Rep. Chris Pielli

Maddy summaryHR 136 is a House resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study the financial impact of State Police services on taxpayers. It specifically examines costs for municipalities that rely on Pennsylvania State Police for full or partial police coverage instead of maintaining their own departments - currently covering over 1,700 municipalities (428 part-time, 1,293 full-time as of 2021). The study will assess how these costs affect taxpayer burdens, compare millage rates between municipalities with local police versus those using State Police, and evaluate potential fee structures based on population. The Commission must report findings and recommendations to the legislature within one year. This resolution does not enact new law but requests a factual analysis to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1346 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to mandate coverage for menopause treatments in health insurance policies. This bill requires health insurance policies offered or renewed in the Commonwealth to provide coverage for both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms. The required coverage includes FDA-approved drugs, devices, behavioral therapy, and treatments for menopause induced by a hysterectomy. This ensures individuals in Pennsylvania experiencing menopause or related symptoms have access to covered treatments, subject to the standard terms and conditions of their health insurance policy.

Maddy summaryHB 681 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update school health services and physical education requirements. It requires school districts to submit annual health reports, establishes an interagency council to coordinate child health, nutrition, and physical education services, and revises physical education curriculum standards. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania public schools and students by mandating new reporting, coordination, and updated physical education guidelines. It passed the legislature on June 11, 2025, and is now referred to the Education committee for further action.

Maddy summaryHB 2184 amends Pennsylvania's public utilities law to define "public interest" and require the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to consider eight specific factors when making utility decisions. These factors include residential rate affordability, energy strategy (renewables, distributed generation, energy efficiency), grid modernization, environmental protection, economic growth (jobs, tax revenue), reliability, and environmental justice. The bill updates existing provisions about "just and reasonable" rates (Section 1301), mandatory 60-day notice for rate changes (Section 1308), and complaint-based rate investigations (Section 1309). It directly affects all utility companies operating in Pennsylvania and the PUC, which must now document how decisions align with these public interest factors. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 550, the BPA-free Container Products for Infants Act, prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of infant food and beverage containers containing bisphenol A (BPA) above 0.1 parts per billion. It requires manufacturers to use the least toxic alternative when replacing BPA and bans substitutions with EPA-identified carcinogens or reproductive toxicants. The law applies to all containers intended for infants under one year old and will take effect 60 days after enactment. Violations would be enforced under Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, subjecting offenders to civil penalties and private lawsuits.

Maddy summaryHB 1213 requires municipal water authorities and public utilities to notify residential customers when their water usage increases by 200% above the property's average for a single month. The notice must be sent via phone or email, and the utility must help customers identify potential leaks or inefficiencies. This applies to both municipal systems (under Title 53) and public utilities (under Title 66). The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 507, the Baby Food Protection Act, requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to test all baby food batches for toxic heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. It sets strict limits: baby food cannot exceed 10 parts per billion (ppb) of arsenic, 5 ppb for lead or cadmium, or 2 ppb for mercury. All tested baby food must display labels showing the exact metal levels found in the batch. The bill also directs the Department to adopt lower federal limits if set by the FDA and expires if federal law matches its requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 634 requires Pennsylvania public school safety coordinators to evaluate implementing silent panic alarm systems as part of school safety reviews. The bill defines these systems as manual devices (wired buttons, wireless buttons, or apps) that signal life-threatening emergencies to local law enforcement or designated Pennsylvania State Police locations if no municipal police exist. This applies to all public schools and affects private/parochial schools under the Public School Code. The change mandates coordinators to specifically consider these systems when reviewing safety policies, without creating new funding or broad mandates. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 462 amends Pennsylvania law to extend time limits for filing lawsuits involving minors, individuals with mental incapacity, or those imprisoned. It also clarifies when government units (like cities or counties) can be sued by specifying exceptions to sovereign immunity. The bill directly affects citizens seeking legal action against government entities and the government units themselves, by changing deadlines and liability rules. Key provisions include updating filing deadlines for specific vulnerable groups and defining clearer scenarios where governments lose immunity from lawsuits. This is a substantive policy change to court procedures, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryHB 1135 prohibits the use of paraquat, a specific chemical pesticide, within Pennsylvania. It defines paraquat by its chemical identifier (CAS number 4685-14-7) and includes related salts, making it unlawful for farmers, agricultural businesses, or any pesticide users to apply it in the state. The bill amends Pennsylvania's 1973 Pesticide Control Act to add this prohibition, effective one year after enactment, and overrides any conflicting existing regulations. This directly affects pesticide users and applicators operating in Pennsylvania.