Rep. José Giral

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 28, 2026, as "HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania. It aims to raise public awareness about HIV criminalization - where individuals with HIV face criminal charges for non-transmission behaviors - and highlights how such laws disproportionately impact marginalized groups like people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The resolution emphasizes current public health consensus that people with HIV who have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus through sex, and that HIV treatment is prevention. It is a symbolic statement, not a law, intended to encourage education and dialogue about ending outdated HIV-related criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to study Pennsylvania's disability waiver programs. It specifically examines how to improve experiences for individuals receiving Home and Community-Based Services waivers through the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). The study will assess medical care access, healthcare support barriers, and staffing challenges for waiver participants. The findings will inform future improvements to these services, focusing on people with disabilities who rely on community-based care instead of institutional settings. (HR 134, 2025)

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act to update provisions regarding training wages for employees under the age of twenty. It allows employers to pay a reduced wage rate during the first sixty days of employment for young workers, provided the employee is informed of their right to the full minimum wage after the training period ends. The legislation also includes a prohibition against hiring new trainees at a lower wage if it results in displacing existing employees through reduced hours or benefits. These changes directly affect employers in the state and young workers entering the workforce, ensuring specific protections while allowing for a temporary training wage structure.

Maddy summaryHB 434, the "Ebony Alert System Act," requires the Pennsylvania State Police to establish a system providing public alerts for missing young people of color (ages 12-25) under specific circumstances, including abduction, suspicious disappearance, or if they have disabilities. Law enforcement must consider eight factors - such as the individual's age, race, disability, or safety risks - before activating an alert. The system is funded by a $25 assessment on individuals convicted of kidnapping (18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 29), and falsely impersonating the alert system carries a $5,000 civil penalty. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, public safety systems, and vulnerable missing persons cases.

Maddy summaryHB 1291 amends Pennsylvania's legal notices statute to clarify definitions and requirements for publishing legal notices. It updates terms like "advertisement" and "digital newspaper" to specify that legal notices must appear in newspapers of general circulation and prohibits unauthorized publications. The bill makes editorial changes to existing definitions without creating new requirements for publishers or government entities. This procedural update ensures consistency in how legal notices are published under current law.

Maddy summaryHR 56 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study voting wait times and resource distribution. The study will examine poll worker staffing, polling locations, voting compartments, and machines across counties to identify ways to reduce voting time and prevent disparities based on race, income, geography, or other factors. The commission must report findings within one year, including wait time data broken down by demographic factors and recommendations for improving in-person voting efficiency. This is a procedural resolution requiring analysis, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1826 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act by updating key definitions to clarify anti-discrimination protections in employment. It lowers the minimum employee threshold for businesses to be considered "employers" from four to two workers, expanding coverage to more small businesses. The bill also explicitly includes religious, charitable, and similar organizations as employers for discrimination based on race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability - previously excluded for these categories. Additionally, it revises the definition of "employee" to focus on employer control over work while maintaining exclusions for casual domestic workers and family employees (e.g., parents, spouses, or children).

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 993 creates an official logotype for veteran-owned businesses in Pennsylvania. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will develop this logotype and establish an application process and eligibility guidelines for businesses to use it. A veteran-owned business is defined as one where at least 51% of the ownership is held by a veteran. The bill also establishes a penalty for fraudulently claiming veteran status to use the logotype and creates a Veteran-Owned Business Coordinator to assist veteran entrepreneurs.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's tax incentives for computer data centers by adding new requirements for owners and operators seeking tax refunds or exemptions. To qualify, facilities must submit detailed applications including investment projections and signed affirmations from authorized executives. Additionally, the legislation mandates that certified data centers obtain an environmental certification, such as LEED Silver or Energy Star, within two years of receiving their initial certification.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 2026 as "Guillain-Barré Syndrome Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to highlight a rare autoimmune condition that damages peripheral nerves. The resolution aims to increase public understanding of the disease, which can cause muscle weakness and paralysis, and to encourage support for ongoing medical research. Directly affecting residents of Pennsylvania, the measure serves as a symbolic gesture rather than implementing new laws or funding programs.