Rep. Jack Rader

Maddy summaryHB 155 amends the Pennsylvania Health Care Facilities Act to update licensing requirements and strengthen consumer protections for residents of health care facilities. The bill includes a specific change to strike the phrase "or other" from the text, which alters how certain regulatory language is applied within the law. By modifying the existing statute and abrogating a specific regulation, the legislation aims to refine the legal framework governing health care facility operations. This measure directly impacts health care providers and facility administrators who must comply with the revised licensing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's corporate tax code to create a specific tax deduction for medical cannabis businesses, allowing them to claim ordinary business expenses that were not deducted on their federal tax returns. It also updates the procedures for taxpayers to request tax reassessments and board reviews, extending the deadline for these petitions to 90 days for corporate taxes instead of the standard 60 days. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new settlement conference process where independent attorneys appointed by the tax board can help resolve disputes between taxpayers and the Department of Revenue. These changes directly affect medical marijuana organizations and other corporations subject to state net income tax by altering how they calculate deductions and how they appeal tax assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Pennsylvania Election Code to require the Secretary of the Commonwealth to create a public website for reporting election results. The site must display data for each race showing how many precincts have reported their votes and how many remain unreported, with this information available from the election day until all results are certified. The change directly affects the Secretary of the Commonwealth's duties and provides voters with real-time visibility into election progress. The law is set to take effect 60 days after being signed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's eminent domain laws to clarify definitions, streamline condemnation procedures, and expand protections for property owners. It introduces new terms such as "blighted property" and "marginalized community" to ensure consistent legal interpretation and requires that replacement housing for displaced residents be affordable and located in areas with similar school districts and amenities. The legislation also mandates that title transfer only occurs after a court makes a final determination, while simultaneously allowing owners to recover limited costs for appraisals, legal fees, and engineering services. Additionally, the bill provides for compensation for the loss of business goodwill and ensures that mortgages and liens are addressed during the condemnation process.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's fishing and hunting laws to provide special license benefits for state corrections officers and law enforcement officers. It allows these eligible residents to purchase an annual fishing license for just one dollar and grants them a resident hunting license with a one-dollar fee. To qualify, officers must provide employment documentation proving they work in these roles within the Commonwealth. The legislation also sets the specific costs for these discounted licenses and allows the state commission to create regulations to implement the changes.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill authorizes the Department of Corrections to issue electronic control gloves to corrections officers, with mandatory distribution required for officers working in units housing inmates who have received disciplinary sanctions and are segregated from the general population. The legislation mandates that the department create public written policies for the use, training, maintenance, and storage of these devices and requires all officers to complete an approved training course before receiving them. Additionally, the bill defines electronic control gloves as gloves with electrodes that emit less than 500 volts to temporarily immobilize or restrain individuals and requires their use to comply with existing state guidelines on law enforcement use of force.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies state laws regarding student attendance to protect children from being removed from school when their guardians live outside the district or provide false residency information. It requires schools to offer a formal hearing and an opportunity to appeal before disenrolling any affected student, ensuring parents or guardians are informed of their rights under federal homeless student protections. The legislation also mandates that schools provide clear, understandable information about these rights and allows a court order to be the only other reason for immediate removal. Overall, the measure aims to ensure due process for families facing potential school enrollment issues while maintaining compliance with federal guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill updates the state's laws regarding original birth records for adult adoptees. It clarifies that a noncertified copy of an original birth record will only include basic details like the names and ages of birth parents, the date of birth, and the child's name at birth, while explicitly noting that it is not a certified document. The legislation also establishes a formal process allowing birth parents to request that their names be redacted from these records by submitting a notarized form with identification and medical history updates to the Department of Health. Additionally, the bill outlines how birth parents can later revoke this redaction request to allow their names to appear on future copies of the record.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the definitions of daily, monthly, and weekly drawings under Pennsylvania's Local Option Small Games of Chance Act, which governs licensed charitable gaming organizations. It clarifies that chances for these games cannot be sold for more than $10 and limits participants to one chance per drawing, while also allowing winners to be selected using random number generators or state lottery methods. The changes apply to eligible groups that run these games and will take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's laws on negligence to allow injured parties to recover damages even if they share some fault with the person who caused the injury, provided their fault is not greater than the defendant's. It requires courts to split the total damage award among all responsible parties based on their specific percentage of fault, rather than holding one defendant fully liable for the entire cost. However, the law still makes the defendant fully responsible for the total damages in specific situations, such as cases involving intentional harm, hazardous substance releases, or when the defendant is found to be at least 60% at fault. Additionally, the bill allows courts to consider the fault of people who are not currently part of the lawsuit, such as those who have already settled or are immune from suit, when calculating how much each defendant must pay.