Rep. Jim Haddock

Maddy summaryHB 2554 establishes formal executive leadership roles for both the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission by creating positions for an executive director and a director, respectively. The bill mandates that these leaders be appointed with the Senate's approval and requires a competitive national search process, including a detailed job description and public notice, whenever a vacancy occurs. Additionally, the legislation sets specific qualifications for these roles, such as executive experience and knowledge in areas like budgeting and conservation, while also defining procedures for temporary acting appointments.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Firefighter Cancer Screening Program and a dedicated Fund to provide cancer screening exams for eligible firefighters in Pennsylvania. The program defines eligible participants as firefighters from municipal, volunteer, or airport fire companies that meet specific criteria, such as having mutual aid agreements and responding to a minimum number of emergency calls. The Department of Health will issue benefits cards to these eligible individuals, allowing them to access medically necessary screenings using MRI or ultrasound at no cost to them. Additionally, the legislation outlines how the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund should be managed and disposed of within special funds.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates February 22, 2026, as "United States Men's and Women's Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Champions Day" to honor the state's hockey teams' achievements at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The resolution formally recognizes the athletes' gold medal victories and congratulates the teams on their performance, while also acknowledging the support of coaches, staff, and communities who contributed to their success. It is a commemorative measure intended to celebrate the accomplishments of the hockey teams rather than to change laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge on U.S. Route 219 in Cambria County as the Sgt. Jason Dale Kriedler Memorial Bridge in honor of a local veteran. The legislation formally names the structure after Sgt. Kriedler, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was reported missing in action in 1950. To implement this change, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain official signs displaying the new name for drivers traveling in both directions. The act will become effective 60 days after it is passed.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 18, 2025, as "Willie Thrower Day" in Pennsylvania to commemorate Willie Thrower, who became the first African-American quarterback to play in the modern NFL (for the Chicago Bears in 1953). It recognizes his historic 1953 milestone, his 1952 national championship with Michigan State, and his local legacy in New Kensington, including community honors like the Willie Thrower Award Foundation. The resolution has no legal effect or funding provisions - it is purely symbolic. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents through a state-recognized observance of this historical figure.

Maddy summaryHB 84 amends Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act to prohibit the road spreading and land application of oil and gas wastewater (including "tophole water" and "production water") for purposes like dust suppression, road deicing, or road bed stabilization. The bill directly affects oil and gas operators and municipalities handling this wastewater by banning these specific disposal methods, except for limited well-site applications under existing regulations. Key provisions include banning wastewater from being spread on roads or applied to land (except for well-site use per 25 Pa. Code § 78.60/78a.60) and prohibiting vehicles equipped to spread such wastewater. The law also clarifies that wastewater used for these purposes cannot be classified as a "coproduct" under department regulations. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1611 revises Pennsylvania's Older Adults Protective Services Act to create a uniform statewide system for reporting and investigating abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment of older adults. It directly affects vulnerable elderly Pennsylvanians and their caregivers by establishing mandatory reporting protocols and prohibiting financial exploitation. Key provisions include requiring local agencies to use a standardized reporting system, clarifying definitions of abuse and exploitation, and ensuring protective services are available to those at risk. The bill also updates funding mechanisms and penalties for violations, aiming to improve coordination and response across all counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of U.S. Route 222 in Berks County as the Chief Jeffory L. Buck and Assistant Chief Robert R. Shick, Jr., Memorial Highway. The legislation honors two firefighters who died in the line of duty while conducting a missing person search along that road in April 2026. To implement this designation, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain official signs bearing the memorial names for traffic traveling in both directions. The act will become effective 60 days after its passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania hunting laws to require hunters to complete and attach game tags to big game immediately after a kill, before moving the animal. It also clarifies rules for transporting small game without the owner present and ensures that any electronic tagging options offered by the commission must include a free physical tag alternative. The changes aim to standardize how game is reported and moved, with a 60-day delay before the new rules take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2365 updates Pennsylvania's game laws by clarifying definitions, expanding opportunities for young hunters, and adjusting rules for unlicensed individuals participating in hunts. The bill establishes free hunting days for qualified juniors and creates prima facie evidence that allows licensed hunters to assist others who are not yet licensed, provided the unlicensed person stays within sight and does not possess a firearm. Additionally, it repeals an exception that previously allowed children under 12 to trap without a license and tightens requirements to ensure only one active hunting license is held at any time.