Rep. Mary Isaacson

Maddy summaryHB 572 creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. It makes it illegal to knowingly transmit, distribute, publish, or disseminate a sexually explicit image (defined as depicting genitals, pubic area, or breasts shown for sexual stimulation) to someone who didn't request it or give express consent. This offense is classified as a summary offense (similar to a minor misdemeanor), applies if either the victim or offender is in Pennsylvania, and excludes law enforcement officers acting in their official duties. The bill directly affects individuals who share intimate images without consent, providing a specific legal remedy for this type of non-consensual disclosure.

Maddy summaryHB 573 amends Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to require that all security deposits, including pet deposits, be fully refundable at the end of a lease. The bill prohibits landlords from including any lease provision labeling these deposits as nonrefundable. This directly affects residential landlords and tenants by ensuring deposits must be returned unless deductions are made for legitimate damages beyond normal wear and tear. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 607 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to protect residential tenants during declared disaster emergencies. It prohibits landlords from evicting tenants who lost jobs due to the emergency or entering rental units to show properties without consent during such periods. Violations carry a minimum $500 penalty per occurrence, and the law specifically applies to residential leases, not commercial properties. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment and is currently under review by the Housing & Community Development committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Opioid Reparation and Accountability Fund, which will receive fees from opioid manufacturers and distributors, and creates the Opiate Epidemic Response Advisory Council. It requires opioid manufacturers/distributors to obtain licenses and pay $27,500 annually for licenses (with $2,500 for non-opioid drugs), plus an additional annual fee if they distribute over 2 million opioid units. The Department of Health, Human Services, and Drug and Alcohol Programs must implement new reporting requirements, manage the fund, and coordinate with the advisory council. The fund will support community programs addressing the opioid crisis, directly affecting opioid manufacturers, distributors, and state agencies responsible for oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 597 establishes a one-year pilot program allowing Pennsylvania municipalities to hire underemployed and unemployed residents for daily community projects like park repairs and beautification. Participants would receive same-day pay for their work, with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources required to set eligibility rules, track data, and evaluate the program’s feasibility. The bill directs the department to report findings to the legislature after the pilot ends, without creating a permanent statewide program. It affects local governments and job seekers in participating communities, focusing on testing a temporary work model.

Maddy summaryHB 604 modifies Pennsylvania's firearms laws to clarify procedures for handling confiscated guns. It requires law enforcement to make "reasonable efforts" to return seized firearms to their lawful owners within 120 days, failing which the guns must be destroyed. If the owner is identified but prohibited from owning firearms, or if the owner cannot be found, destruction is mandatory under new rules. The bill also establishes a detailed registry for confiscated firearms (tracking serial numbers, make/model, and date seized) and specifies that guns can only be melted at state smelters after completing this process. This directly affects Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement agencies managing seized firearms.

Maddy summaryHB 560 amends Pennsylvania's Equal Pay Law to require employers with 15 or more employees to disclose pay ranges for job postings and internal transfer or promotion opportunities. Specifically, employers must provide the pay range to job applicants when a position is advertised and to current employees considered for internal moves. The bill also mandates that employers give new hires and update annually in writing the pay range for the employee's job title and for substantially similar positions within the company. This amendment, which would take effect 60 days after enactment, aims to increase pay transparency under the existing Equal Pay Law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new limits for lead in soil at playgrounds and adjacent areas in Pennsylvania. It requires that bare soil on playgrounds must not exceed 200 parts per million (ppm) of lead, and soil in the surrounding yard must not exceed 1,200 ppm. The Department of Environmental Protection will enforce these limits and can issue compliance orders or penalties for violations involving owners or operators of playgrounds, schools, child care centers, and other entities maintaining such areas. These requirements directly affect public and private facilities where children play, aiming to reduce lead exposure risks.

Maddy summaryHB 584 creates a program to help Pennsylvania homeowners address lead paint hazards in older homes. It establishes a Lead Abatement Grant Program, where municipalities receive competitive grants to fund lead hazard control work (like paint removal or soil cleanup) for single-family homes and rental properties. The program prioritizes low-income households (under 50% of median income) and homes with children under six. Funding comes from a 50¢ surcharge on each gallon of architectural paint sold to consumers, deposited into a dedicated Lead Abatement Assistance Fund. The surcharge applies to standard interior/exterior paint for homeowners or businesses, not industrial or aerosol products.

Maddy summaryHB 578 sets a new maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per trillion for specific PFAS chemicals (including PFOA and PFOS) in public drinking water systems across Pennsylvania. This directly affects municipal water providers and the residents who rely on tap water, requiring them to meet this stricter standard. The bill establishes this limit unless federal or state agencies set a higher standard, in which case those standards would take precedence. Water systems must comply with this level, and the Department of Environmental Protection must publish any federal/state standards in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.