Rep. Jenn O'Mara

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Vital Statistics Law to clarify the fees charged for certified copies of vital records. It ensures that no fees are required for these copies when requested by active-duty military personnel, their dependents, or the families of service members who died or were honorably discharged. The change specifically applies to members of the armed forces, including the National Guard, and their eligible family members. The new fee exemption takes effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes tourism improvement districts and management associations to allow counties to create special zones for funding tourism-related projects. It outlines how these districts can be formed, how they operate, and how they can be dissolved, with a focus on ensuring transparency through open meeting laws and direct mail notifications to affected businesses. The legislation also details how special assessment fees are collected and used, requiring that these funds be spent on activities specified in an approved plan. Additionally, the bill clarifies the roles of counties and district management associations, including provisions for annual audits and reports.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution formally recognizes November 11, 2024, as Veterans Day within the state. The measure highlights the significant number of veterans living in Pennsylvania and their contributions to the community and workforce. By passing this resolution, the legislature aims to honor the service and sacrifice of these individuals without creating any new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution celebrates the 388th anniversary of the United States National Guard, which traces its origins to a militia organized in Boston in 1636. The document highlights the historical evolution of the National Guard, noting its dual role in serving both state and federal needs for disaster relief and defense. It specifically acknowledges the Pennsylvania National Guard's long history, dating back to 1747, and directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to the unit.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill creates a new Employee Misclassification Working Group to coordinate efforts among state agencies in identifying and addressing cases where workers are incorrectly classified as independent contractors rather than employees. The legislation mandates that the Department of Revenue share tax information with specific labor and unemployment offices to help investigate these misclassification issues and requires the use of federal identification numbers to streamline data matching. The working group itself will be led by a representative from the Department of Labor and Industry and will include members from the Department of Revenue and the Office of Attorney General, with optional participation from local prosecutors and labor enforcement officers. Meetings of the group are required to occur at least every three months to develop and oversee enforcement strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to prevent local taxing authorities in Pennsylvania from raising their property tax millage rates to fund special real property tax provisions. The change directly affects local governments and property owners by restricting how these entities can adjust tax rates for specific property-related programs. By inserting a new clause into the existing text, the legislation ensures that any special tax provisions cannot be financed through an increase in the standard property tax rate. This measure aims to limit the ability of local officials to modify tax structures for these specific purposes without additional legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers, including physicians and midwives, to offer pregnant and postpartum patients a standardized screening tool for mood and anxiety disorders in their primary language. It mandates that providers share information about available support resources with patients and, with consent, with their accompanying individuals or designated contacts. The legislation also directs the Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign about perinatal mental health and to maintain an updated list of counseling and assistance services.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the funding rules for Pennsylvania highways that were transferred from state to local control. It sets the annual maintenance payment rate at $12,500 per mile for these roads and establishes a mechanism to automatically adjust these payments every two years starting in 2026. The adjustments will be based on changes in the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation, ensuring maintenance funds keep pace with rising costs. Local municipalities that received these highways will directly receive the increased payments, while the Department of Transportation will handle the calculations and notify the public of any changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2407 updates Pennsylvania's emergency management laws by adjusting the funding amounts for various grants and programs that support fire and emergency medical services companies. The bill specifically changes the financial allocations for different initiatives, such as reducing certain grant limits while increasing others, and mandates that protective equipment provided through loans must be free of PFAS chemicals. Additionally, it requires the State Fire Commissioner to report on these programs annually instead of every two years. These changes aim to refine how state funds are distributed and managed for emergency responders without altering the core purpose of the existing grant systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to update the list of protected characteristics, explicitly adding sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, handicap, disability, and the use of support animals to existing categories like race and age. The legislation directly affects employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and providers of housing and public accommodations by clarifying that discrimination based on these new and existing traits is unlawful. It reinforces the state's policy of ensuring equal opportunity and mandates that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission enforce these protections through established procedures and penalties. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to protect religious exercise while maintaining the commission's powers and duties to prevent prejudice and handle complaints.