Rep. Kristin Marcell

Maddy summaryHB 87 amends Pennsylvania's Cosmetology Law to adjust eligibility requirements for cosmetology licenses and apprenticeships. It increases the required experience for salon owners or teachers training apprentices from five to ten years and mandates that each apprentice must be supervised by at least two licensed cosmetologists (beyond the instructor) in salons with no more than two apprentices. Apprentices must complete 2,000 hours of training in a licensed salon and may apply for a temporary permit to practice after finishing their apprenticeship. The bill directly affects aspiring cosmetologists and salon owners seeking to train apprentices in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1393 establishes the Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Program, offering a state tax credit to businesses that provide paid family and medical leave to their employees. This credit is available to business firms in the Commonwealth that have already received the federal family and medical leave tax credit. To qualify, businesses must apply to the Department of Community and Economic Development, providing proof of their federal credit, with the state credit matching the federal amount received. The total amount of these state tax credits is capped at $100,000,000 annually, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot exceed a business's tax liability.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 40 designates October 2025 as "Dyslexia Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to promote public understanding of dyslexia, a neurological learning disability affecting word recognition and spelling that impacts approximately one in five people. The resolution emphasizes the need for early diagnosis, support resources, and advocacy for individuals with dyslexia, educators, and families. As a non-binding symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but serves to raise awareness and encourage community efforts around dyslexia support.

Maddy summaryHB 1394 proposes to repeal the inheritance tax in Pennsylvania, directly affecting estates and beneficiaries who would no longer be subject to this tax on inherited assets. The bill also modifies procedures for taxpayers to petition for a reassessment of taxes. Additionally, it updates existing provisions related to how government-issued obligations are treated for tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 684 requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt evidence-based reading curricula and implement annual reading screenings for kindergarten through third-grade students starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Schools must identify reading deficiencies using approved screeners, notify parents in writing about deficiencies, and provide individualized reading intervention plans for affected students. The bill mandates that educators complete approved professional development training by the 2028-2029 school year to support these requirements. It directly affects K-3 students, their families, and school staff, with specific deadlines for curriculum adoption, screening, and educator training. The law also establishes reporting and accountability measures for school entities to ensure compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 1329 makes it illegal to share secretly recorded videos or images of people in private settings, specifically targeting the transmission of such material via phone, email, internet, or physical media. It directly affects individuals who secretly record others' intimate areas (like genitals or nipples with minimal covering) in places where privacy is expected - such as bathrooms or changing rooms - and then share those recordings. The bill updates Pennsylvania's invasion of privacy law to explicitly prohibit this sharing, with harsher penalties when the victim is a student or minor. This law aims to protect people from non-consensual sharing of intimate content, particularly in vulnerable situations.

Maddy summaryHB 1316 amends Pennsylvania's sales tax filing rules to adjust deadlines based on a business's previous year's tax liability. It requires businesses with annual tax bills between $25,000 and $100,000 to file monthly returns starting in 2025, including a 50% prepayment of their expected tax for the month. Businesses with bills over $100,000 follow similar monthly filing rules with the same prepayment requirement. This change replaces quarterly filings for these businesses and adds a 5% penalty for late payments on the prepayment amount. The bill affects businesses meeting specific tax liability thresholds under Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 2025 as "Alopecia Areata Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or funding but officially recognizes the condition to promote public education about alopecia areata, a non-life-threatening autoimmune condition causing hair loss. The resolution encourages Pennsylvanians to learn more about the disease, which affects millions in the U.S. and can cause emotional challenges due to stigma. As a symbolic gesture, it aligns with national awareness efforts held in September.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates April 2025 as "Community College Month" in Pennsylvania to recognize community colleges' role in the state's education and economy. It highlights that community colleges serve over 240,000 students - many from low-income or minority backgrounds - provide affordable pathways to degrees, and partner with over 2,000 employers to train workers for high-demand jobs like nursing and truck driving. The designation is ceremonial and does not create new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1290 requires Pennsylvania licensing boards to provide written advisory opinions to licensees (such as doctors, lawyers, and contractors) within 30 business days when they request clarification on how laws or regulations apply to their specific license. These opinions must be binding only for the requesting licensee and will be made public via the Right-to-Know Law, allowing others to access them online. The bill also mandates that boards issue general advisory notices about regulatory changes or topics of broad interest to licensees. Licensing boards must create implementing regulations within 18 months of the law taking effect. The bill directly affects licensed professionals seeking clarity on compliance and licensing boards managing those requests.