Rep. Tina Pickett

Maddy summaryHB 437 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's voting rules, requiring voters to present valid identification at all elections. It mandates that voters show a government-issued ID when voting in person (Section 12) and include proof of ID with mail-in ballots (Section 16). Voters without ID can request a free government-issued ID at the polling place (Section 19). This amendment would directly affect all Pennsylvania voters participating in elections, adding ID verification to existing residency and citizenship requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 403 preempts Pennsylvania municipalities from adopting policies that block law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. It prohibits local governments from restricting officers from complying with federal immigration requests, assisting ICE, allowing ICE access to county jails, inquiring about immigration status of people in custody, or sharing release information. The bill establishes an "Immigration Cooperation Fund" to support this cooperation, though specific funding mechanisms are not detailed in the provided text. This directly affects all Pennsylvania cities, towns, counties, and their law enforcement officers, judicial staff, and correctional personnel.

Maddy summaryHB 380 amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to expand the definition of "eligible entity" for obtaining liquor licenses. It adds specific nonprofit organizations, historical groups, museums, community associations, and specialized clubs (like those focused on cystic fibrosis research, watershed conservation, or equine therapy) to the list of qualifying entities. The bill directly affects these organizations by allowing them to apply for liquor licenses under the revised definition, provided they meet criteria such as being a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating for 10+ years or having a specific community purpose. This change modifies the Liquor Code's preliminary provisions to broaden access to liquor licensing for certain community-serving nonprofits.

Maddy summaryHB 383 prevents a spouse convicted of a personal injury crime against their partner from receiving alimony, unless a court determines it is necessary to avoid manifest injustice. It also allows victims to recover alimony paid before the conviction. The bill modifies Pennsylvania's alimony guidelines by excluding marital misconduct after separation but requires courts to consider abuse during marriage (defined under state law). This directly affects divorce cases involving domestic violence convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change firearm authorization rules for campus police at state universities. It requires campus police to meet state certification standards before carrying firearms and voids all existing resolutions authorizing campus police to carry weapons. The policy directly affects campus police officers and trustees councils across Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment, replacing prior authorization processes with new certification requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 328 amends Pennsylvania's Dam Safety and Encroachments Act to require the Department of Environmental Protection to authorize stream clearing activities up to 250 feet from water obstructions (like dams) when issuing emergency permits during declared disasters. It directly affects Commonwealth agencies and local governments seeking emergency clearance for flood or safety risks. The bill mandates this 250-foot radius for emergency permits requested by these entities when a Federal, State, or county disaster emergency is officially declared. This change streamlines emergency response without altering standard permit requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 327 creates a new continuous maintenance permit for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and municipalities (including counties, cities, and townships) to maintain waterways, dams, and related infrastructure without needing repeated state approvals. To qualify, applicants must have no history of significant violations and agree to maintain specified areas under the permit. Permits last at least 10 years, require annual reports of maintenance activities by January 15 each year, and can be renewed automatically after 10 years of compliance. This streamlines routine upkeep while ensuring accountability through reporting and adherence to engineering standards.

Maddy summaryHB 277 allows victims of sex trafficking to sue individuals or entities that recruit, profit from, or advertise for sex trade activities. The bill amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to create a civil legal pathway for victims to seek remedies in court, specifically targeting those who recruit victims, maintain them in sex trade acts, or cause bodily harm during such acts. It directly affects victims of sex trafficking and those who exploit them through recruitment, advertising, or financial gain. The law does not change criminal penalties but adds a civil remedy for victims to pursue compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecommunications companies to pay volunteer fire companies $1,000 per hour when a system failure causes a 911 outage that forces them to station firefighters at fire stations. It directly affects volunteer fire companies in Pennsylvania that must provide physical coverage during such outages due to telecom company failures. The key provision establishes a mandatory hourly compensation rate for the time volunteer firefighters are required to maintain presence at stations. This creates a new financial obligation for telecom companies to cover costs incurred by volunteer fire departments during 911 system disruptions.

Maddy summaryHB 338 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update attendance reporting requirements for charter, regional charter, and cyber charter schools. It requires all such schools to report unexcused absences annually to the state education department via the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS). Additionally, cyber charter schools must report each student's weekly attendance directly to their district of residence starting in the 2024-2025 school year. These changes apply specifically to charter school attendance tracking, not to traditional public schools.