Rep. Danielle Otten

Maddy summaryHB 2133, the "Right to Disconnect Act," gives employees of Pennsylvania employers with 75+ workers the right to ignore work communications during nonworking hours (outside scheduled shifts). Employers must create written policies establishing this right, with exceptions for emergencies or last-minute schedule changes. Employees can file complaints with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry if an employer repeatedly violates this right (defined as three documented instances), with appeals potentially going to the Attorney General. The law aims to protect employees' personal time from work-related contact during nonwork hours.

Maddy summaryHB 2134 amends Pennsylvania's emergency services laws to update grant programs for fire companies and emergency medical services (EMS) providers. It creates a new "Fire Department Identification Number" (FDID) system requiring the State Fire Commissioner to assign unique five-character codes to fire departments, hazardous materials teams, and specialty teams. The bill repeals outdated COVID-19 emergency grant programs and establishes new funding streams for hazardous materials teams, specialty teams, and standard fire/EMS company grants, while clarifying how funds are allocated and requiring annual reports. These changes directly affect fire companies, EMS providers, and the State Fire Commissioner's office by modernizing administrative processes and funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2111 amends Pennsylvania's abortion laws to restrict public facilities and funds. It prohibits publicly owned hospitals, clinics, or government entities from leasing property, entering contracts, or using public funds to support abortion services - except for cases where abortion is necessary to save a mother's life, or to terminate pregnancies resulting from rape or incest that have been reported to law enforcement (with specific documentation requirements). The bill also bans public funds from being used for legal services related to abortion access or restrictions, and requires strict verification of rape/incest reports before funding can be approved for those exceptions. These changes directly affect public health facilities, government agencies, and providers receiving public funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2110 repeals existing restrictions on using public funds for abortions under Pennsylvania's Human Services Code. It removes Section 453, which previously limited state/local government funding for abortions except in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest (with reporting requirements). The bill also abrogates a related regulation (55 Pa. Code § 1163.62(a)). This change directly affects public assistance programs and healthcare providers receiving state funds, eliminating the prior legal barriers to funding abortion services. The policy shift removes specific restrictions but does not establish new funding rules for public assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHB 467 amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to update definitions, sales rules for licensed businesses, and restrictions on purchases and sales by retail dispensers. It specifically affects liquor licensees, beer and wine retailers, and breweries by clarifying regulations around alcohol sales, purchase limits, and brewery operations. The bill modifies existing provisions without creating new categories of licenses or fundamentally changing the licensing structure. It focuses on refining administrative and operational rules within the current liquor code framework.

Maddy summaryHB 150 proposes changes to Pennsylvania's sentencing laws by removing outdated rules about transferring inmates requiring medical care and creating a new process for judges to modify prison terms when an individual's illness prevents them from serving their full sentence. The bill directly affects people incarcerated in Pennsylvania who develop serious medical conditions during their sentence. Key provisions include ending the current transfer system for medical cases and establishing a clear procedure for courts to adjust sentences based on documented health issues. This would allow judges to shorten sentences for health-related reasons without requiring a separate legal process. The bill is currently under review in the Appropriations committee.

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 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 summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to require developers to notify contiguous municipalities when proposing projects that could affect multiple communities (termed "developments of regional significance"). It establishes new review processes, including mandatory impact analyses and extended approval timelines (90-120 days) for such projects. The bill also modifies requirements for infrastructure completion before final land development approval, allowing financial guarantees instead of physical improvements in some cases. These changes primarily affect developers of large-scale projects and the municipalities they impact.