Rep. Melissa Shusterman

Maddy summaryHB 946 requires water and wastewater utilities seeking to acquire another utility to include specific documentation - like appraisals, purchase price, and rate base calculations - with their application to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. It mandates a ratepayer referendum for sales valued at $1 million or more, where customers vote on the acquisition using plain-language ballots that clearly state potential rate impacts. Utilities must mail referendum ballots with at least 45 days' notice and 30 days to respond, with non-response counted as disapproval. This bill directly affects utility companies, ratepayers (customers), and the PUC, which must approve acquisitions only if the referendum shows majority support.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new supplemental monthly annuity to certain Pennsylvania state retirees' benefits, effective July 2025. It applies to retirees receiving superannuation, withdrawal, or disability annuities who retired before July 2, 2001, and do not have specific service credits (like Class D-4 or Class AA). The additional payment amount is a percentage of their July 2025 monthly annuity, ranging from 10% to 20% based on their retirement date. The cost will be funded through equal annual installments over 10 years starting July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 944 allows water and wastewater utilities acquiring other systems to include fees paid to valuation experts in their acquisition costs, with a cap of 5% of the selling utility's fair market value. Utilities must submit detailed documentation of hourly rates to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for approval before paying these fees. The bill directly affects acquiring utilities, valuation experts, and the commission overseeing these transactions. It sets clear limits and approval steps to ensure fees are reasonable and transparent during system acquisitions.

Maddy summaryHB 915 creates a new supplemental funding program under Pennsylvania's Public School Code to support childcare facilities serving meals through the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program. The bill establishes a "Supplement" administered by the Department of Education, providing additional financial reimbursements to facilities that demonstrate they can serve more meals or improve care for enrolled children and adults. Facilities must meet specific criteria, such as expanding meal service or enhancing educational opportunities (with separate standards for nonprofits vs. for-profits), and must report annually to multiple legislative committees on participation, meals served, and funding needs. This bill directly affects licensed childcare centers, shelters, and similar facilities receiving federal meal reimbursements.

Maddy summaryHB 111 prohibits life insurance companies in Pennsylvania from denying coverage, limiting benefits, or charging higher rates to applicants or policyholders solely because they have been prescribed an opioid overdose reversal agent (like naloxone). The bill directly affects individuals who use these medications, including those with opioid use disorder or at risk of overdose. It defines "adverse action" to include these discriminatory practices and makes such actions violations of existing laws against unfair insurance practices. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 899 requires Pennsylvania employers to provide workers with paid sick leave for their own health needs or to care for family members. Employees earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with a minimum annual accrual of 40 hours. The law prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and mandates clear posting of rights. It covers most private-sector employees (excluding federal workers) and applies to all employers with 15+ employees in Pennsylvania, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 860 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to prohibit public schools from removing library books or instructional materials based on specific reasons, such as an author's race, gender identity, political views, or content about sexuality. It directly affects public school entities (including districts, charter schools, and libraries) by banning "soft censorship" - removing materials outside formal review processes - and requires schools to publicly report such removals. The bill mandates that materials can only be removed following a defined procedure, ensuring decisions are based on educational appropriateness, not personal views. It also requires schools to provide online complaint forms for students or parents who experience unauthorized removals, referencing data showing 457 book challenges in Pennsylvania from 2021-2022. The law aims to protect students' access to diverse learning resources while aligning with First Amendment principles.

Maddy summaryHB 842 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to create new deductions for realty transfer tax paid on certain home purchases. It directly affects low-to-moderate income buyers (those collecting SSI or with household income ≤215% of federal poverty level) and buyers purchasing primary residences at ≤80% of their county's median home price. The bill allows these buyers to deduct the transfer tax paid from their taxable income, and in the second scenario, the seller also receives this deduction. Counties must submit annual median home price data to the Department of Revenue to implement the price-based deduction. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 837 limits handgun purchases and sales in Pennsylvania to one per person within any 30-day period, applying to most individuals but excluding licensed dealers, collectors, law enforcement, correctional facilities, security companies, antique firearms, and documented cases of stolen or lost handguns (with specific reporting requirements). It establishes the Violence Prevention Account, funded by fines from violations, to support youth violence prevention programs and law enforcement training grants. Sellers must conduct a purchase history check and inform buyers about the 30-day limit and penalties. Violations are misdemeanors for first offenses and felonies for repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 826 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to require public venues (like theaters, sports arenas, and events charging admission) to provide free admission for personal care attendants accompanying eligible individuals with disabilities. It defines "attendant care services" to include daily living support such as bathing, mobility assistance, and managing transportation, and specifies that "eligible individuals" are those needing such services due to a disability. The bill prohibits venues from charging personal care attendants for entry when their presence is necessary for the eligible individual to access the event. This directly affects people with disabilities who rely on attendants to participate in public activities and the venues hosting those events.