Rep. Shelby Labs

Maddy summaryHB 1289 establishes a 2026 adjustment for retired municipal police officers and firefighters who retired before January 1, 2016, and have been retired for at least 10, 15, or 20 years as of January 1, 2026. Eligible retirees will receive monthly payments of $250, $375, or $500 based on their retirement duration, with reductions for prior benefits received and caps if multiple retirement systems apply. Municipalities must certify these payments and will receive full reimbursement from the Commonwealth for the 2026 costs. This extends a similar state reimbursement program previously used for 2002 adjustments.

Maddy summaryHB 1329 makes it illegal to share secretly recorded videos or images of people in private settings, specifically targeting the transmission of such material via phone, email, internet, or physical media. It directly affects individuals who secretly record others' intimate areas (like genitals or nipples with minimal covering) in places where privacy is expected - such as bathrooms or changing rooms - and then share those recordings. The bill updates Pennsylvania's invasion of privacy law to explicitly prohibit this sharing, with harsher penalties when the victim is a student or minor. This law aims to protect people from non-consensual sharing of intimate content, particularly in vulnerable situations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 2025 as "Lipedema Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes lipedema - a chronic condition causing abnormal fat buildup in limbs, primarily affecting women - and highlights challenges like misdiagnosis and limited treatment options. The resolution encourages public awareness and continued research but does not create new laws, funding, or direct services. It is a non-binding symbolic gesture to support those living with lipedema.

Maddy summaryHB 1270 amends Pennsylvania's Childhood Blood Lead Test Act to require health care practitioners to offer blood lead testing for children before they turn nine months old, replacing the previous 24-month deadline. If a child hasn't been tested by nine months, practitioners must offer testing by age two, and by age six if still untested. The bill also mandates that practitioners assess lead exposure risks and obtain written parental consent before testing. This change directly affects children under 18, their parents, and health care providers in Pennsylvania who treat young children.

Maddy summaryHB 1134 requires food products containing specific synthetic colors (Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, or Yellow 6) to display a warning label on the front of the package. The warning must state: "WARNING: This product contains synthetic colors, which may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children," in bold type at least as large as the "serving size" declaration. This law directly affects food manufacturers and retailers selling products with these dyes in Pennsylvania. The requirement applies to all such products sold within the state and takes effect one year after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1131 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to prohibit public schools from selling or offering competitive foods containing specific artificial dyes during the school day. The bill bans six dyes (Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) in foods sold on school grounds that compete with federally reimbursable meals like school lunches. It defines "competitive food" as any food sold during school hours that competes with National School Lunch Program meals. The prohibition applies to all public schools in Pennsylvania and takes effect July 1, 2027. This is a direct policy change restricting certain food additives in school food sales, not a health recommendation.

Maddy summaryHB 1132 prohibits Pennsylvania public schools from selling or offering "unhealthy ultra-processed foods" as competitive foods during the school day. It defines "ultra-processed food" as items containing specific additives like artificial colors, stabilizers, non-nutritive sweeteners, or flavor enhancers (excluding natural seasonings), and "unhealthy" as failing FDA standards for the term "healthy" on labels. Competitive foods - such as vending machine snacks or cafeteria items sold alongside school meals - are banned if they contain these unhealthy items. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, directly affecting public school food vendors, students, and school nutrition programs across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 1133 amends Pennsylvania's food protection laws to require a specific cancer warning on food products containing Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA). The bill mandates that any food bearing BHA (identified by CAS number 25013-16-5) must display the warning "WARNING: This product contains BHA, which may cause cancer" in bold type on the principal display panel, using a font size no smaller than the required "serving size" declaration. This directly affects food manufacturers and retailers selling products with BHA, requiring them to update labeling to comply with the new rule. The policy change focuses on enhancing consumer transparency about a specific ingredient's potential health risk through mandatory labeling.

Maddy summaryHB 1130 requires food manufacturers to report "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) substances used in food to Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture, including safety data. This affects companies adding GRAS substances to food products, with exemptions for small businesses and certain FDA-approved substances. The bill mandates a searchable public database on the state website where all submitted reports will be accessible to consumers. It creates new transparency requirements for substances deemed safe without full FDA food additive approval, aligning with federal GRAS reporting standards.

Maddy summaryHB 1268 allows Pennsylvania drivers to voluntarily add up to two emergency contacts and specific medical conditions (like hearing impairment, autism, or certified communication disorders) to their driver's license records. The program, accessible during license renewal or vehicle registration, requires medical conditions to be certified by a healthcare provider and listed on a department-maintained public website. Participation is free, and the information is protected from public disclosure under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. This directly affects drivers who choose to enroll, providing law enforcement with critical health information during emergencies. The bill prohibits fees, restricts medical condition listings to defined categories, and allows drivers to opt in or out at any time.