Rep. Milou Mackenzie

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 2025 as "Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the contributions of Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities to Pennsylvania and the nation, citing historical milestones like the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant in 1843 and Chinese railroad workers in 1869. The resolution encourages all Pennsylvania residents to learn about this heritage but does not create new laws, funding, or obligations. It directly affects the entire Commonwealth by formally designating a month for commemoration. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal or financial impact beyond raising awareness.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 40 designates October 2025 as "Dyslexia Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to promote public understanding of dyslexia, a neurological learning disability affecting word recognition and spelling that impacts approximately one in five people. The resolution emphasizes the need for early diagnosis, support resources, and advocacy for individuals with dyslexia, educators, and families. As a non-binding symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but serves to raise awareness and encourage community efforts around dyslexia support.

Maddy summaryHB 1395 amends the Public School Code of 1949 to revise eligibility requirements and clarify incompatible offices for school directors in Pennsylvania. The bill changes the eligibility requirement from "citizen" to "resident" but adds a new restriction, making individuals ineligible to serve as a school director if an immediate family member is employed by that school district. It also clarifies that certain school employees can serve as school directors in a different district, with specific exceptions for joint schools. Additionally, the bill specifies that employees of career and technical schools, intermediate units, or community colleges cannot serve on the board of their employing institution or be assigned to a position under the supervision of a district where they serve as a school director.

Maddy summaryHB 1394 proposes to repeal the inheritance tax in Pennsylvania, directly affecting estates and beneficiaries who would no longer be subject to this tax on inherited assets. The bill also modifies procedures for taxpayers to petition for a reassessment of taxes. Additionally, it updates existing provisions related to how government-issued obligations are treated for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 224 designates May 2025 as "Month of May (MOM) Mom Month" in Pennsylvania. This resolution aims to recognize the important role mothers play in society and encourages them to focus on their own health and well-being.

Maddy summaryHB 1373 requires Pennsylvania high schools to administer the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Test as a civic knowledge assessment to students in grades 7-12 starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Students must score at least 60% on this test to meet a high school graduation requirement. Schools must report compliance data, including participation and passing rates, to the state education department every other year. The bill specifically exempts students with individualized education programs (IEPs) if their IEPs indicate they are not required to take the test.

Maddy summaryHB 1367 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to implement a new child welfare case management subsystem within its enterprise case management system by December 31, 2027. This subsystem will replace current processes, creating a unified digital platform for managing child welfare cases across state agencies, counties, and service providers. It directly affects child welfare workers, county offices, and service agencies handling foster care, abuse investigations, and family support services. The bill sets a specific deadline for this technical upgrade but does not change eligibility rules or funding for child welfare programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1368 amends Pennsylvania's child protective services laws by adding two key definitions to Title 23. It defines a "General protective services report" as one concerning risks from non-abuse circumstances (like lack of parental care or truancy), and specifies what makes such a report "valid" based on six concrete conditions (e.g., abandonment, school truancy, or a child under 10 committing a crime). This bill directly affects child welfare workers who file reports and families subject to these reports. The changes clarify when reports meet legal standards, aiming to standardize how child safety concerns are assessed under Pennsylvania law.

Maddy summaryHB 1369 amends Pennsylvania's child protective services laws to change how certain reports are handled in the Statewide database. It extends the retention period for unfounded reports and general protective services reports from 1 year to 30 years before they must be removed, with an exception: reports involving children remain in the database until the youngest child identified turns 23. The bill repeals an old provision that allowed expungement of records for perpetrators under 18 at the time of abuse. It directly affects families who had reports deemed unfounded or related to general protective services, as their records will now stay in the system longer before being removed. The changes apply to all such reports processed by county child protective agencies and the state database.

Maddy summaryHB 684 requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt evidence-based reading curricula and implement annual reading screenings for kindergarten through third-grade students starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Schools must identify reading deficiencies using approved screeners, notify parents in writing about deficiencies, and provide individualized reading intervention plans for affected students. The bill mandates that educators complete approved professional development training by the 2028-2029 school year to support these requirements. It directly affects K-3 students, their families, and school staff, with specific deadlines for curriculum adoption, screening, and educator training. The law also establishes reporting and accountability measures for school entities to ensure compliance.