Rep. Justin Fleming

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fee in Pennsylvania courts to help fund support services for children who are victims of specific sexual offenses and crimes against minors. When a person is convicted, pleads guilty, or enters a diversion program for these crimes, they must pay a fee ranging from $250 to $1,000 depending on the severity of the offense. The collected money goes into a state fund that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency uses to provide grants to children's advocacy centers. Courts are required to allow defendants who cannot afford the fee to pay it in installments, and the bill ensures that any restitution owed to victims is paid before this fee is collected.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania electric distribution companies to create and implement virtual power plant programs by July 1, 2027, which allow customers with eligible energy technologies like solar panels or batteries to participate in grid services. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will review and approve these proposals within 180 days, requiring companies to set enrollment targets and include mechanisms for existing demand response programs. Participants can receive compensation for providing services such as peak load reduction, voltage support, and emergency grid services, with special provisions for low-income customers and disadvantaged communities to receive enhanced upfront payments. The program will establish operational rules for when and how often grid events can occur, including limits on event duration and advance notice requirements, while allowing customers to disenroll without penalties for nonperformance.

Maddy summaryHB 2226 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to explicitly prohibit pyramid schemes and similar deceptive promotional plans. The bill adds a new definition clarifying that schemes where participants pay to join and earn compensation primarily by recruiting others (rather than through product sales) are illegal, including "chain-letter plans," "pyramid clubs," and "pyramid promotional schemes." This change directly affects businesses operating such schemes and protects consumers from being misled by these fraudulent programs. The amendment specifically bans practices like requiring participants to pay for "opportunities" to recruit others, while excluding minimal initial payments of $25 or less.

Maddy summaryHB 1346 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to mandate coverage for menopause treatments in health insurance policies. This bill requires health insurance policies offered or renewed in the Commonwealth to provide coverage for both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms. The required coverage includes FDA-approved drugs, devices, behavioral therapy, and treatments for menopause induced by a hysterectomy. This ensures individuals in Pennsylvania experiencing menopause or related symptoms have access to covered treatments, subject to the standard terms and conditions of their health insurance policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to specifically define "dynamic pricing" and regulate its use in physical retail stores. It defines dynamic pricing as prices that change in near real-time based on fluctuating conditions, while explicitly excluding standard promotional discounts or loyalty program benefits. Under the new rules, retailers cannot use electronic displays in their brick-and-mortar locations to show prices that can be remotely altered by automated systems using this method. The legislation aims to clarify what constitutes deceptive pricing practices for the Attorney General and District Attorneys to enforce, and it will take effect 60 days after being signed into law.

Maddy summaryHB 507, the Baby Food Protection Act, requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to test all baby food batches for toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. It sets strict limits: baby food cannot exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic, 5 ppb for lead or cadmium, or 2 ppb for mercury. All tested baby food must display labels showing the exact metal levels found in the batch. The bill also directs the Department to adopt lower federal limits if set by the FDA and expires if federal law matches its requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 634 requires Pennsylvania public school safety coordinators to evaluate implementing silent panic alarm systems as part of school safety reviews. The bill defines these systems as manual devices (wired buttons, wireless buttons, or apps) that signal life-threatening emergencies to local law enforcement or designated Pennsylvania State Police locations if no municipal police exist. This applies to all public schools and affects private/parochial schools under the Public School Code. The change mandates coordinators to specifically consider these systems when reviewing safety policies, without creating new funding or broad mandates. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1135 prohibits the use of paraquat, a specific chemical pesticide, within Pennsylvania. It defines paraquat by its chemical identifier (CAS number 4685-14-7) and includes related salts, making it unlawful for farmers, agricultural businesses, or any pesticide users to apply it in the state. The bill amends Pennsylvania's 1973 Pesticide Control Act to add this prohibition, effective one year after enactment, and overrides any conflicting existing regulations. This directly affects pesticide users and applicators operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates the week of May 17 through 23, 2026, as "Emergency Medical Services Week" to honor the work of emergency medical personnel. The measure directly affects first responders, EMTs, paramedics, and other healthcare providers who deliver critical care across the state. By officially recognizing this specific time period, the resolution aims to highlight the importance of emergency medical services without altering any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHR 301 is a resolution directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study how racial wealth disparities specifically impact Black residents in the Commonwealth. The study must examine these disparities and develop concrete policy recommendations to reduce or eliminate them. This resolution does not create new laws but requires the committee to produce findings and actionable suggestions for future legislative consideration. It directly affects Black residents by focusing on systemic economic inequities within the state.