Rep. Tina Pickett

Maddy summaryHB 271 establishes a grant program to help financially struggling or geographically isolated hospitals in Pennsylvania avoid closing or cutting services. Hospitals must meet specific criteria (e.g., three consecutive years of financial losses or being over 25 miles from another hospital) and apply through the Department of Health to receive funds. Grants must be used solely to maintain operations - prohibiting executive pay - and applicants must certify they’ve explored partnerships with other providers. The Department of Health will review applications within 60 days and award funds until December 31, 2029, or until the allocated budget is exhausted.

Maddy summaryHB 224 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Education to create an online comparison tool for higher education institutions. The tool must allow users to search colleges by major and compare high-priority occupations in Pennsylvania, including county-level data on required education, wages, and job demand. Pennsylvania colleges must annually submit relevant data (via existing federal reports) to the Department by January 1st to update the tool. This bill directly affects public and private colleges in Pennsylvania and students seeking education-to-career pathways.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's court cost structure for criminal and civil cases, including specific fees for summary convictions, misdemeanors, felonies, and civil matters like landlord-tenant disputes. It exempts traffic citations (cases under vehicle laws) from an additional fee provision that would otherwise apply. The changes affect defendants who pay court costs and the state treasury, which collects these fees. The bill clarifies that traffic violations will no longer be subject to the "additional fees" outlined in Section 3733(a.1).

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 13) urges the federal government to grant state and local governments legal authority to respond to unidentified drone threats. It specifically addresses concerns raised by over 3,000 drone sightings near sensitive locations in New Jersey since November 2024, noting current federal rules prevent local authorities from acting swiftly. The resolution requests that the federal government amend regulations to empower states/localities and implement stronger transparency measures for drone incidents. It does not create new law but formally asks the federal government to change existing policies.

Maddy summaryHB 164 requires health care facilities in Pennsylvania to handle fetal remains (from a fetal death) through cremation or burial per existing vital records rules, without needing a name on permits. Parents must cover costs if they choose a disposal location outside the facility’s usual practice, but facilities must provide disposition services if parents don’t claim remains. The bill ensures parent information remains confidential and clarifies that facilities aren’t required to issue stillbirth certificates. It does not change the definition of fetal death or mandate cremation/burial unless requested by the parent.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement for non-motorized boats (like kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards) to obtain permits or register when used in Pennsylvania state parks, forests, or public waters. It specifically prohibits state agencies from creating new rules for these vessels, affecting all owners of non-motorized watercraft using state-managed areas. The change modifies existing boating regulations under Pennsylvania's Fish Code to eliminate administrative burdens for non-motorized boaters. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 189 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle registration law to exempt multipurpose agricultural vehicles from registration requirements. This change directly affects farmers who use such vehicles exclusively on their own farms or on highways connecting parts of a single farm or between two farms within 10 miles of each other. The bill specifies that these vehicles cannot be used for general public road travel outside of farm-related activities. The exemption applies only to vehicles owned or operated by the farm owner, not to commercial or non-agricultural vehicles. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 90 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to require applicants and recipients of medical assistance for children to cooperate with state departments in securing medical support from non-custodial parents. It prohibits accepting private agreements where custodial parents would provide medical support instead of pursuing the non-custodial parent, ensuring children access available medical support under state law. Exceptions apply if the custodial parent is a domestic violence victim (verified per state standards), interrupting a child's medical care would endanger them, or pursuing support harms the child or custodial parent. If a non-custodial parent withholds required information, they must reimburse the state for medical costs, but this does not make the child ineligible for assistance. Medical aid must continue without delay during verification.

Maddy summaryHB 91 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (2008) to clarify that records related to noncriminal investigations by state agencies are exempt from public disclosure - except for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. This means agencies like police departments or environmental agencies must now disclose such records (unlike the Fish and Boat Commission, which retains exemption). The bill specifically revises Section 708(b)(17) of the law to remove a blanket exemption for all agencies, making the Fish and Boat Commission the sole exception. It directly affects public access to noncriminal investigation records held by state agencies, with no new reporting or procedural requirements. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 83) amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to allow minors aged 16 to 18 to consent independently to mental health treatment (both inpatient and outpatient) without parental permission. It establishes clear rules for when minors or parents can revoke consent and requires courts to hold a hearing within 72 hours if a minor objects to continued treatment, with strict criteria for overriding their wishes. The law explicitly excludes minors with "special needs" (defined as intellectual disabilities with adaptive limitations) from these provisions. It applies specifically to mental health services, not general medical care, and clarifies liability for providers who rely on a minor's consent.