Rep. Ben Sanchez

Maddy summaryHB 1957 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would add a right to "personal reproductive liberty" to Pennsylvania's state constitution. This would directly affect all Pennsylvanians by guaranteeing legal protection for decisions related to reproductive health care, including access to abortion, contraception, and related services. The key mechanism is amending the state constitution to explicitly protect these rights, rather than creating new laws. This is a procedural step requiring voter approval after legislative passage, as constitutional amendments in Pennsylvania must be ratified by voters.

Maddy summaryHB 1768 establishes four new grant programs to support Pennsylvania's local food system. It provides incentives for schools and institutions to purchase local food (Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant), offers financial assistance to farmers for production improvements (Keystone Producer Grant), supports food distribution networks (Keystone Assistance Grant), and funds school meal programs sourcing from local farms (Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account). The Department of Agriculture and Department of Education would administer these programs and manage the grant allocations. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania farmers, schools, food distributors, and local food businesses by creating new funding mechanisms to strengthen regional food systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1881 updates Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Act to modernize requirements for pharmacy technicians and trainees, including new registration qualifications and supervision rules by licensed pharmacists. It adds specific protocols for pharmacies administering injectable medications, biologicals (like vaccines), and immunizations, while requiring detailed reports on vaccine administration. The bill also establishes new standards for clinical laboratory certificates and repeals outdated sections of the original 1961 law. These changes directly affect pharmacies, pharmacy technicians, trainees, and pharmacists who oversee vaccine and medication administration.

Maddy summaryHB 1663 establishes Pennsylvania's Statewide Imagination Library Program under the Public School Code of 1949, creating a dedicated funding account managed by the Department of Education. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania children, particularly those from birth through age five, by providing free books through the program. Key provisions require the Department of Education to administer the program and manage the Imagination Library of Pennsylvania Restricted Account for funding. The bill is currently under review in the Children & Youth committee after being removed from the legislative table in November 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 458 amends Pennsylvania's judicial procedures to create a new pathway for veterans with mental health disabilities connected to military service to seek postconviction review of their convictions. It directly affects veterans who were convicted of crimes and have a service-connected mental health condition, allowing them to request a court review of their case based on that disability. The bill also modifies sentencing procedures for first-degree murder convictions, though specific changes to sentencing guidelines are not detailed in the provided context. This legislation aims to adjust post-trial processes for these specific groups while maintaining the existing judicial framework.

Maddy summaryHB 1425 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to update taxes on tobacco products and establish a new online directory for electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes). It directly affects tobacco manufacturers, dealers, and e-liquid producers by changing tax rates and requiring manufacturers to submit product information to the new directory. The bill's key provisions include adjusting tax incidence and rates for traditional tobacco products while creating a mandatory, publicly accessible registry for e-liquid products. These changes aim to modernize tax collection and improve product transparency for regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1530, the Genetic Information Privacy Act, requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies operating in Pennsylvania to protect residents' genetic data. Companies must obtain clear, separate consent for data collection, use, sharing, and retention; implement security measures; and provide consumers with access to or deletion of their data. The bill specifically prohibits sharing genetic data with insurers, employers, or third parties without explicit written consent. Violations could result in $2,500 civil penalties per incident, enforced by the Attorney General’s office. The law applies to Pennsylvania residents and covers genetic data like DNA test results, but excludes research data collected under federal health privacy rules.

Maddy summaryHB 274 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to change eligibility rules for workers seeking benefits. It specifically expands eligibility for individuals fleeing domestic violence by removing barriers to claiming compensation in such cases. The bill also modifies how unemployment compensation rates and benefit amounts are calculated. These changes directly affect unemployed workers in Pennsylvania who qualify under the updated rules. The bill is currently pending in committee after recent amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 2107 would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, an existing agreement among states to simplify licensing for school psychologists who wish to work across state lines. The compact would allow school psychologists licensed in one participating state to obtain an equivalent license in another without repeating lengthy application processes, while still requiring them to follow the practice laws of the state where they work. This aims to address school staffing shortages by making it easier for licensed psychologists to relocate, particularly benefiting military families and schools facing workforce gaps. The bill also specifies that Pennsylvania's Governor and Secretary of the Commonwealth must take steps to join the compact and implement its requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2108 requires online platforms likely accessed by children (e.g., social media, games, educational apps) to conduct data protection impact assessments before launching features. It mandates that companies prioritize children's safety, privacy, and well-being over profits when designing products, prohibits deceptive "dark patterns" that trick kids into sharing data, and bans practices causing physical, psychological, or privacy harms. Covered entities - businesses processing children's personal data - face penalties for violations. The law directly affects digital services targeting minors, focusing on concrete policy changes like mandatory risk assessments and design safeguards.