Rep. Bob Freeman

Maddy summaryHB 467 amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to update definitions, sales rules for licensed businesses, and restrictions on purchases and sales by retail dispensers. It specifically affects liquor licensees, beer and wine retailers, and breweries by clarifying regulations around alcohol sales, purchase limits, and brewery operations. The bill modifies existing provisions without creating new categories of licenses or fundamentally changing the licensing structure. It focuses on refining administrative and operational rules within the current liquor code framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1768 establishes four new grant programs to support Pennsylvania's local food system. It provides incentives for schools and institutions to purchase local food (Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant), offers financial assistance to farmers for production improvements (Keystone Producer Grant), supports food distribution networks (Keystone Assistance Grant), and funds school meal programs sourcing from local farms (Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account). The Department of Agriculture and Department of Education would administer these programs and manage the grant allocations. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania farmers, schools, food distributors, and local food businesses by creating new funding mechanisms to strengthen regional food systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1663 establishes Pennsylvania's Statewide Imagination Library Program under the Public School Code of 1949, creating a dedicated funding account managed by the Department of Education. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania children, particularly those from birth through age five, by providing free books through the program. Key provisions require the Department of Education to administer the program and manage the Imagination Library of Pennsylvania Restricted Account for funding. The bill is currently under review in the Children & Youth committee after being removed from the legislative table in November 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1425 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to update taxes on tobacco products and establish a new online directory for electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes). It directly affects tobacco manufacturers, dealers, and e-liquid producers by changing tax rates and requiring manufacturers to submit product information to the new directory. The bill's key provisions include adjusting tax incidence and rates for traditional tobacco products while creating a mandatory, publicly accessible registry for e-liquid products. These changes aim to modernize tax collection and improve product transparency for regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1651 amends Pennsylvania's Second Class Township Code to clarify procedures for filling vacancies on township boards of supervisors. It requires the board to fill vacancies within 30 days, or else a "vacancy board" (composed of the full board plus one appointed township elector) must act within 15 additional days. If the vacancy board fails to fill the position within 15 days, or if the chairperson position is vacant and justification is provided, the board must petition the court of common pleas to resolve the vacancy. This directly affects second-class townships by streamlining how unexpired supervisor terms are filled, ensuring timely representation.

Maddy summaryHB 274 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to change eligibility rules for workers seeking benefits. It specifically expands eligibility for individuals fleeing domestic violence by removing barriers to claiming compensation in such cases. The bill also modifies how unemployment compensation rates and benefit amounts are calculated. These changes directly affect unemployed workers in Pennsylvania who qualify under the updated rules. The bill is currently pending in committee after recent amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 2108 requires online platforms likely accessed by children (e.g., social media, games, educational apps) to conduct data protection impact assessments before launching features. It mandates that companies prioritize children's safety, privacy, and well-being over profits when designing products, prohibits deceptive "dark patterns" that trick kids into sharing data, and bans practices causing physical, psychological, or privacy harms. Covered entities - businesses processing children's personal data - face penalties for violations. The law directly affects digital services targeting minors, focusing on concrete policy changes like mandatory risk assessments and design safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution designating November 16, 2025, as "Philadelphia Orchestra Day" in Pennsylvania. It honors the orchestra's 125th anniversary and historical significance as a cultural institution, recognizing its contributions to music and community. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is purely symbolic recognition with no direct impact on residents or funding.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 382) urges Congress to extend expanded health insurance subsidies that currently help Pennsylvanians purchase coverage through Pennie, the state's health insurance marketplace. Without extension, these subsidies expire December 31, 2025, causing average premium increases of 102% for Pennie customers - projected to push 150,000 people to lose coverage. The resolution highlights that without the expanded credits, a couple earning $85,000 annually would pay $25,776 yearly for insurance (31% of their income), compared to lower costs under current subsidies. It cites Pennie's 2025 enrollment of nearly 500,000 customers and a 16% drop in new sign-ups since Open Enrollment 2026 as evidence of the need for continued support. The resolution has no legal force but requests congressional action to maintain affordability.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to require developers to notify contiguous municipalities when proposing projects that could affect multiple communities (termed "developments of regional significance"). It establishes new review processes, including mandatory impact analyses and extended approval timelines (90-120 days) for such projects. The bill also modifies requirements for infrastructure completion before final land development approval, allowing financial guarantees instead of physical improvements in some cases. These changes primarily affect developers of large-scale projects and the municipalities they impact.