Rep. Lisa Borowski

Maddy summaryHB 150 proposes changes to Pennsylvania's sentencing laws by removing outdated rules about transferring inmates requiring medical care and creating a new process for judges to modify prison terms when an individual's illness prevents them from serving their full sentence. The bill directly affects people incarcerated in Pennsylvania who develop serious medical conditions during their sentence. Key provisions include ending the current transfer system for medical cases and establishing a clear procedure for courts to adjust sentences based on documented health issues. This would allow judges to shorten sentences for health-related reasons without requiring a separate legal process. The bill is currently under review in the Appropriations committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1957 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would add a right to "personal reproductive liberty" to Pennsylvania's state constitution. This would directly affect all Pennsylvanians by guaranteeing legal protection for decisions related to reproductive health care, including access to abortion, contraception, and related services. The key mechanism is amending the state constitution to explicitly protect these rights, rather than creating new laws. This is a procedural step requiring voter approval after legislative passage, as constitutional amendments in Pennsylvania must be ratified by voters.

Maddy summaryHB 1881 updates Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Act to modernize requirements for pharmacy technicians and trainees, including new registration qualifications and supervision rules by licensed pharmacists. It adds specific protocols for pharmacies administering injectable medications, biologicals (like vaccines), and immunizations, while requiring detailed reports on vaccine administration. The bill also establishes new standards for clinical laboratory certificates and repeals outdated sections of the original 1961 law. These changes directly affect pharmacies, pharmacy technicians, trainees, and pharmacists who oversee vaccine and medication administration.

Maddy summaryHB 1530, the Genetic Information Privacy Act, requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies operating in Pennsylvania to protect residents' genetic data. Companies must obtain clear, separate consent for data collection, use, sharing, and retention; implement security measures; and provide consumers with access to or deletion of their data. The bill specifically prohibits sharing genetic data with insurers, employers, or third parties without explicit written consent. Violations could result in $2,500 civil penalties per incident, enforced by the Attorney General’s office. The law applies to Pennsylvania residents and covers genetic data like DNA test results, but excludes research data collected under federal health privacy rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to require developers to notify contiguous municipalities when proposing projects that could affect multiple communities (termed "developments of regional significance"). It establishes new review processes, including mandatory impact analyses and extended approval timelines (90-120 days) for such projects. The bill also modifies requirements for infrastructure completion before final land development approval, allowing financial guarantees instead of physical improvements in some cases. These changes primarily affect developers of large-scale projects and the municipalities they impact.

Maddy summaryHB 1446 allows local governments to grant tax exemptions for improvements and redevelopment of vacant or underused properties, directly affecting property owners and developers who redevelop sites like abandoned lots or outdated buildings. It establishes a state-level Economic Development and Mixed-Use Redevelopment Advisory Committee within the State Planning Board to advise on eligible projects and guide implementation. The Department of Community and Economic Development is given authority to manage the program, including setting eligibility rules and overseeing tax exemption approvals. The bill aims to incentivize revitalization of neglected properties by reducing financial barriers for redevelopment. This policy change focuses on concrete tax incentives and administrative structure, not speculative economic outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 2100 prohibits mental health chatbot suppliers from selling or sharing Pennsylvania users' personal health data or chat inputs with third parties. It directly affects companies providing AI therapy tools that simulate confidential conversations with users in Pennsylvania. The law requires suppliers to protect user data, with limited exceptions for user consent or sharing with health providers. This creates new data privacy rules for AI mental health tools used by therapists in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2085 requires public water systems serving over 100 connections to maintain minimum disinfectant levels (0.5 mg/L chlorine or 1.0 mg/L chloramine) to prevent Legionella bacteria growth. It mandates these systems to develop annual maintenance plans based on state-developed "best management practices" covering infrastructure monitoring, flushing schedules, and stagnation prevention. The bill also requires public water systems to report disruptions (like treatment changes or infrastructure failures) to the Department of Environmental Protection within 72 hours. Additionally, it creates a Legionnaires' Disease Awareness Fund for public education and imposes duties on both the DEP and Department of Health to manage risk and investigate outbreaks. This directly affects water providers, building owners, and public health agencies across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 2073 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle laws to increase penalties for commercial drivers who disobey traffic-control devices like stop signs or traffic lights. A commercial driver faces a lifetime disqualification from operating commercial vehicles for a third or subsequent violation. For each violation, the driver must pay a $1,000 fine for a first offense or $5,000 for subsequent offenses, and their employer must pay an additional $1,000 (first offense) or $5,000 (subsequent offenses). Fines collected under this law will partially fund the Public Transportation Trust Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 2061 amends Pennsylvania's tax code to add new requirements for data center owners seeking tax incentives under the computer data center equipment program. It requires applicants to submit an affirmation that all contractors and subcontractors for construction, renovation, demolition, or similar work (starting July 1, 2025) will pay workers at least the Pennsylvania prevailing wage rate, as defined by the state's prevailing wage law. This applies regardless of whether the project would otherwise qualify for prevailing wage coverage under existing law. The bill directly affects data center developers planning major construction or renovation projects after July 2025 to qualify for tax incentives.