Rep. Mary Jo Daley

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the PA SITES Program to help Pennsylvania municipalities, redevelopment authorities, and other local organizations develop competitive sites for businesses to locate or expand within the state. It authorizes the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority to issue up to $500 million in bonds to fund regional planning efforts and the redevelopment or revitalization of both industrial and nonindustrial properties. The program is designed to reduce development risks by providing financing for these projects, with repayment covered by specific pledged revenues rather than general state funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of Child Advocate within Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to protect the interests of children. The Governor will appoint a Child Advocate who must have at least six years of relevant experience and a bachelor's degree, and the office will operate independently of the department regarding decision-making. The Advocate and their staff are required to complete specific trainings on topics like trauma-informed care and crisis intervention, and they are designated as mandated reporters for suspected child abuse. Additionally, the bill defines the scope of child health, safety, and well-being programs, which include preventing abuse, providing foster care, and offering early intervention services.

Maddy summaryHB 2491 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to exempt sales and use taxes on building materials, supplies, and services purchased by construction contractors for affordable housing projects. This change directly affects contractors working on projects that meet the state's legal definition of affordable housing, allowing them to avoid paying sales tax on these specific items. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new taxes but instead clarifies and expands existing exclusions to support the construction and maintenance of designated affordable housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws to require public utilities to give customers at least 60 days' notice before changing their rates. Under the new rules, companies must send clear, plain-language notices to customers and other interested parties, highlighting proposed changes on the outside of mailings. The bill also mandates that utilities file updated rate schedules with the state commission and allows the commission to grant exceptions to the notice period for good cause.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania public utilities to provide customers with clear instructions on how to submit comments regarding proposed rate changes or system acquisitions. Under the new rules, the Public Utility Commission must accept these consumer comments via mail or through an accessible online platform. The legislation aims to streamline the process for utility customers to participate in regulatory decisions affecting their services. It applies to all public utilities operating in the state and will become effective 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution urges the U.S. Congress to update federal copyright laws to protect human creative workers from displacement by artificial intelligence. The bill proposes that only works created primarily by humans should be eligible for copyright protection, while works generated mainly by non-human entities would be considered public domain. Additionally, it suggests that using copyrighted material to train AI systems should not qualify as fair use because it harms the market value of the original works. The resolution does not become law itself but serves as a formal request to the federal government to consider these specific legal changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Agriculture Innovation Grant Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to provide financial reimbursement grants to eligible farms and agribusinesses. The program specifically targets projects that utilize new technologies or methods to improve energy efficiency, water quality, production processes, biosecurity, and farm management systems. To oversee the initiative, the legislation creates a new Agriculture Innovation Board composed of representatives from government agencies, higher education, cooperatives, financial institutions, and the legislative branches. Eligible applicants include individuals with anticipated agricultural sales over $2,000 annually or processors with sales exceeding $10,000, as well as service providers and entities utilizing agricultural commodities for product creation.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the month of July 2024 as "Parks and Recreation Month" throughout Pennsylvania to highlight the importance of public parks and recreational programs. It serves as a commemorative resolution that recognizes the benefits of outdoor spaces for community health, economic growth, and environmental resilience. The measure does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change existing regulations, but rather formally acknowledges the value of these resources in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to protect injured employees from unfair settlement terms. It directly affects employers and workers by prohibiting companies from requiring injured claimants to agree to specific conditions as part of a settlement. The law explicitly bans employers from making workers sign agreements that stop them from seeking new jobs, force them to keep settlement details secret, require them to accept Medicare payments for their injury, or demand their resignation. Any settlement agreement that includes these prohibited conditions will be considered legally invalid, and employers who violate these rules face penalties under the existing act.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution officially designates June 2024 as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month to highlight a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease. The measure encourages all residents to learn more about the condition and supports organizations working to educate the public and fund research. By recognizing this month, the resolution aims to increase awareness of MG symptoms and promote efforts toward finding a cure.