Rep. Bob Freeman

Maddy summaryHB 811 would create civil liability for political candidates who make false statements about themselves or others during campaigns. It allows affected individuals or entities to sue for damages if a candidate knowingly makes a fraudulent misrepresentation. The bill directly affects candidates running for office and voters who may be misled by false claims. Key provisions establish a legal pathway for civil lawsuits rather than criminal penalties, requiring proof of intentional falsehoods. This bill is currently in the Communications & Technology committee after passing final passage.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 188) symbolically recognizes May 6, 2025, as "World Asthma Day" within Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or affect any specific groups or policies; it is a formal acknowledgment by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The resolution was referred to the Health committee, reported as committed, and ultimately laid on the table (stalled) on June 23, 2025, under House Rule 71. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding effect or direct impact on legislation or constituents.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames Bridge Key 28737 - located at 13th Street over Bushkill Creek in Easton, Northampton County - as the Honorable James F. Prendergast Memorial Bridge. It honors James F. Prendergast, a WWII Marine Corps veteran (Navy Cross recipient), Easton lawyer, and 20-year Pennsylvania State Representative (1958-1978). The bill requires the Department of Transportation to install signs displaying the new name on the bridge. It is a commemorative designation with no policy or funding changes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 19, 2025, as "Korean-American Citizenship Day" in Pennsylvania to celebrate the first naturalization of a Korean-American citizen in 1890. It is a symbolic recognition with no policy changes, funding, or direct impact on laws or regulations. The resolution serves as a commemorative gesture for Pennsylvania's Korean-American community and historical milestone.

Maddy summaryHB 375 amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to establish specific rules for signage in subdivision and land development projects. It directly affects developers, local governments, and planning commissions by modifying how signs (like property or project markers) can be placed, sized, or displayed during development. The bill creates standardized provisions to ensure signage complies with community design standards without requiring additional local ordinances. This change aims to streamline the approval process for development projects while maintaining visual consistency in new neighborhoods. The bill passed final passage on June 11, 2025, and was referred to the Local Government committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 reduces the maximum fee for reviewing teacher certification applications under Pennsylvania's Public School Code to $50. It also creates a special exemption for military service members, veterans, and their spouses, requiring them to pay no more than $10 for certification fees and $25 for professional discipline fees. These changes directly affect educators seeking or maintaining teaching credentials in Pennsylvania public schools. The bill modifies existing sections of the 1949 Public School Code to implement these specific fee caps and exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 191 updates Pennsylvania's school safety requirements by replacing outdated rules about CPR and defibrillator training. It repeals old teacher certification requirements for CPR instruction and school health service rules about automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill now mandates new CPR and AED training for school staff, sets specific standards for AED availability and placement in schools, and establishes an official AED program. This directly affects public schools, teachers, and school health personnel by requiring updated emergency response protocols. The bill focuses on modernizing school health safety procedures rather than changing other aspects of education.

Maddy summaryHB 704 creates a new Neurodegenerative Disease Research Program and a dedicated funding mechanism within the Department of Health to support research on conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The bill directs the Department of Health to manage the program and administer the Neurodegenerative Disease Research Program Fund, which will provide grants for scientific studies. This legislation directly affects researchers, medical institutions, and patients seeking treatments for neurodegenerative diseases by establishing a formal structure for funding and coordinating research efforts. The bill passed the legislature in June 2025 and is now pending final action by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 1364 reorganizes Pennsylvania's transportation funding by reallocating money from the Public Transportation Trust Fund to support road and bridge projects. It creates two new funds (the Road and Bridge Project Fund and its Sinking Fund), allows a state agency to issue bonds for infrastructure work, and establishes a Transportation Funding Advisory Commission to guide spending. The bill directly affects how the state finances road repairs and bridge maintenance, adjusting fund distributions and adding oversight. Key changes include authorizing bond sales for projects and requiring the Department of Transportation to follow new allocation rules. These provisions aim to streamline and increase funding for transportation infrastructure without specifying particular projects or outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 276 creates a permanent Employee Misclassification Working Group to coordinate state agencies addressing worker classification issues. The bill requires departments like Labor and Revenue to collaborate on identifying and resolving cases where employers wrongly classify workers as independent contractors. This working group will develop strategies to protect workers' access to benefits like unemployment insurance and workers' compensation. The law directly affects state agencies managing labor enforcement and workers' rights, aiming to improve interagency efficiency in tackling misclassification.