Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution (HR 213) designates June 19, 2025, as "Juneteenth Independence Day" to commemorate June 19, 1865 - the date Union troops in Galveston, Texas, announced the end of slavery nationwide. It encourages Pennsylvania residents to observe the day through educational events and activities. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or establish a paid holiday, but formally recognizes the historical significance of the date when slavery was finally abolished in all U.S. regions.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge on Pennsylvania Route 562 over Manatawny Creek in Amity Township, Berks County (Bridge Key 56130) as the "PFC Travis C. Zimmerman Memorial Bridge." It directs the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs naming the bridge for public visibility. The bill honors PFC Travis C. Zimmerman, a soldier killed in action in Iraq in 2006, who was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. The designation takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1245 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to partner with healthcare providers - including obstetricians, gynecologists, urologists, and community health centers - to educate individuals about pelvic floor dysfunction and related conditions. The Department must create and distribute accessible informational materials (both online and in print) to people identified by healthcare providers as experiencing or at risk for these conditions, with specific focus on postpartum women. These materials must cover symptoms, treatments, biological processes, and include a recommendation for postpartum pelvic floor assessments. The bill adds this educational duty to the Department's existing responsibilities under the 1929 Administrative Code, without altering current healthcare services or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1246 requires Pennsylvania public and charter schools to maintain indoor temperatures between 68°F and 79°F in occupied areas to support learning. If temperatures fall below 63°F or exceed 89°F, schools must relocate students/staff within two hours and report the incident to the Department of Environmental Protection within 24 hours. Schools with more than four such relocations in a year will face inspections to ensure compliance with indoor air quality standards. The bill also mandates reviewing short-term fixes (like portable heaters) and long-term solutions (like upgraded heating systems) for extreme temperatures. This applies to all school districts, charter schools, and career technical schools operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 1241 amends Pennsylvania's Auctioneer Licensing Act to require auction companies selling horses to verify and publicly post identifying information (microchip numbers, tattoos, or brands) on their website before listing. It mandates a 72-hour waiting period after posting before a horse can be offered for sale, and requires auction companies to maintain detailed records of compliance for one year. This bill directly affects horse auction companies in Pennsylvania by adding transparency measures to help verify ownership and prevent the sale of stolen horses. The key provisions focus on mandatory identification checks, public online disclosure, and recordkeeping, without changing existing licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 31 proposes a constitutional amendment to replace Pennsylvania's current Legislative Reapportionment Commission - which includes legislative leaders - with an Independent Redistricting Commission. The new commission would draw state legislative and congressional district boundaries after each federal census, following specific redistricting criteria outlined in the amendment. This change aims to reduce partisan influence by removing direct legislative control over redistricting. The bill does not detail the exact criteria but requires the commission to adhere to them when creating district maps.

Maddy summaryHB 411 adds a new supplemental annuity for eligible Pennsylvania state retirees, starting July 2025. It applies to retirees who retired before July 2, 2001, have specific service credit (excluding certain classifications), and are receiving monthly payments on July 1, 2025. The amount equals a percentage (ranging from 15% to 24.5%) of their July 2025 monthly annuity, based on their retirement date. The benefit is paid automatically unless retirees opt out, and the cost will be funded over 10 years starting July 2026. This bill does not apply to survivors or retirees with certain service types.

Maddy summaryHB 325 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to clarify how school districts must present tax relief information to property owners. It adds a definition of "conspicuous" requiring notices to use larger text, contrasting colors, or special formatting that a reasonable person would notice. The bill mandates that school districts include a specific, conspicuous notice with tax bills for homestead and farmstead property owners, explaining that their tax reduction comes from casino gaming revenue (State Gaming Fund) under state law, not from the school district's actions. This affects all Pennsylvania property owners eligible for homestead/farmstead exclusions and the school districts that issue their tax bills, effective for taxable years after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 407 creates a new criminal offense for unauthorized location tracking in Pennsylvania, making it illegal to install or use technology (such as apps or devices) to monitor someone's location without their consent. Exceptions include law enforcement during investigations, parents tracking minor children, guardians monitoring incapacitated persons, and other specific scenarios like fleet vehicle tracking with proper consent. The bill does not change existing stalking laws but adds this new provision to address technology-enabled harassment. It directly affects individuals who might use location-tracking tools to harass others, while clarifying permitted uses for safety and legal purposes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution recognizes March 14, 2025, as "Black Midwives Day" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically honors Black midwives' historical and ongoing contributions to maternal health while highlighting persistent disparities, including that Black women in Pennsylvania faced nearly three times the pregnancy-related mortality rate of White women in 2020. The resolution aims to raise awareness about systemic barriers like discrimination, maternity care deserts, and preventable maternal deaths, aligning with the National Black Midwives Alliance's campaign. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves as a statement of recognition.