Rep. Chris Pielli

Maddy summaryHB 1150 raises Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2026, with annual increases thereafter. It also establishes a phased timeline for tipped employees: requiring higher base cash wages starting in 2025 (e.g., $5.00/hour after June 2025) and mandating that by July 1, 2029, employers must pay the full minimum wage without relying on tips. The bill ensures all tips received by employees remain their property and cannot be used by employers to meet minimum wage requirements. This directly affects most private-sector employers and tipped workers in Pennsylvania, particularly in hospitality and service industries.

Maddy summaryHB 832 requires hospitals planning to close all or most units (general hospital closure) or critical departments like emergency or maternity units (significant impact closure) to follow specific steps. Hospitals must submit a detailed closure plan for approval by the Department of Health or local health authorities at least 180 days before closing, include a health equity impact assessment, and hold two public hearings in the affected community. The bill mandates public notice, comment periods via phone and website, and ensures hospitals address community health needs before proceeding. This directly affects hospitals seeking to close operations and the communities relying on their services, aiming to prevent abrupt healthcare disruptions.

Maddy summaryHB 1081 imposes a temporary ban on cyber charter schools and their management companies from buying, leasing, or owning new property. The ban takes effect 60 days after the bill becomes law and does not apply to property already owned or acquired before that date. This policy directly affects cyber charter schools and the educational management service providers that operate them, restricting their ability to expand physical facilities through new property transactions. The bill does not impact existing buildings or operations of these schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1080 requires solar energy facility operators (grantees) in Pennsylvania to plan and fund the removal and land restoration of solar farms after operations end. It mandates that facility owners submit detailed decommissioning plans and proof of financial assurance to county recorders at specific intervals: 10% of estimated costs 30 days before construction begins, then 40% at 10 years, and 60% at 15 years (adjusted for salvage value). The bill ensures funds are available to cover removal costs, with third-party engineers verifying estimates every five years. These requirements apply to all new solar energy facility agreements executed after the law's effective date, directly affecting solar developers and landowners leasing property for solar installations.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 160) urges Congress to amend the PACT Act to include veterans exposed to toxic substances at Camp Carroll military base in South Korea. It specifically seeks to extend the PACT Act's health benefits - which currently cover veterans exposed to toxins at other sites - to veterans who served at Camp Carroll during the Vietnam War era and developed related illnesses like cancer or diabetes. The resolution cites a 2011 report confirming chemical burial at Camp Carroll and notes these veterans remain excluded from PACT Act benefits despite documented health impacts. It does not create new law but formally requests congressional action to correct this exclusion.

Maddy summaryHB 1078 updates Pennsylvania's school health requirements to strengthen vision screening and eye health examinations for students. It mandates annual vision screenings by trained school personnel for all school-aged children, with comprehensive eye exams by licensed professionals required if screenings fail. The bill specifies that students must receive eye health exams upon school admission, in fourth grade, and eighth grade, and adds requirements for exams related to special education evaluations. Schools must notify parents of failed screenings and provide resources, but are not responsible for covering exam costs or treatment. This directly affects all public and nonpublic school students in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 creates a new minor criminal offense in Pennsylvania for organizing or operating events where live pigeons are used as targets for shooting contests, either for amusement or skill testing. This applies to anyone who willfully runs such events at a designated location, including using mechanical aids to present pigeons to shooters. The bill explicitly excludes legal hunting under state game laws, dog training activities, or permitted special events. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1071 amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to allow limited winery license holders to partner with BYOB restaurants for off-premises wine service under a new permit program. It directly affects licensed wineries and BYOB restaurants (establishments with health permits that allow patrons to bring their own alcohol). Key provisions require wineries to pay a $500 initial fee and $500 annual renewal fee per permit, provide 14 days' notice to police and the Liquor Control Board, operate between noon and 9 PM, and ensure servers are certified. The bill defines "BYOB restaurant" as a dining establishment with a valid health permit that permits patrons aged 21+ to bring alcohol for on-premises consumption. This creates a structured framework for wineries to expand sales at partner venues while maintaining regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 1070 requires all health insurance policies covering maternity benefits in Pennsylvania to provide 24 additional hours of elective postpartum observation and care beyond the existing 48-96 hours of inpatient coverage, starting January 1, 2026. It also prohibits hospitals from involuntarily discharging postpartum patients or newborns between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., with billing under "observation status" if discharge is refused. The bill directly affects mothers, newborns, hospitals, and health insurers by extending coverage duration and restricting nighttime discharges. The Department of Human Services must seek a federal waiver to extend government program coverage for this additional 24-hour period.

Maddy summaryHR 150 is a Pennsylvania House resolution designating April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to highlight the disproportionate maternal health disparities affecting Black women and birthing persons in the state. It references Pennsylvania data showing Black women face maternal mortality rates twice as high as White women (148 vs. 74 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020) and higher morbidity rates. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise public awareness about preventable maternal health outcomes. It specifically targets state-level attention to this crisis, citing local statistics from Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties. As a symbolic resolution, it has no binding effect but seeks to spur broader discussion and action.