Rep. Kristine Howard

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to prohibit liquor license holders from displaying alcoholic beverages next to nonalcoholic drinks that share similar brand names, logos, or packaging. To prevent consumer confusion, the law requires businesses to post clear and distinct signage identifying which products are alcoholic and which are not. The measure directly affects all individuals licensed to sell alcohol in the state by establishing this specific display restriction. It also defines "nonalcoholic beverages" as any product marketed or sold as anything other than an alcoholic beverage. The changes are set to take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill prohibits the intentional addition of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, to a wide range of consumer products including cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, and artificial turf. While the law generally bans these chemicals, it allows for their use in specific items if the Department of Environmental Protection determines that no safer alternative exists and the chemical is critical for the product's function. The Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with enforcing these restrictions, managing a public database of PFAS information, and imposing penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Paid Rest Period for Workers Act, requires employers in Pennsylvania to give employees at least 30 consecutive minutes for a meal break or rest period after working five or more consecutive hours. These breaks must be paid and counted as work time, though the law allows for exceptions during workplace emergencies or if a union contract already offers equal or better protections. The Secretary of Labor and Industry is authorized to investigate violations by inspecting worksites and reviewing records, and employers who fail to comply face fines of up to $500 per affected employee per missed break. Additionally, the law provides a mechanism for the state to recover lost wages on behalf of employees who were denied these required paid breaks.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Second Class City Firemen Relief Law to clarify membership rules and improve benefits for surviving spouses and children. It requires new members to sign an agreement forfeiting fund rights upon leaving the fire department and mandates that active members contribute six percent of their wages plus a one-dollar monthly fee, while retirees pay one dollar monthly. The legislation establishes specific death benefits, including a lump sum for all dues paid and monthly survivor payments for widows who die on duty, which continue for up to five hundred weeks or until remarriage. Additionally, it outlines how pensions are distributed to dependent children or parents if there is no surviving spouse, ensuring that total family benefits do not exceed fifty percent of the deceased member's salary.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill amends the Solid Waste Management Act to clarify definitions and restrict how oil and gas wastewater is handled. It explicitly adds various types of oil and gas wastewater, such as production water and brine, to the legal definition of "residual waste." The legislation prohibits spreading this wastewater on roads or applying it to land, with the sole exception of tophole water used at the specific well site where it was extracted. Additionally, the bill bans vehicles transporting this wastewater from having mechanisms that could facilitate the prohibited disposal or reuse methods. These changes aim to limit the environmental impact of oil and gas operations by preventing the use of wastewater for dust suppression, road deicing, or road stabilization.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Pennsylvania's existing Freedom to Breastfeed Act by requiring all state-owned buildings to provide dedicated nursing rooms for employees and the public. Under the new rules, the Department of General Services must ensure these rooms meet specific standards, including a minimum size of 80 square feet, a lockable door, privacy features, and amenities like a sink, electrical outlet, and refrigerator where possible. The department is also tasked with creating a publicly available online list of these room locations and posting signage to guide visitors to them. These changes apply to any building under the control of the Department of General Services or administered by other executive agencies. The legislation will take effect one year after it is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows teachers in Pennsylvania who have voluntarily placed their teaching certificates on inactive status for at least seven years to take college courses for free or at a 50% discount. The State Board of Education will create and update a list of approved colleges offering these specific tuition-reduced credits every three years. To fund this program, the state will reimburse colleges annually for the waived tuition costs, with reports on enrollment numbers submitted to the General Assembly each June.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass two federal bills aimed at improving food and drug safety for people with allergies and gluten intolerance. The proposed legislation would require updated ingredient lists on packaged foods and mandate clear front-of-package labels that specifically disclose the presence of gluten-containing grains. Additionally, it would require drug labels to identify any ingredients derived from major food allergens or gluten sources, helping consumers avoid harmful substances. The resolution is based on the need to protect the approximately 23 million Americans, including many Pennsylvanians, who suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass federal legislation that would raise the asset limits for Supplemental Security Income eligibility. Currently, individuals can only hold $2,000 in resources and couples can hold $3,000 without losing benefits, a limit that has not been adjusted for inflation since 1989. The proposed federal bill seeks to increase these limits to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for couples to help recipients save money and maintain financial stability. The resolution specifically calls for Congress to enact this change, noting that the current strict limits often force people to spend down their assets or face benefit termination.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to change licensing requirements specifically for abortion facilities. It removes the mandate that these facilities must have transfer agreements with nearby hospitals and eliminates the requirement for physicians and medical staff working there to hold admitting privileges at a hospital. Additionally, the legislation repeals an existing state regulation related to these licensing standards. These changes directly impact how abortion clinics are regulated and the operational requirements for their medical staff.