Rep. Kristine Howard

Maddy summaryHB 1358 updates Pennsylvania's lodging laws to directly protect hotel employees. It requires hotels to safeguard workers from retaliation for reporting safety issues or violations, replacing vague existing rules with specific protections. The bill imposes fines on hotels that violate these new safeguards, targeting employers who fail to prevent retaliation. This law affects all Pennsylvania hotels and lodging businesses, focusing on concrete changes to employee safety and enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 129 updates specific definitions within Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (enacted in 1968). It clarifies terms used in the law to improve consistency in how consumer protection rules are applied. This change directly affects businesses operating under the law and consumers seeking to understand their rights under the statute. The bill focuses solely on refining terminology, not altering substantive consumer protections or enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 1553 requires banks and credit unions in Pennsylvania to provide clear notices when charging overdraft or nonsufficient funds fees, including details like transaction date, type, and balance impact. It caps overdraft fees at $15 (or the transaction cost, whichever is lower) and limits customers to no more than three such fees per calendar day. The law also prohibits additional charges beyond standard fees and bans fees for declined transactions. These protections apply directly to bank customers and credit union members, with rules taking effect 180 days after enactment. The bill mandates fee transparency by requiring institutions with websites to publicly list all fees.

Maddy summaryHB 1707 establishes a 3-year pilot program providing $5,000 semester stipends to Pennsylvania residents enrolled in approved Master of Social Work (MSW) programs with a 3.0 GPA or higher who complete required internships at department-approved facilities. The Department of Human Services administers the program, awarding stipends subject to available funding and requiring interns to gain clinical training aligned with social work licensure standards. The program mandates a report within one year evaluating outcomes and expansion potential, with authority expiring three years after implementation. This directly supports social work students and aims to strengthen the behavioral health care workforce through structured education and training.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's child custody law by requiring all custody orders to include notice of relocation obligations (replacing the repealed Section 5337). It repeals detailed existing relocation rules, including the 60-day notice requirement, specific information that must be included in relocation notices, and the 30-day objection window for non-relocating parents. The change directly affects parents or custodians seeking to relocate with children under existing custody arrangements. It simplifies the process by embedding relocation notice requirements into custody orders rather than maintaining separate procedural rules.

Maddy summaryHB 865 amends Pennsylvania's military education benefit programs to clarify definitions, eligibility rules, and procedures for recovering funds. It directly affects Pennsylvania military service members and their families who use the Educational Assistance Program and Military Family Education Program for education expenses. Key changes include updating eligibility criteria and establishing clearer processes for recouping grant payments if recipients no longer meet requirements. The bill, now Act No. 32 of 2025, was signed into law on July 7, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1677 prohibits Pennsylvania government entities from taking action against parents, legal custodians, or guardians who provide minors with medically accurate and medically appropriate information or evidence-based medical services. It specifically protects these adults from being deemed to have committed child abuse when acting in this manner. The bill defines key terms like "medically accurate" (supported by peer-reviewed research or major medical organizations) and "evidence-based" (using current best medical practices). This law applies broadly to all minors' healthcare decisions, not limited to specific identities, and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to allow public assistance recipients to use their benefits to purchase diapers and menstrual hygiene products through a new waiver program. This directly affects low-income individuals and families enrolled in public assistance programs who currently cannot use their benefits for these essential items. The key provision adds diapers and menstrual hygiene products to the list of eligible purchases under an administrative waiver, changing the existing code to expand access to basic necessities. The bill does not change benefit amounts or eligibility criteria but creates a new pathway for purchasing specific hygiene products. It passed the legislature in June 2025 and was referred to the Health & Human Services committee for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1650 establishes Pennsylvania's Home Preservation Grant Program, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development. It provides grants to local governments (counties, cities, townships) to fund repairs and improvements on existing owner-occupied homes, targeting households earning 80-120% of the area median income. Grants can cover up to $50,000 per unit for habitability fixes, energy/water efficiency upgrades, or accessibility modifications, with local governments allowed to use up to 10% of funds for administration. Applications must demonstrate experience in housing rehabilitation and include plans for using funds per the bill's requirements, with priority given to projects leveraging additional funding sources.

Maddy summaryHB 491 changes Pennsylvania law to allow both state juvenile courts and military courts to handle juvenile cases involving minors on military installations within the state. This applies directly to minors under 18 who commit offenses on bases like Fort Indiantown Gap or the Philadelphia Naval Yard. The key provision amends Title 42 of Pennsylvania law to establish concurrent jurisdiction, meaning either court system can take the case without requiring the other to defer. The bill became law on June 27, 2025, after approval by the governor. This policy change clarifies legal authority for juvenile matters on military property without altering the primary jurisdiction of military courts.