Rep. Jenn O'Mara

Maddy summaryHB 433 requires health insurance plans to cover mammograms and breast imaging services without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for policyholders. It directly affects women needing preventive breast cancer screenings and the insurance companies providing health coverage. The bill amends Pennsylvania’s 1921 Insurance Company Law to mandate this coverage for mammographic examinations and breast imaging under casualty insurance policies. This policy change ensures these essential preventive services are fully covered at no additional cost to patients.

Maddy summaryHB 820 creates Pennsylvania's "Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit," which provides a state tax credit equal to 30% of a taxpayer's federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for the same year. This credit directly affects low-to-moderate income Pennsylvania residents who qualify for the federal EITC, applying it against their state tax bill. The credit is refundable, meaning taxpayers receive a cash refund if the credit exceeds their state tax liability. The bill takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 630 amends Pennsylvania's Equal Pay Law to strengthen protections against wage discrimination based on sex, race, or ethnicity. It adds definitions for "comparable work" (requiring similar skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions) and clarifies that "wages" include all compensation like fringe benefits. The bill explicitly bans employers from requiring employees to refrain from discussing wages, using salary history to set pay, or asking about prior wages during hiring. It also establishes an Equal Pay Enforcement Fund to support enforcement efforts and clarifies that job titles alone cannot determine if jobs are comparable.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1469 amends the Health Care Facilities Act to establish requirements for hospital price transparency. It mandates that hospitals publish a comprehensive list of their standard charges for all items and services on their public websites in a readable digital format. This list must include gross charges, discounted cash prices, and various negotiated rates with third-party payors. The bill also provides for a prohibition on debt collection action against patients by hospitals that do not comply with these requirements, aiming to give patients clearer access to pricing information.

Maddy summaryHB 526 protects mothers' right to breastfeed their children in any public or private location where they are otherwise permitted to be, without being considered indecent exposure, a nuisance, or obscenity. It defines "breastfeeding" to include both direct feeding and expressing milk for bottle-feeding, and creates a private right to sue for violations, allowing recovery of $1,000 per incident plus attorney fees. The law applies broadly across Pennsylvania, ensuring mothers can feed their children without legal interference while maintaining existing protections from the repealed 2007 Freedom to Breastfeed Act.

Maddy summaryHB 1453 establishes a program to create "food desert opportunity zones" in low-income areas with limited access to supermarkets or large grocery stores. Political subdivisions can apply to the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to designate up to 12 such zones statewide. Qualified healthy food retail outlets operating within these designated zones may receive food desert opportunity tax credits for up to five years, starting January 1, 2026. The bill outlines the criteria for zone designation and for businesses to qualify for these tax credits.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania would officially recognize the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Shawwal as Eid al-Fitr Day annually. This designation applies to all Pennsylvanians celebrating the holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan and includes prayer, charity, and community gatherings. The bill clarifies that this recognition does not require employers to grant paid leave or treat the day as a legal holiday. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, focusing on symbolic acknowledgment without imposing new obligations on businesses or government.

Maddy summaryHR 225 is a resolution that officially designates May 13, 2025, as "Cancer Action Day" in Pennsylvania. It aims to raise awareness about the impact of cancer on Pennsylvanians and encourages the advancement of legislation supporting cancer prevention, detection, and treatment across the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryHB 280 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to clarify primary voting rules for unaffiliated voters. It defines "unenrolled electors" as voters who registered without party affiliation (selecting "none," "no affiliation," or "other" with a clear independent preference). The bill allows these voters to participate in primary elections for candidate nominations by following specific procedures, while maintaining that only enrolled party members can vote in party primaries or hold party office. It also repeals provisions about voters accidentally casting ballots for the wrong party at primary elections.

Maddy summaryHB 1443 amends Pennsylvania’s criminal code to explicitly include "3-D printed firearms" in key definitions across multiple sections. It defines "3-D printed firearm" as a digital file intended to create a gun via 3-D printer, and clarifies that "firearm" encompasses any weapon - whether traditional or 3-D printed - that expels projectiles using explosives. The bill updates prohibitions on possessing, selling, or transferring firearms (including 3-D printed versions) and requires licensing for dealers and registration of firearms. This affects all Pennsylvanians who manufacture, sell, or possess firearms, including those using 3-D printing technology.