Rep. Tim Briggs

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 2025 as "Menstrual Health Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the importance of menstrual health, highlighting issues like limited access to education and hygiene products, stigma, and health disparities affecting women and girls. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or requirements; it is a formal acknowledgment by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to raise awareness about these issues. It directly affects Pennsylvanians by designating a month for community education and discussion around menstrual health.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 48) formally recognizes May 11-17, 2025, as "National Police Week" and May 15, 2025, as "Peace Officers Memorial Day" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws, policies, or funding; it is a ceremonial acknowledgment of existing national observances. The resolution cites historical context, including a 1962 congressional resolution designating May 15 as "Peace Officers Memorial Day" and the surrounding week as "Police Week." It serves only to express the Pennsylvania House of Representatives' symbolic support for honoring law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Maddy summaryHB 1444 creates new regulations for association health plans (AHPs) under Pennsylvania's insurance code. It defines key terms like "association" (groups of employers in the same industry or profession) and sets requirements for coverage, rates, and insurer filings. The bill directly affects employers forming AHPs, health insurers offering these plans, and individuals enrolled in them. It adds enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance, while repealing outdated sections of the insurance code.

Maddy summaryHR 217 is a resolution that formally recognizes May 7, 2025, as "Philadelphia Eagles Day at the Capitol" in Pennsylvania. It also honors the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles for their victory as the Super Bowl LIX Champions.

Maddy summaryHB 1371 creates new antitrust enforcement tools in Pennsylvania, primarily affecting health care providers, insurers, and consumers. It establishes a legal cause of action for antitrust violations, allows indirect purchasers (like patients) to seek recovery for harm caused by anti-competitive practices, and requires premerger notification for health care mergers and transactions. The bill also imposes penalties for violations and defines key terms like "health care facility system" and "provider organization." This directly impacts health care entities planning mergers and gives consumers a new avenue to challenge unfair pricing or reduced competition.

Maddy summaryHB 503 establishes the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction (PACER) Program, creating a state-run "cap-and-invest" system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector. The program requires the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct Pennsylvania-run auctions for CO2 allowances, with specific rules for eligible participants, such as electricity generators and financial institutions. Revenue from these auctions will be directed into several designated accounts, including those for consumer protection, energy transformation, workforce enhancement, and low-income support. Upon the program's establishment, Pennsylvania would cease participation in other carbon auction programs related to the electric generation sector.

Maddy summaryHB 411 adds a new supplemental annuity for eligible Pennsylvania state retirees, starting July 2025. It applies to retirees who retired before July 2, 2001, have specific service credit (excluding certain classifications), and are receiving monthly payments on July 1, 2025. The amount equals a percentage (ranging from 15% to 24.5%) of their July 2025 monthly annuity, based on their retirement date. The benefit is paid automatically unless retirees opt out, and the cost will be funded over 10 years starting July 2026. This bill does not apply to survivors or retirees with certain service types.

Maddy summaryHB 764 establishes the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, a program that provides grants to support the construction, renovation, or expansion of grocery stores, farmers' markets, and retail food businesses in underserved low-income and moderate-income communities across Pennsylvania. The initiative prioritizes projects located in, owned by, or primarily serving Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, as defined by population data from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will administer the program, develop eligibility guidelines, and ensure grants promote local food systems, job creation, and the use of Pennsylvania agricultural products. The bill also creates a dedicated "Fresh Food Financing Initiative Restricted Account" to hold program funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Pennsylvania to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, an agreement where participating states award their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the national popular vote. If the compact reaches 270 electoral votes (a majority), Pennsylvania would allocate its electoral votes to the national popular vote winner instead of the candidate who wins Pennsylvania's popular vote. The bill requires Pennsylvania to continue holding its usual statewide popular election for president, but the state's electors would be appointed based on the aggregated national vote totals across all compact states. This change would only take effect once the compact is operational with enough states to control a majority of electoral votes.

Maddy summaryHB 407 creates a new criminal offense for unauthorized location tracking in Pennsylvania, making it illegal to install or use technology (such as apps or devices) to monitor someone's location without their consent. Exceptions include law enforcement during investigations, parents tracking minor children, guardians monitoring incapacitated persons, and other specific scenarios like fleet vehicle tracking with proper consent. The bill does not change existing stalking laws but adds this new provision to address technology-enabled harassment. It directly affects individuals who might use location-tracking tools to harass others, while clarifying permitted uses for safety and legal purposes.