Rep. Jonathan Fritz

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's corporate tax code to create a specific tax deduction for medical cannabis businesses, allowing them to claim ordinary business expenses that were not deducted on their federal tax returns. It also updates the procedures for taxpayers to request tax reassessments and board reviews, extending the deadline for these petitions to 90 days for corporate taxes instead of the standard 60 days. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new settlement conference process where independent attorneys appointed by the tax board can help resolve disputes between taxpayers and the Department of Revenue. These changes directly affect medical marijuana organizations and other corporations subject to state net income tax by altering how they calculate deductions and how they appeal tax assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to allow breweries and limited distilleries to operate at the same physical location under a single entity. The key provision permits one business to hold both a brewery license and a limited distillery license, provided the manufacturing areas for each are clearly marked and may overlap. Both licenses must adhere to their specific operating hours, and any violations at the shared site can result in citations against one or both licenses. Additionally, businesses operating both types of licenses that serve alcohol on-site will be counted as a single entity when calculating state-mandated ratios.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of practice for pharmacists in Pennsylvania by allowing them to administer injectable medications, biologicals, and immunizations to patients aged three and older. It establishes new requirements for training, parental consent for minors, and reporting procedures while also permitting pharmacists to delegate these tasks to specific healthcare professionals and qualified pharmacy technicians under strict supervision. Additionally, the legislation grants pharmacies with existing federal waivers the ability to perform certain laboratory tests for common illnesses like COVID-19 and the flu without adhering to some state clinical laboratory regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's emergency medical services laws to update definitions for qualified applicants and establish new committees for regional oversight. It allows regional councils to request waivers from standard staffing rules for ambulances if they can prove their quality control systems are sufficient. Upon approval, local councils would manage compliance on behalf of the state, enabling agencies to operate with slightly different crew requirements while maintaining safety standards. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Independent Energy Office within Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission to oversee the state's electricity grid. The office will be led by an Energy Advocate appointed by the Consumer Advocate, who has the authority to review actions by state agencies to ensure they do not harm energy reliability or affordability. If the Energy Advocate determines an agency action is harmful, they can first request the agency to reverse it, and if that fails, the office has the power to block or reverse the action itself. The office is also tasked with promoting the use of energy produced within Pennsylvania and operates subject to funding decisions by the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Regulatory Review Act to require agencies to submit a specific analysis alongside any proposed regulations related to fuel, energy, or electricity. The new provision mandates that these agencies explain how their rules might increase electricity costs and discuss the potential negative impacts on low-income residents. By adding this requirement, the legislation ensures that the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and relevant legislative committees receive more detailed information during the review process. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill authorizes the Department of Corrections to issue electronic control gloves to corrections officers, with mandatory distribution required for officers working in units housing inmates who have received disciplinary sanctions and are segregated from the general population. The legislation mandates that the department create public written policies for the use, training, maintenance, and storage of these devices and requires all officers to complete an approved training course before receiving them. Additionally, the bill defines electronic control gloves as gloves with electrodes that emit less than 500 volts to temporarily immobilize or restrain individuals and requires their use to comply with existing state guidelines on law enforcement use of force.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to refine how pharmacy audits and fees are handled. It clarifies that certain insurance supplements are excluded from specific terms and changes the notice period for additional fees from the time of claim adjudication to thirty days before the fees are applied. The legislation also updates definitions to refer to "generic" drugs instead of "general" ones and expands the scope of federal employee benefit protections. Additionally, it adjusts reporting requirements for pharmacy benefit managers and the state agency overseeing these audits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Keystone Fresh Program to increase the amount of locally grown food served in Pennsylvania school meals. It establishes a grant system administered by the Departments of Education and Agriculture to reimburse school districts for purchasing local fruits, vegetables, grains, and other minimally processed foods. The program prioritizes funding for schools that source from veteran farmers, socially disadvantaged groups, new farmers, or those using sustainable agriculture techniques. A separate fund is also created to support the administration of these initiatives, aiming to improve child nutrition and provide economic benefits to local producers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private health insurers and state-managed health plans to cover biomarker testing when it is used to diagnose, treat, or monitor a specific disease or condition. The legislation defines biomarker testing as the analysis of tissue, blood, or other biological samples to identify indicators of biological processes, while explicitly excluding coverage for general screening purposes. Coverage for these tests must follow the same rules as other medical services, including standard cost-sharing and medical necessity reviews, and the changes will take effect 180 days after the bill is signed.