Rep. Joe Ciresi

Maddy summaryHB 779 establishes a three-year pilot program to increase salaries for Head Start teachers in Pennsylvania. It targets Head Start programs located in school districts with at least 20% poverty or census tracts with 80% or lower median poverty. The program calculates a salary supplement by comparing Head Start teachers' qualifications to public elementary school teachers in the same district, then provides funds to align their pay. The Department of Education will select participating programs, collect data, and report findings to the legislature after one year.

Maddy summaryHB 748 requires all Pennsylvania public and charter schools (including cyber schools) to include litter prevention education in science classes for students in kindergarten through fifth grade starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill mandates that this instruction be integrated into existing science curricula using materials developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It focuses on teaching students about making environmentally sound choices to preserve the state's natural beauty. The law applies to all school entities defined in the Public School Code and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 758 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act to reduce penalties for a specific drug-related violation. It changes the maximum fine from $500 to $25, eliminating the possibility of jail time for this offense. The bill directly affects individuals who violate clause (31) of the existing law, which relates to certain drug-related activities under the state's controlled substances regulations. This is a concrete policy change to lower the financial penalty for a minor violation, without altering the prohibited act itself.

Maddy summaryHB 768 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow school directors (elected or appointed members of school boards) to receive compensation for their service, which was previously prohibited. School boards can approve pay through a resolution at a regular meeting, but the amount must match compensation limits for similar local elected roles (like city council members) in the district's municipality or the median of such limits if the district spans multiple municipalities. The bill also updates the required oath of office for school directors to align with current standards. This change directly affects all school directors in Pennsylvania's public school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 769 requires Pennsylvania public schools (excluding fully online cyber charters) to provide dedicated physical space for libraries or information centers and maintain a library collection of at least 1,000 items per grade served, including print and nonprint materials like audio-visual equipment, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The State Board of Education will establish building standards for library spaces and review these requirements every ten years. School boards must design spaces following the State Board's guidance, and the Secretary of Education can deny approval for construction projects that fail to meet the standards. This bill amends the Public School Code to ensure schools have adequate library resources for student learning.

Maddy summaryHB 739 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Professional Nursing Law to modernize terminology and clarify roles for advanced practice nurses. It replaces "certified registered nurse practitioner" with "APRN-CNP" throughout the law, defines "collaboration" requirements for new APRN-CNPs (requiring 3,600 practice hours before independent work), and updates definitions for "medical nutrition therapy" and "population focus areas." The bill explicitly removes the State Board of Nursing's authority to license APRN-CNPs, shifting that responsibility elsewhere. These changes directly affect registered nurses seeking advanced practice certification and the Board's regulatory role in nursing licensure.

Maddy summaryHB 726 requires Pennsylvania public, charter, private, and parochial schools to report their current and predicted capital infrastructure needs through a one-time survey. This includes costs related to physical buildings, digital systems, pandemic-related sanitation measures (like air filtration and PPE), and deferred projects since January 2020. The Department of Education will compile these reports into a detailed statewide summary for the General Assembly, specifying actual costs incurred and projected needs through the 2027-2028 school year. The bill does not allocate funding but creates a data foundation for future budget decisions. It directly affects all school entities operating within Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHR 92 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study the feasibility of county-led consolidated busing for all public and private school students. The study will evaluate potential cost savings, operational efficiencies, and benefits compared to current district-by-district transportation systems, while reviewing models from other states. It also requires the Commission to assess debt management for districts transitioning to consolidated service and propose necessary legislation. The Commission must submit findings and recommendations to relevant House committees within 12 months or by December 31, 2026. This resolution does not enact any policy changes but initiates a review of transportation costs affecting all school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 724 amends Pennsylvania's tax code to prohibit businesses from deducting expenses related to opposing workers' unionization efforts. It applies to all business entities operating in Pennsylvania - including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships - that spend money to influence employees against forming or joining labor organizations. The law specifically blocks tax deductions for costs like hiring anti-union consultants, running campaigns against unionization, or other activities aimed at discouraging union membership. This change increases taxable income for businesses engaging in such activities, directly affecting employers in the state who previously deducted these expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 723 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to require state departments to check if applicants for tax credits or benefits have engaged in anti-union activities within the past decade. It directly affects businesses or individuals seeking tax benefits by blocking eligibility if they have: - Faced federal or state unfair labor practice complaints (e.g., under NLRB rules or Pennsylvania Labor Relations Act), - Settled union-related charges without formal complaints, or - Violated court orders or state labor board decisions. The bill adds specific screening steps to the tax credit application process, defining "anti-union activity" through clear legal references. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.