Rep. Dane Watro

Maddy summaryHB 761 directs Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remove specific counties from the enhanced vehicle emission inspection program within 60 days. These counties are defined by exact population ranges (e.g., third-class counties with 215,000-216,000 residents). The DEP must demonstrate these counties can maintain air quality standards without the inspection program and submit revised plans to the EPA by January 1, 2026. The bill affects only the listed counties and requires coordination with federal air quality requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 796 amends Pennsylvania's inheritance tax rate for property transferred to siblings under the Tax Reform Code of 1971. Currently set at 12%, the bill changes this rate (though the new specific percentage is not detailed in the provided text) to apply to estates of decedents dying after June 30, 2025. It directly affects individuals inheriting property from siblings, as this tax rate governs such transfers. The bill modifies the existing tax provision without altering other categories like transfers to spouses or descendants. This change is a substantive policy adjustment to inheritance tax rates, not a procedural matter.

Maddy summaryHB 720, or "Simon's Law," amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to require written parental consent for do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders for minors. It prohibits healthcare facilities or providers from implementing DNR orders or restricting life-sustaining measures without written permission from at least one parent or legal guardian. The bill mandates detailed documentation of consent (including names, relationships, and dates) and allows parents to revoke consent in writing, which overrides prior agreements. It also requires facilities to make good-faith efforts to contact parents within 48 hours and prohibits interfering with parents seeking second opinions or transferring care to another facility. This directly affects hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers treating minors in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 701 amends a Pennsylvania law that gives the Governor authority over U.S. flag displays on public grounds and buildings. The bill requires that any U.S. flag displayed under this law must be manufactured in the United States. This affects public institutions, schools, and certain other organizations that display the flag on their property. The change adds a sourcing requirement to existing flag display regulations without altering the Governor's regulatory role.

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to give parents or legal guardians full access to their minor child's medical, dental, and mental health records until the child turns 18, subject to federal law. This new provision (Section 1.3) overrides a prior rule allowing minors to control their mental health records, directly affecting minors under 18 and their parents/guardians. The bill changes how healthcare providers handle record access requests, requiring disclosure to parents unless federal law prohibits it. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed.

Maddy summaryHB 699 requires Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission to create new rules governing double utility poles (where multiple companies share one pole). It mandates annual registration for companies attaching infrastructure to poles, sets timelines for migrating facilities to new poles, and establishes procedures for compensating pole owners for relocation costs and removing abandoned attachments. The bill directly affects utility companies (electric, cable, telecom) and pole owners, requiring them to follow standardized processes for pole use, migration, and removal. Key provisions include annual registration, surety bonds for cost reimbursement, and civil penalties for noncompliance with the new rules. The legislation aims to address safety, efficiency, and aesthetics concerns related to long-term double-pole use.

Maddy summaryHB 622 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to impose stricter penalties for violations involving fentanyl. It creates a new felony offense for knowingly violating specific drug provisions related to fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, or any substance containing trace amounts of fentanyl. Individuals convicted face up to 20 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, or both. The bill directly affects those distributing, selling, or possessing fentanyl-related substances in violation of existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 656 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow trained school staff to administer emergency anti-seizure medication during seizures when a nurse is unavailable. It directly affects students with epilepsy in public schools who have been prescribed such medication, requiring parental request and adherence to approved training guidelines. The bill establishes that non-nurse staff may provide emergency assistance only after completing designated training and following protocols approved by the Department of Education. It specifies that nasal spray or similar FDA-approved treatments may be used, while ensuring students' rights under disability laws like IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act are upheld. The policy change is voluntary for staff and requires schools to notify parents about potential accommodations under 504 plans or IEPs.

Maddy summaryHB 579 would require Pennsylvania public schools, charter schools, and participating private schools meeting the state's baseline security criteria to assign at least one armed guard to each school building within one year. The bill mandates designating specific entry and exit points for buildings (excluding emergencies) and installing signs with audible alarms on non-designated exterior doors. School armed guards must be present during school hours and extracurricular activities, holding specific firearm training certifications as defined by the bill. This requirement applies only to school entities that meet the tier 1 security standards.

Maddy summaryHB 581, titled the Parental Rights in Education Act, prohibits public schools from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It requires schools to notify parents in writing before providing health care services (like mental health support) or administering well-being questionnaires/surveys to K-5 students, including an option for parents to withhold consent. Schools must also allow parents access to their child's education and health records and cannot retaliate against students who report violations. The bill creates a legal right for students or parents to sue schools for noncompliance within 180 days of a violation.