold Medal. The resolution commemorates his 100th birthday and his post-military work mentoring pilots and supporting community organizations. As a ceremonial resolution, it has no policy impact beyond this symbolic recognition.