Rep. Joe Hohenstein

Maddy summaryHB 811 would create civil liability for political candidates who make false statements about themselves or others during campaigns. It allows affected individuals or entities to sue for damages if a candidate knowingly makes a fraudulent misrepresentation. The bill directly affects candidates running for office and voters who may be misled by false claims. Key provisions establish a legal pathway for civil lawsuits rather than criminal penalties, requiring proof of intentional falsehoods. This bill is currently in the Communications & Technology committee after passing final passage.

Maddy summaryHR 222 is a non-binding resolution designating May 2025 as "Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents by formally recognizing the importance of asthma and allergy awareness during that month. The bill has no funding or regulatory provisions; it serves solely as a symbolic gesture to highlight public health education efforts related to these conditions. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1633 establishes regulations for shared electric low-speed scooters in Pennsylvania. It allows certain cities (second-class, second-class A, or third-class) to create programs with scooter companies, requiring safety rules like a 15 mph speed limit, mandatory nighttime lighting, and prohibitions on use on freeways or sidewalks in business districts. Companies must carry $2 million in liability insurance and provide complaint hotlines for abandoned scooters. The bill directly affects participating cities, scooter operators, and riders using these scooters.

Maddy summaryHB 1642 amends Pennsylvania's judicial statutes to prohibit state courts, law enforcement, and officials from assisting with legal actions involving "reproductive health care services" that are lawful in Pennsylvania. Specifically, it blocks Pennsylvania courts from ordering service of documents or issuing subpoenas for cases outside the state related to such services (including abortion care), prevents officers from arresting individuals for out-of-state offenses involving these services, and requires governors to withhold extradition for such cases. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" broadly to cover medical, surgical, or counseling services related to pregnancy, contraception, or abortion that are legal in Pennsylvania. These changes apply only to cases involving services permitted under Pennsylvania law, not to all out-of-state legal matters. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1644 creates Pennsylvania's Reproductive Health Services Address Confidentiality Program, allowing reproductive health service providers and patients who fear violence to use a confidential substitute address (like a PO box) instead of their actual home or work address. Participants apply through the Department of Health, providing their actual address and details about pending legal cases; the program issues a substitute address and forwards their first-class mail at no cost. The program keeps participants' actual addresses confidential, sharing them only with law enforcement in emergencies or for prosecution under penalties, and restricts access to program records under the Right-to-Know Law. This applies to individuals seeking services related to pregnancy, contraception, or termination of pregnancy, with certifications valid for three years.

Maddy summaryHB 1638 requires pharmacies and dispensers to display a provider's healthcare practice name instead of their personal name on prescription labels for mifepristone, misoprostol, or their generic alternatives. This applies to any licensed provider (including physicians or prescribers) who requests this change for reproductive medication prescriptions. The law mandates that dispensers comply with such requests, effectively shielding the provider's identity on the label. It takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1645 protects licensed healthcare professionals in Pennsylvania from losing their licenses or facing disciplinary action for providing reproductive health care services, including abortion. The bill prohibits licensing boards from disciplining individuals who assist in such services, even if they were sanctioned in another state for the same work when it would have been legal in Pennsylvania. It defines "reproductive health care services" to include medical care related to pregnancy, contraception, and termination of pregnancy. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 191 updates Pennsylvania's school safety requirements by replacing outdated rules about CPR and defibrillator training. It repeals old teacher certification requirements for CPR instruction and school health service rules about automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill now mandates new CPR and AED training for school staff, sets specific standards for AED availability and placement in schools, and establishes an official AED program. This directly affects public schools, teachers, and school health personnel by requiring updated emergency response protocols. The bill focuses on modernizing school health safety procedures rather than changing other aspects of education.

Maddy summaryHB 967 amends Pennsylvania's 1968 Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law by adding or refining specific definitions within the statute. This definitional update directly affects consumers and businesses operating under the law, as clearer definitions help determine what constitutes unfair trade practices. The bill does not introduce new prohibitions or penalties but clarifies existing legal terms to improve application of the law. As a procedural amendment focused solely on definitions, it does not create new policy requirements or alter substantive protections.

Maddy summaryHB 1088 amends Pennsylvania's 1921 Insurance Company Law to require casualty insurance policies to cover blood pressure monitors. This directly affects policyholders who rely on these devices for managing health conditions like hypertension, ensuring they are not excluded from standard coverage. The bill adds a specific provision mandating insurers to include blood pressure monitors as covered items under casualty insurance policies. It changes insurer obligations without altering broader policy terms, focusing on making a common medical device accessible through existing insurance frameworks.