Rep. Missy Cerrato

Maddy summaryHB 1311 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code by revising the definition of "serious provocation" in cases involving danger to the person. The amendment explicitly states that this term does not include the discovery, knowledge, or potential disclosure of a victim's gender identity, expression, or sexual orientation, nor does it cover unwanted nonforcible romantic or sexual advances by the victim or a prior romantic relationship between the victim and defendant. This change affects criminal cases where defendants might otherwise claim "serious provocation" as a defense, particularly in incidents involving LGBTQ+ individuals or relationship dynamics. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HR 162) requires all state agencies in the Commonwealth to implement the use of diacritical marks (accents like é, ñ, or ç) on names in official documents by July 1, 2027. It directly affects individuals with names requiring these accents, such as Spanish-speaking residents or those with French/German names, ensuring their names appear correctly on government-issued documents. The resolution is currently pending in the State Government committee after being referred in April 2025 and reported committed in October 2025. It does not impose new taxes or alter existing laws but mandates a technical update to state systems.

Maddy summaryHB 554 would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement that allows social workers licensed in one member state to practice in others without additional exams. The bill provides Pennsylvania with the legal framework to adopt the compact's standard terms, directly affecting licensed social workers seeking to practice across state lines. Key provisions include aligning Pennsylvania's licensing requirements with the compact's uniform standards, simplifying the process for social workers to obtain reciprocal licenses in participating states. This change would streamline professional mobility for social workers while maintaining consistent regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 80 would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. This compact allows licensed audiologists and speech-language pathologists to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses for each state. The bill directly affects these healthcare professionals and their patients, streamlining cross-state practice for providers. It creates a standardized process for reciprocity among member states, eliminating redundant licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to establish a new requirement for health care site neutrality, which aims to prevent insurance companies from charging different rates based on where a patient receives care. The law defines "campus" as the main buildings of a health care facility plus areas within 250 yards, and prohibits health benefit plans from applying different reimbursement rates for services provided on campus versus off-campus locations. Key provisions include defining applicable services such as outpatient evaluations, diagnostic services, and imaging, while excluding private practitioner offices and religious facilities from these requirements. The bill also establishes specific definitions for facility fees and health care contracts to ensure consistent application of the neutrality rules across various types of health care providers and facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's process for accepting shared control of military lands from the U.S. government. It requires military installations to provide detailed written requests (including boundary descriptions and scope of jurisdiction) before the Governor can accept jurisdiction transfers, followed by a 30-day public notice period. The Governor must document accepted requests with the state secretary, and local agencies can then create coordination agreements with federal partners. This directly affects Pennsylvania's military installations, state agencies, and local governments managing lands with concurrent federal jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryHB 2242 amends Pennsylvania law to clarify the Governor's authority as Commander-in-Chief over state military forces. It specifically prohibits armed military forces from other states or territories from entering Pennsylvania for military duty without the Governor's express permission, except when federal service under the President's authority is involved. The Governor may grant permission for up to 30 days per calendar year, or longer if approved by a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly. This directly affects Pennsylvania's military operations and limits how neighboring states' forces can operate within Pennsylvania. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 460 requires all teachers in Pennsylvania public schools to complete child abuse recognition and reporting training as part of their certification process. It amends the Public School Code of 1949 to integrate this training into both initial certification and ongoing educator requirements. The bill directly affects educators by mandating specific training to identify and report suspected abuse, ensuring schools meet updated child safety standards. This change applies to all public school teachers, including those seeking certification or renewing credentials.

Maddy summaryHB 1909 updates Pennsylvania's criminal code by clarifying and adjusting definitions and penalties for several existing offenses. It specifically addresses simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, harassment, stalking, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, indecent assault, and disorderly conduct. The bill aims to refine how these crimes are defined and prosecuted under current law. It directly affects individuals charged with these specific offenses in Pennsylvania courts. The changes focus on improving legal clarity without creating new criminal categories.

Maddy summaryHB 2217 requires Pennsylvania public schools to provide specific minimum recess and lunch periods for students. It mandates at least 30 minutes of recess daily for full-day kindergarten through fifth grade, 15 minutes for half-day kindergarten, and 30 consecutive minutes of lunch for all full-day kindergarten through twelfth grade. The bill prohibits withholding lunch for discipline or make-up work, ensures students can opt out of cafeteria lunch for religious reasons, and prevents schools from reducing non-tested subject instruction time to provide recess without balancing with tested subjects. This applies to all school entities (including districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) and takes effect July 1, 2027.