Rep. Kristine Howard

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill creates a new Alzheimer's, Dementia and Related Disorders Office within the Department of Aging to coordinate state efforts for people affected by these conditions. The office will oversee existing programs, identify service gaps, manage grants, and update the state's strategic plan every five years based on expert advice. To support this work, the law also establishes a large advisory committee made up of government officials, healthcare providers, researchers, and individuals with personal experience caring for those with dementia. This committee will guide the office's activities, review progress, and ensure that the state's approach remains current and effective.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Keystone Fresh Program to increase the amount of locally grown food served in Pennsylvania school meals. It establishes a grant system administered by the Departments of Education and Agriculture to reimburse school districts for purchasing local fruits, vegetables, grains, and other minimally processed foods. The program prioritizes funding for schools that source from veteran farmers, socially disadvantaged groups, new farmers, or those using sustainable agriculture techniques. A separate fund is also created to support the administration of these initiatives, aiming to improve child nutrition and provide economic benefits to local producers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to update how medical assistance is handled for individuals who are incarcerated. It requires the state to temporarily suspend health coverage when a recipient is sent to a correctional facility and to automatically restore it upon their release, provided they still meet standard eligibility rules. Starting in January 2026, the law allows counties to voluntarily join a new reentry program that offers substance use disorder treatment before release and a 30-day medication supply after release. Counties must formally apply and demonstrate the capacity to support these services before participating, while the state department retains the authority to approve or deny requests based on program readiness.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill establishes a new legal framework to combat anticompetitive practices in the state's markets, specifically targeting monopolies, collusion, and unfair market power. It allows private individuals and businesses to sue for damages if they are indirectly harmed by these illegal actions, expanding who can seek justice beyond just direct victims. The legislation also requires companies to notify state officials before merging health care facilities or forming provider networks, aiming to prevent deals that could reduce competition in medical services. Finally, the bill authorizes the state Attorney General to investigate violations and imposes significant fines on entities that break the new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of Child Advocate within Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to protect the interests of children. The Governor will appoint a Child Advocate who must have at least six years of relevant experience and a bachelor's degree, and the office will operate independently of the department regarding decision-making. The Advocate and their staff are required to complete specific trainings on topics like trauma-informed care and crisis intervention, and they are designated as mandated reporters for suspected child abuse. Additionally, the bill defines the scope of child health, safety, and well-being programs, which include preventing abuse, providing foster care, and offering early intervention services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Pennsylvania public and private schools to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) available at every interscholastic athletic event, including practices. It mandates that schools create a written emergency action plan for sudden cardiac events, which must include a list of trained staff and detailed steps for responding to a medical emergency. The legislation also updates teacher certification requirements to include CPR and AED training, replacing previous rules that focused on CPR instruction alone.

Maddy summaryHB 2492 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to clarify how county boards of elections manage their operations and handle election results. The bill requires county commissioners to provide suitable offices for these boards and mandates that primary and general election expenses be paid by the county. It also establishes specific procedures for counting votes, including public notice of meeting times and places, the preparation of official forms, and the requirement that all assistants be sworn in before performing their duties. Finally, the legislation sets a timeline for completing vote counts, requiring boards to begin the process by 9 a.m. on the third day after an election and continue until finished.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws to require public utilities to give customers at least 60 days' notice before changing their rates. Under the new rules, companies must send clear, plain-language notices to customers and other interested parties, highlighting proposed changes on the outside of mailings. The bill also mandates that utilities file updated rate schedules with the state commission and allows the commission to grant exceptions to the notice period for good cause.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution urges the U.S. Congress to update federal copyright laws to protect human creative workers from displacement by artificial intelligence. The bill proposes that only works created primarily by humans should be eligible for copyright protection, while works generated mainly by non-human entities would be considered public domain. Additionally, it suggests that using copyrighted material to train AI systems should not qualify as fair use because it harms the market value of the original works. The resolution does not become law itself but serves as a formal request to the federal government to consider these specific legal changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to protect injured employees from unfair settlement terms. It directly affects employers and workers by prohibiting companies from requiring injured claimants to agree to specific conditions as part of a settlement. The law explicitly bans employers from making workers sign agreements that stop them from seeking new jobs, force them to keep settlement details secret, require them to accept Medicare payments for their injury, or demand their resignation. Any settlement agreement that includes these prohibited conditions will be considered legally invalid, and employers who violate these rules face penalties under the existing act.