Rep. Pat Harkins

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution formally recognizes March 17, 2025, as "St. Patrick's Day" within the state. It acknowledges Irish Americans' military contributions during the Revolutionary War, citing historical records showing they comprised 40-50% of the Continental Army by 1778. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is purely ceremonial, celebrating cultural heritage. It directly affects Pennsylvanians of Irish descent (over 15% of the state's population) through this official recognition. The resolution does not alter any laws or provide funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new supplemental monthly annuity to certain Pennsylvania state retirees' benefits, effective July 2025. It applies to retirees receiving superannuation, withdrawal, or disability annuities who retired before July 2, 2001, and do not have specific service credits (like Class D-4 or Class AA). The additional payment amount is a percentage of their July 2025 monthly annuity, ranging from 10% to 20% based on their retirement date. The cost will be funded through equal annual installments over 10 years starting July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 933 increases penalties for construction employers who misclassify workers as independent contractors, raising fines to $2,500 for a first violation and $5,000 for subsequent violations. It expands accountability to include general contractors and other parties who knowingly contract with employers that misclassify workers, subjecting them to the same penalties. The bill also adds a three-year ban on public contracts for intentional violators and clarifies that stop-work orders can require construction to halt within 24 hours for intentional misclassification, applying to successor businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 894 establishes the Veterans Entering the Sustainability Sector Program (VETSS) to help veterans enter jobs in renewable energy and environmental sectors. The bill creates a Veterans Entering the Sustainability Sector Fund to provide grants to eligible employers - businesses focused on renewable energy (like solar, wind, or bioenergy) that hire veterans who completed approved apprenticeship training in fields such as electrician work, solar installation, or environmental maintenance. The Department of Community and Economic Development will administer the program, overseeing training development and grant applications. This directly affects veterans seeking sustainability-sector careers and employers in renewable energy who hire them, with the goal of addressing environmental concerns like climate change through workforce development.

Maddy summaryHB 863, the Healthy Workplace Act, creates legal protections against abusive work environments for most Pennsylvania employees (excluding agricultural, domestic, and family employment), directly affecting employers and employees in covered workplaces. It defines "abusive conduct" as repeated verbal abuse, threats, sabotage, or conduct causing physical/psychological injury (not covered by workers' compensation), and prohibits such behavior that creates a hostile workplace. Employers face liability for abusive conduct by their employees but can defend by showing reasonable preventive measures were taken and the employee failed to use available remedies. The bill also prohibits retaliation against employees who report abuse or participate in investigations, with additional defenses for reasonable performance evaluations or workplace investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 867 creates a $2,000 state tax credit for Pennsylvania taxpayers who experience a stillbirth after 16 weeks of gestation, defined as a product of conception expelled with no signs of life. The credit applies to the taxpayer's annual state tax liability and requires submission of a Department of Health certificate of fetal death or stillbirth with the tax return. Eligibility is limited to the taxable year of the stillbirth and requires the child to qualify as a "dependent" under federal tax law (26 U.S.C. § 152). Taxpayers may receive a refund for any unused credit amount exceeding their state tax liability. This credit directly affects Pennsylvania residents who have experienced a stillbirth meeting the defined criteria.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 109) urges the U.S. Congress to establish "Patriots' Day" as a federal holiday. It specifically references the historical significance of the April 19, 1775, battles at Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy (now Arlington) as the start of the American Revolution. The resolution notes that several states (including Massachusetts since 1894, Maine since 1907, and Connecticut since 2018) already observe Patriots' Day on the third Monday in April. As a resolution, it does not create the holiday itself but formally requests Congress take action.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 866) expands free hunting and furtaking license access in Pennsylvania for eligible disabled veterans. It allows resident disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a service-connected disability (such as loss of one or more limbs or 100% disability) to receive free licenses for 10 specific activities, including regular hunting, bear hunting, archery, and migratory bird hunting. The change modifies existing exemptions under Section 2706(b)(1) to include these additional license types without fee. This directly affects Pennsylvania residents who are disabled veterans meeting the VA certification criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 868 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law by adding a new exception allowing government agencies to withhold records if producing them would be reasonably burdensome. It also changes fee rules to require agencies to charge for-profit entities additional fees for record requests (with prepayment required) while exempting news media organizations from these fees. The bill does not alter the existing $100 prepayment threshold for standard requests. This affects public agencies and requesters, particularly for-profit businesses and media organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 815, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, requires employers with 50+ full-time equivalent employees to provide 90 days' written notice before mass layoffs or business closings affecting 30+ employees at a single site. It directly affects large employers in Pennsylvania, mandating notification to affected employees, the Department of Labor and Industry, and local municipalities. The bill specifies that notices must be delivered to employee representatives or employees directly, and includes exceptions for unforeseeable circumstances or natural disasters. Violations may result in civil penalties enforced by the Department of Labor and Industry.