Rep. Maureen Madden

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to improve how large land developments are reviewed and approved. It requires developers of significant projects to notify neighboring towns early, allowing those towns to request impact studies if they believe the project will affect them. The legislation also sets a strict 90-day deadline for local governments to decide on plat applications, while permitting extensions if an impact study or mitigation plan is needed. Finally, it mandates that final plat approval cannot occur until streets and essential infrastructure are completed or a financial guarantee is posted to cover future costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Financial Recovery Act to update how receivers manage distressed municipalities. It specifically requires that before a receiver can sell, lease, or dispose of a municipality's assets, they must obtain approval from 75% of the governing bodies of neighboring municipalities that share service agreements or rely on the distressed entity for water or sewer services. The law mandates that this approval be granted through a formal resolution passed by a majority vote at a public meeting, with results sent within 48 hours. These changes aim to ensure that communities directly affected by asset sales have a significant voice in the decision-making process.

Maddy summaryHB 1742 amends Pennsylvania's personal income tax code to create special provisions for taxpayers living in poverty. The bill allows individuals with an income of $6,500 to $10,000, or married couples with a combined income of $13,000 to $20,000, to receive a refund or forgiveness of any taxes they have overpaid. Eligible taxpayers also receive an additional $9,500 income allowance for each dependent they claim. The poverty income thresholds are set to increase annually based on the Consumer Price Index, ensuring they do not decrease even if inflation rates are negative.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces restorative justice as a formal sentencing option in Pennsylvania courts, allowing judges to order it either as the sole punishment or alongside traditional penalties like probation or confinement. The legislation defines restorative justice as a participatory process involving victims, offenders, community members, and trained facilitators to address harm, resolve conflicts, and repair relationships through methods such as conferences or circles. By adding specific definitions and procedures to state law, the bill ensures that courts consider this approach when determining sentences, provided all participants voluntarily agree to take part.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Online Safety Protection Act, requires businesses that provide online services likely to be used by children to prioritize the privacy, safety, and well-being of minors over commercial interests. Companies covered by the law must conduct data protection impact assessments to ensure their products do not cause foreseeable physical, financial, or psychological harm, nor engage in discriminatory practices or use deceptive design tricks called dark patterns. The legislation also defines specific rules for how personal information can be collected and sold, while excluding deidentified data and publicly available information from these restrictions. Penalties are imposed on entities that fail to comply with these duties to protect children's best interests.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania zoning laws to allow municipalities with over 5,000 residents in growing counties to create rules for multiple-unit housing. It directly affects local governments in these specific areas by expanding their authority to regulate apartment and condominium developments. The key provision adds new eligibility criteria based on population size and recent growth, removing previous restrictions that limited these zoning options. This change aims to provide a clearer legal framework for communities seeking to increase housing density in response to population increases.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill prohibits the intentional addition of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, to a wide range of consumer products including cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, and artificial turf. While the law generally bans these chemicals, it allows for their use in specific items if the Department of Environmental Protection determines that no safer alternative exists and the chemical is critical for the product's function. The Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with enforcing these restrictions, managing a public database of PFAS information, and imposing penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Paid Rest Period for Workers Act, requires employers in Pennsylvania to give employees at least 30 consecutive minutes for a meal break or rest period after working five or more consecutive hours. These breaks must be paid and counted as work time, though the law allows for exceptions during workplace emergencies or if a union contract already offers equal or better protections. The Secretary of Labor and Industry is authorized to investigate violations by inspecting worksites and reviewing records, and employers who fail to comply face fines of up to $500 per affected employee per missed break. Additionally, the law provides a mechanism for the state to recover lost wages on behalf of employees who were denied these required paid breaks.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's tax laws to exclude sales tax from the calculation of interchange fees charged on credit and debit card transactions. It requires payment card networks to either deduct the tax amount from these fees at the time of settlement or refund a proportional portion of the fee if the tax was not initially separated. The legislation defines specific terms like "interchange fee" and "electronic payment transaction" to clarify which fees are affected and outlines penalties for networks that fail to comply, including fines and mandatory refunds to merchants.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study estimating the projected costs of climate change adaptation and resilience measures for Pennsylvania. The study will analyze potential financial impacts on public health, natural resources, built infrastructure, and social environments under different future climate scenarios. It specifically requires examining how these costs vary across different demographics and geographic areas while considering hazards like flooding, heat, and wildfires. The findings aim to help state officials better prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate-related events on the Commonwealth.