Rep. Maureen Madden

Maddy summaryThe context provided does not include the specific provisions, definitions, or policy changes of HB 1496. The bill title indicates it amends Pennsylvania's Price Gouging Act (2006) regarding definitions and prohibited price gouging, but no concrete details about the amendments are given. Without additional information on what the bill changes or how it affects consumers or businesses, a substantive summary cannot be created. The bill remains pending in committee with no further legislative action described.

Maddy summaryHB 880 amends Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Air Act, which prohibits smoking in most indoor public places. The bill updates existing definitions, signage requirements, and enforcement procedures for venues covered by the law (like restaurants and bars), while maintaining the core smoking prohibition. It makes technical adjustments to the law's structure and language but does not change the fundamental restrictions on smoking in public indoor spaces.

Maddy summaryHB 1903 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update the Safe2Say Program, a school safety reporting system, by clarifying definitions and enhancing program requirements. It also adds new requirements for colleges and universities, mandating they establish written policies addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence, along with implementing an online reporting system for incidents. The bill directly affects public schools and postsecondary institutions by changing how they handle safety reporting and campus conduct policies. Key provisions include standardizing definitions for consistency and requiring institutions to provide accessible online reporting tools for students. These changes aim to improve clarity and accessibility in addressing safety and harassment concerns across educational settings.

Maddy summaryHB 1904 would amend Pennsylvania's sentencing laws to specifically address hate-based intimidation, which occurs when someone intimidates another person due to their race, religion, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics. The bill requires courts to consider community impact statements during sentencing, which are written accounts from community members about how the crime affected the broader community. This change would directly affect judges, courts handling such cases, and the communities impacted by bias-motivated intimidation offenses.

Maddy summaryHR 99 directs Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to create a bipartisan task force to study the state's criminal justice codes. The task force will examine the Crimes Code, Judicial Code, Sentencing Code, and related statutes to identify redundant offenses, inconsistent sentencing grades, outdated language, and gaps in criminal liability. It will focus on provisions that impose imprisonment or collateral consequences, aiming to recommend updates to modernize the codes. The task force must report findings and recommendations to the legislature within two years. This is a procedural resolution, not a law changing penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 985 creates an annual revenue-sharing program where municipalities receive funds based on tax-exempt real property (like schools or nonprofits) within their borders. It establishes the Tax-exempt Property Municipal Assistance Fund to distribute these shared revenues. The Department of Community and Economic Development would manage the fund and determine annual allocations. The bill also repeals outdated provisions related to this tax-exempt property revenue system.

Maddy summaryHB 1560 establishes a new Municipal Grant Assistance Program to provide financial support to local governments for community development projects. It creates a dedicated fund managed by the Department of Community and Economic Development, which will administer grant distributions to eligible municipalities. The bill assigns specific responsibilities to the department for overseeing the fund and ensuring grants are allocated according to program guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Pennsylvania's medical assistance rules for nursing home residents. It allows eligible individuals to keep more of their personal money by adjusting how personal needs costs (like toiletries or small purchases) are deducted from their benefits. The key provision modifies the deduction calculation so residents' own funds aren't reduced when covering these daily expenses. This directly affects nursing home residents qualifying for state medical assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1848 requires casualty insurance policies to cover physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy for injury-related care. This directly affects insured individuals, particularly families with children needing these therapies for accidents or injuries. The bill also establishes a state-administered Children's Therapies Medical Assistance Savings Account to help families pay for therapy costs not covered by insurance.

Maddy summaryHB 1852 changes the 1971 Tax Reform Code to redirect revenue from the hotel occupancy tax into a dedicated Tourism Promotion Fund. This affects hotels and tourism businesses that pay the occupancy tax, as their payments will now support marketing efforts. The key provision creates a specific fund to finance advertising, promotions, and initiatives aimed at attracting visitors to the state. The bill directs these funds toward boosting tourism marketing and economic development in the state.