Rep. Jim Haddock

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 1888 establishes a Statewide Advisory Council on Playground Safety to develop safety guidelines and make recommendations for public playgrounds across Pennsylvania. The council will consist of appointed experts in child safety and recreation, with duties including annual reporting to the Governor and legislature on safety improvements. This bill directly affects state agencies responsible for playground oversight and public playground operators by creating a formal process for enhancing safety standards. It amends Pennsylvania’s Health and Safety statutes to implement this advisory structure, focusing on concrete policy changes without altering existing safety requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1892 amends Pennsylvania's 1968 Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to update definitions, clarify unlawful acts or practices, and adjust exclusions. It directly affects businesses operating in Pennsylvania and consumers who may encounter unfair trade practices. The bill focuses on refining the legal framework for consumer protection without specifying new penalties or enforcement mechanisms. The bill was recently referred to the Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities committee for review. (Note: Specific new provisions are not detailed in the provided context.)

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary grant program to fund public schools in Pennsylvania that prepare meals from scratch (rather than using pre-packaged or processed foods) for students. It directly affects public schools participating in the pilot, allowing them to apply for state grants to cover costs associated with preparing fresh meals. The key provision establishes the program under the Public School Code, requiring the state education department to administer the grants and evaluate the pilot's effectiveness. The goal is to test whether scratch-cooked meals improve student nutrition and school meal participation, with results informing potential future policy changes. (Note: Specific grant amounts, duration, and participating school criteria are not detailed in the provided context.)

Maddy summaryThe context provided does not include sufficient details about HB 1864's specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties to create a factual summary. The bill's title mentions amending the Public School Code regarding "enrollee wellness checks" in charter schools, but no description of what these checks entail, who conducts them, or how they would change current practices is given. Without additional information on the policy changes, the bill cannot be summarized as required. A proper summary would need details about the wellness check requirements, implementation, or scope, which are not present in the provided context.

Maddy summaryHB 999 proposes creating a commemorative bell monument on the State Capitol grounds to mark Pennsylvania's role in the U.S. founding and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation's creation. The bill directly affects the State Capitol landscape and honors Pennsylvania's historical contributions to the nation's founding. It is a ceremonial measure with no policy changes or funding mechanisms, solely focused on designating a physical monument for public commemoration.

Maddy summaryHB 1145 creates a new Public Transit Security Grant Program in Pennsylvania, providing funding to public transit agencies for security improvements like cameras, patrols, or emergency response systems. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to finance these grants and requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to manage the program, including setting eligibility rules and distributing funds. It directly affects public transit operators across the state by offering financial support for safety upgrades. The legislation amends transportation laws to formalize this funding mechanism, ensuring transit security needs are addressed through state resources.

Maddy summaryHB 783 amends Pennsylvania's consumer protection law to specifically prohibit deceptive environmental marketing claims and misleading "net zero" assertions by businesses. It defines key terms like "paltering" (truthful statements creating false impressions) and "reputational advertising" (highlighting environmental actions without connection to sales), and bans claims that lack clear scope identification, rely excessively on offsets, or lack substantiation. The bill allows consumers to sue for deceptive environmental claims without proving personal financial loss, with potential damages up to three times actual harm plus attorney fees. This directly affects businesses marketing products or services with environmental claims, requiring greater transparency in their advertising, labeling, and promotional materials.

Maddy summaryHB 197 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (P.L.6, No.3), which governs public access to government records. The bill changes requirements and prohibitions for Commonwealth agencies regarding how they handle public records requests. As of September 10, 2025, the bill was laid on the table after being reported as amended, meaning it is currently inactive in the legislative process. It directly affects state agencies that must manage public records requests and citizens seeking government information.

Maddy summaryHB 1858 amends Pennsylvania's Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to extend death benefits to surviving spouses, children, or parents of corrections officers. Currently, the law provides benefits to families of certain emergency and law enforcement personnel, but corrections officers were excluded from coverage. This bill explicitly adds corrections officers to the eligible group, ensuring their families receive financial support if a corrections officer dies while on duty. The bill also includes minor editorial changes to update the law's language.