Rep. Joe Hohenstein

Maddy summaryHB 1225 amends Pennsylvania's Nursing Home Administrators License Act to clarify specific requirements for licensure and temporary permits. It explicitly states that candidates must be U.S. citizens (or have declared intent to become citizens) and meet age, moral character, and education standards under Section 6(a). The bill also clarifies that temporary permits for nursing home administrators require proof of citizenship, age, and good moral character, as outlined in Section 14(a). These changes affect individuals seeking nursing home administrator licensure or temporary permits in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 1224 removes a citizenship requirement from Pennsylvania's pharmacist licensing rules. The bill amends the 1961 Pharmacy Act to delete the phrase "and is a citizen of the United States" from the eligibility criteria for pharmacists. This change directly affects individuals applying for pharmacist licenses in Pennsylvania who previously needed U.S. citizenship. The key provision modifies Section 3(a)(1) of the Pharmacy Act to allow licensure based solely on age (21+) and other existing requirements, without requiring U.S. citizenship. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1277 creates Pennsylvania's first comprehensive plant and pollinator protection law, directly affecting plant merchants, beekeepers, and businesses distributing plants or managed pollinators. The bill requires licenses for these operations, mandates inspections and pest surveys, and establishes a new Plant and Pollinator Protection Committee and dedicated funding account. It replaces outdated bee-related laws with updated provisions for managing pests, invasive species, and enforcing compliance through penalties and "stop orders" for violations. The law also introduces "compliance agreements" to prevent pest spread and repeals older statutes governing bees.

Maddy summaryHB 1245 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to partner with healthcare providers - including obstetricians, gynecologists, urologists, and community health centers - to educate individuals about pelvic floor dysfunction and related conditions. The Department must create and distribute accessible informational materials (both online and in print) to people identified by healthcare providers as experiencing or at risk for these conditions, with specific focus on postpartum women. These materials must cover symptoms, treatments, biological processes, and include a recommendation for postpartum pelvic floor assessments. The bill adds this educational duty to the Department's existing responsibilities under the 1929 Administrative Code, without altering current healthcare services or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1252) amends Pennsylvania's Credit Services Act to prohibit credit services organizations from discriminating against consumers based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It specifically bans denying credit, increasing fees, restricting credit amounts, or imposing different terms for these reasons. The law allows organizations to still consider credit history and apply community property laws. This directly affects all credit services providers and their customers in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's House Resolution 193 urges the President to unfreeze federal funds already approved by Congress and stop future freezes of such funds. It specifically references over $700 million in federal infrastructure funding for Pennsylvania projects - like rail service between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, new passenger routes, EV charging stations, and bridge repairs - that remain unspent due to the freeze. The resolution cites legal challenges (including two federal court orders blocking the freeze) and notes the President's administration has not restored these funds despite court rulings. It argues the freeze violates the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which limits the President's authority to unilaterally withhold congressionally appropriated funds. This is a symbolic state-level resolution with no legal effect on federal policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1255 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's Constitution, adding Section 30 to guarantee employees the right to organize, bargain collectively over wages and working conditions, and protect workplace safety. It specifically prohibits laws that interfere with these rights, including bans on union membership as a condition of employment. The amendment must pass both legislative chambers and then be approved by Pennsylvania voters at the next qualifying election. This would establish a constitutional right affecting all Pennsylvania workers and employers, not just current labor laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1242 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to establish a bone marrow donor recruitment program that educates residents about registering with the National Marrow Donor Program and the bone marrow donation process. The program will develop and share electronic materials - including website content and machine-readable codes - at state websites, driver's license offices, and healthcare facilities to explain donor eligibility, registration steps, and donation procedures. This bill directs the state to provide accessible information to help Pennsylvanians understand how to become bone marrow donors, with a focus on increasing participation from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Maddy summaryHR 190 is a resolution designating April 7-11, 2025, as "Health Equity Week" in Pennsylvania. It aims to raise public awareness about health inequities affecting marginalized communities, including those based on race, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. The resolution encourages Pennsylvanians to support efforts advancing health equity across all communities and sectors. As a symbolic measure, it does not create new laws or allocate funding but formally recognizes the need for systemic change in health access.

Maddy summaryHB 31 proposes a constitutional amendment to replace Pennsylvania's current Legislative Reapportionment Commission - which includes legislative leaders - with an Independent Redistricting Commission. The new commission would draw state legislative and congressional district boundaries after each federal census, following specific redistricting criteria outlined in the amendment. This change aims to reduce partisan influence by removing direct legislative control over redistricting. The bill does not detail the exact criteria but requires the commission to adhere to them when creating district maps.