Rep. Dave Madsen

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to allow local governments to temporarily halt the submission of new data center development applications. Under the new provision, a municipality can adopt a resolution at a public meeting to pause these submissions for up to 180 days, a period that begins retroactively from the date of public notice. During this pause, local authorities may update their zoning laws regarding data centers, and any applications received while the pause is in effect will be evaluated under the new rules. The legislation defines a data center as a facility primarily used for housing servers or data storage systems with specific backup power and cooling infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 2535, known as the Commercial Data Center Public Safety Act, regulates large data centers in Pennsylvania that consume 25 megawatts or more of power. To receive a certificate of occupancy, these facilities must submit detailed emergency plans and inventories listing battery types, cooling agents, and fire suppression systems to local fire officials. The bill also mandates annual updates to these documents and restricts access to the information to authorized safety and law enforcement personnel to protect confidential security details.

Maddy summaryHB 1123 updates Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to require casualty insurance policies to cover colorectal cancer screening without cost-sharing. This affects insured residents in Pennsylvania who need preventive screenings, ensuring they face no copays or deductibles for this specific health service. The key provision mandates insurers to include coverage for colon cancer screenings as a standard benefit under casualty insurance policies. The bill passed final passage on October 29, 2025, and is now pending implementation under the Banking & Insurance committee. This change directly removes financial barriers for early detection of colorectal cancer through existing insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 1877 creates a Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy to recognize high school students who achieve proficiency in English and another language. The bill requires public school districts to establish a process for awarding this seal to eligible students who meet specific language proficiency standards. It directly affects Pennsylvania public high school students who demonstrate biliteracy skills, providing a formal credential for their language abilities. The key mechanism is the addition of this seal program to the Public School Code, mandating school districts to implement it.

Maddy summaryHB 928 amends Pennsylvania law to expand access to epinephrine auto-injectors for severe allergic reactions. It adds schools, sports organizations, and other public venues to the list of "authorized entities" allowed to store these devices and train staff. The bill clarifies who can access the injectors during emergencies and specifies training requirements for personnel. This directly affects schools, youth programs, and public facilities serving individuals at risk of anaphylaxis.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for small businesses in Pennsylvania that help employees pay for health insurance purchased through the state exchange. To qualify, a business must have 50 or fewer employees and make contributions toward health reimbursement arrangements for their workers. The credit is calculated based on the first $1,000 of contributions per employee and can be applied to reduce the business's state tax liability. Companies claiming the credit must submit detailed forms to the Department of Revenue listing employee information and insurance provider details.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Pennsylvania Maternal and Infant Outcome Measures Survey Program within the Department of Health to collect data on the health experiences of mothers and babies. The program will conduct surveys of individuals who have recently had a live birth to gather information on their behaviors, attitudes, and experiences before, during, and after pregnancy. The Department of Health is authorized to use available funding, including federal money, and may hire outside contractors to run the survey while ensuring all personal data remains confidential. Additionally, the bill allows the department to share de-identified survey results with researchers and publish them in public reports to help improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Pennsylvania Common Cents Act, requires government agencies, municipalities, and public utilities to round cash payments to the nearest five-cent increment when collecting face-to-face sales. Specifically, totals ending in one, two, six, or seven cents will be rounded down, while those ending in three, four, eight, or nine cents will be rounded up. The rule applies only to physical cash transactions and does not affect payments made by card, check, or other digital methods. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Pennsylvania distributes fees collected from unconventional gas wells, specifically directing 25% of those funds to a state account for bridge improvements. The legislation allows counties and municipalities to use these monies to repair or upgrade bridges regardless of whether they qualify for federal funding assistance. Additionally, it permits larger counties to allocate these funds toward improving bridges owned by public transportation authorities. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHB 2162 amends Pennsylvania's Wholesale Prescription Drug Distributors License Act to clarify definitions and license application requirements. It specifically defines "virtual manufacturer" as a business that doesn't physically handle drugs in Pennsylvania but has FDA approval processes underway, including submitting or planning to submit FDA applications within 12 months. The bill adds new application requirements: manufacturers of unapproved drugs must state they've applied to or plan to apply to the FDA within 12 months, and virtual manufacturers must provide similar documentation. Crucially, it states the state department cannot require FDA approval as a condition for licensure. This directly affects drug distributors operating under the "virtual manufacturer" model and unapproved drug manufacturers seeking state licenses.