Rep. Joe Ciresi

Maddy summaryHB 46 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require all school districts to establish and maintain pre-kindergarten programs as part of the elementary school system, open at least 2.5 hours daily. It updates kindergarten requirements to ensure districts accept children age 5 or older on the first day of school and clarifies that kindergartens must be integrated into elementary education. The bill lowers the starting age for compulsory school attendance from 6 to 5 years and reduces the end age from 18 to 17 years. These changes directly affect all Pennsylvania public school districts and children aged 5-17, with the new provisions applying to the academic year following the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 35 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require all schools - including public districts, charter schools, private schools, and cyber charters - to provide current building blueprints to the Pennsylvania State Police or local police department overseeing the school. Schools must update these blueprints whenever building layouts change. This bill directly affects all school entities operating in Pennsylvania by mandating standardized safety documentation for law enforcement access during emergencies. The requirement becomes effective 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 40 amends Pennsylvania's protection from abuse law to clarify and expand court orders. It requires courts to consider risks to both the plaintiff and children when awarding temporary custody or visitation, while clarifying that these orders don't prevent separate custody petitions. The bill adds a new requirement that temporary financial support orders (covering medical costs, housing, or child/spousal support) must be followed by a formal support complaint within two weeks, or the support portion becomes void. It also introduces a new provision allowing courts to order electronic monitoring devices for defendants when there's immediate danger of abuse, with specific criteria for when this is appropriate (like past violations, injuries, or stalking) and detailed technical requirements for the devices themselves. This directly affects individuals seeking protection from abuse and defendants subject to court orders.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania's Department of Education to create and distribute a "student bill of rights" to all off-campus students at accredited colleges and universities in the state. The bill outlines specific tenant protections, including the right to habitable housing, privacy, a hearing before eviction, and reasonable accommodations for disabilities. Institutions must also provide students with an online course about housing rights, which students must complete within their first semester (or pay a $50 fee for non-completion). The law applies to all public and private higher education institutions in Pennsylvania and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 22 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971 to clarify the definition of "compensation" for personal income tax purposes. It specifically adds exclusions to what counts as taxable compensation, such as certain disability payments, retirement benefits, public assistance, foster care payments, and National Guard service income. These changes directly affect Pennsylvania taxpayers and employers who must apply these definitions when calculating income tax liability. The bill does not alter tax rates but provides clearer guidance on which income types are taxable under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 25 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to extend deadlines for school districts to adopt budgets and levy property taxes. It changes the budget adoption deadline from 15 to 30 days after the state enacts basic education funding legislation (for reimbursement of the prior year), and the tax levy deadline from 20 to 35 days for most districts. This affects all public school districts in Pennsylvania, providing more time to finalize financial plans without altering the existing 25-mill property tax rate cap. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 26 removes Pennsylvania’s existing abortion statutes (including the "Abortion Control Act" and its restrictions like parental consent, spousal notice, and gestational limits) and replaces them with a new framework focused on "reproductive rights." It repeals specific provisions related to medical consultation, informed consent, facility requirements, and reporting, while adding language affirming reproductive rights for patients and providers. The bill also eliminates references to federal healthcare compliance for insurers and updates terminology, changing the chapter heading from "Abortion" to "Reproductive Offenses." This bill directly affects all abortion providers, patients, and public health systems in Pennsylvania by fundamentally restructuring the legal landscape governing abortion access.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the creation of a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on Pennsylvania State Capitol grounds to honor military members who died in service and their families. The monument, designed by Woody Williams and Kenton Blackwood, will consist of four black granite slabs featuring inscriptions and scenes representing homeland, patriotism, family, and sacrifice. The MI Charitable Foundation is designated to fund and manage the construction and ongoing maintenance of the site, while the Department of General Services will assist in preparing the location and facilitating the project. The specific location is defined as the area south of the Forum Building, east of the Speaker K. Leroy Irvis Office Building, and north of Walnut Street.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens Pennsylvania's protection from abuse laws by expanding the types of relief courts can grant and clarifying procedures for emergency situations. It allows final protection orders to explicitly include provisions protecting companion animals from abuse, harassment, or relocation, and grants courts the authority to order temporary ownership of these animals during disputes. The legislation also enables hearing officers in certain counties to issue immediate emergency relief when regular courts are unavailable, ensuring faster protection for victims in urgent circumstances. Additionally, the bill clarifies that police officers can make warrantless arrests for violating protection orders based on probable cause, even if the violation is not witnessed directly by the officer. These changes aim to provide more comprehensive and timely safety measures for individuals and their pets facing domestic abuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's laws to modernize the state's 911 emergency communication systems by establishing clear definitions for new technologies and services. It creates a framework for Next Generation 911, which allows emergency calls to be handled via voice, text, and video, and sets rules for how location data is collected and shared with emergency responders. The legislation also outlines how 911 service providers and prepaid wireless sellers must collect and remit surcharges to fund these emergency services. Additionally, the bill clarifies the roles of various entities involved in 911 management, such as addressing authorities and network operators, while repealing older rules related to business telephone systems and temporary residences.