Rep. Tina Pickett

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 2, 2024, as "Rheumatoid Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to highlight the impact of rheumatoid arthritis. The measure directly affects the public by encouraging awareness of the disease's symptoms and health risks, such as joint damage and increased heart disease. It does not change laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to promote understanding of the condition.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates May 2024 as "Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month" within the state of Pennsylvania. It directly affects state residents by encouraging them to learn about and celebrate the history and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander communities. The measure highlights specific historical events, such as the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant and the role of Chinese laborers in building the transcontinental railroad, to acknowledge the cultural significance of the month. By adopting this resolution, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives aims to foster greater awareness and appreciation of the diverse heritage present in the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs $1 million from the state's education budget to cover capital-related costs and deferred maintenance at Pennsylvania's four chartered schools for the deaf and the blind. The funds are to be split equally between each of the four schools, with the change applying retroactively to July 1, 2022. By adding this specific provision to the Public School Code, the legislation also repeals an older section of the Fiscal Code that is no longer needed.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to include specific regulations for the secure storage of xylazine, a veterinary sedative. It directly affects veterinarians by requiring them to store xylazine under the same strict safety and protection rules currently applied to other controlled substances. The legislation ensures that veterinarians comply with existing pharmacy storage standards to prevent misuse or theft of the drug.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania law to allow stormwater management authorities to set reasonable and uniform rates based on property characteristics. These rates can include fees for installing and maintaining best management practices that are approved and inspected by the authority. Additionally, the bill permits agricultural operations to use best management practices approved by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service or the State Conservation Commission when calculating these fees. The changes apply specifically to municipal authorities responsible for stormwater planning, management, and implementation. The legislation will take effect 60 days after it is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Pennsylvania second-class townships to charge fees to fund the construction, maintenance, and operation of storm water management systems. The fees can be based on the properties that benefit from these facilities but must not exceed the minimum amounts required by federal and state environmental laws. Townships are required to offer exemptions or credits to property owners who install and maintain approved storm water facilities, including those following best management practices for normal agricultural operations. The legislation takes effect 60 days after being signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Taxpayer Dividend Program in Pennsylvania to refund a portion of state budget surpluses to resident individual taxpayers. The program would distribute funds from the General Fund and the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund to individuals who filed and paid taxes for the 2023 tax year. Money taken from the General Fund is limited to the existing surplus, while withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund require a two-thirds legislative vote and must leave at least 6% of the fund's value intact. The Department of Revenue is tasked with identifying eligible recipients and processing payments, with the goal of returning accumulated surplus money rather than using it for expanded government spending.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania's public funds to evaluate geopolitical risks, such as war or terrorism, when deciding whether to invest in assets located in or connected to foreign countries. To implement this, public funds must create a specific investment policy outlining how they will assess these risks and must continue to follow existing laws regarding prudent investing and previous divestiture mandates. Additionally, the bill mandates that these funds publish an annual report by December 31 of each year listing all their investments held in foreign countries on their public websites.