Rep. Carol Kazeem

Maddy summaryHB 1154 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to develop and implement a mobile application targeting Medicaid-eligible individuals for pregnancy, prenatal, postpartum, and infant care programs. The app must provide multilingual resources, connect users to state health services, meet clinical standards from major medical organizations, and operate on Android/iOS platforms. The department must select a vendor through competitive bidding within 90 days, paying $10 per user monthly with an annual cap of $500,000. The bill mandates the vendor to report de-identified usage data, including Medicaid eligibility engagement and app interaction metrics, to the department.

Maddy summaryHB 109 creates a new permit review process for specific industrial facilities in Pennsylvania's designated "environmental justice areas" - communities with high pollution burdens and vulnerable populations (low-income, communities of color). It requires the Department of Environmental Protection to consider cumulative environmental and public health impacts when reviewing permits for facilities like large wastewater plants (50,000+ gal/day), major air polluters, waste sites (25+ tons/month), mining operations, and certain landfills. The bill mandates that permits in these areas must address disproportionate environmental impacts, as defined by demographic, economic, health, and environmental data. This directly affects developers and operators of industrial facilities seeking new or expanded permits in designated communities.

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 1066 amends Pennsylvania's Medical Practice Act to create a pathway for temporary medical licensees who graduated from international medical schools to obtain full, unrestricted licenses. To qualify, these individuals must have practiced medicine for at least three years outside the U.S., demonstrated competency to the State Board of Medicine, maintained good standing for two years after their temporary license was issued, and secured a job offer from a Pennsylvania healthcare facility. This provision applies only to eligible temporary licensees meeting all specified criteria, without altering general temporary license rules. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1110 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to implement a public awareness campaign about military sexual trauma (defined as sexual assault or harassment during military service). The campaign must promote survivor acceptance, encourage active military members to report incidents, and provide information about available support resources. The department must design accessible materials (multilingual, mobile-friendly, and culturally appropriate) for its website, consult with advocacy groups and veterans with lived experience, and submit detailed reports within 180 days and one year of implementation. This bill directly affects active military members, veterans, and the public by improving access to trauma support and raising community awareness.

Maddy summaryHB 1065 creates a new felony offense for selling unmarked firearm components in Pennsylvania. It specifically targets the sale of firearm frames/receivers, silencer frames, split/modular frames, or partially complete frames without serial numbers registered to a federal firearms licensee. The bill defines "privately made firearm" as one assembled by non-licensed individuals without federal serial markings. This law directly affects sellers of homemade or unlicensed firearm parts, making such sales a third-degree felony. It does not change laws regarding firearm ownership or purchase, only penalizing the sale of unmarked components.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with policy changes) passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. It formally recognizes the observance of Ramadan (March 1-30, 2025) and Eid al-Fitr, a significant religious period for Muslims involving fasting, reflection, and community celebration. The resolution has no legal effect or impact on laws, policies, or individuals - it simply acknowledges the Muslim community’s religious observance. As a symbolic gesture, it does not impose requirements or alter rights.

Maddy summaryHB 118 amends Pennsylvania's Child Labor Act to increase penalties for employers violating child labor laws. It raises the fine for first-time violations from $500 to $1,000 per violation and increases penalties for repeat offenses to $3,000 per violation or up to 10 days in jail. The bill directly affects employers who hire minors in prohibited work situations. These changes are concrete policy adjustments to enforcement, not new work restrictions. The amendment takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 404 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to extend health insurance coverage for children under family policies. It requires policies to cover dependent children up to age 26 (previously 19) and prohibits insurers from denying or restricting coverage based on a child's financial dependency, residency, marital status, school enrollment, or employment. The bill also allows group health plans to extend coverage for adult children up to age 29 if they meet specific conditions, such as not being married, having no dependents, and residing in Pennsylvania or attending school full-time. This affects all health insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania that provide dependent child coverage.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates April 13-19, 2025, as "National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week" in Pennsylvania. It honors 911 dispatchers (also called public safety telecommunicators) who serve as the first point of contact during emergencies and support emergency responders. The resolution recognizes their critical role in ensuring community safety through their professionalism and dedication during high-pressure situations. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or policies.