Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

Maddy summaryHB 2135 requires Pennsylvania employers to reasonably accommodate employees experiencing pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or related medical conditions (like lactation or managing vasomotor symptoms). Key provisions include prohibiting employers from refusing such accommodations unless it creates an "undue hardship" (considering cost and business size), banning forced leave when alternatives exist, and mandating written notices about these rights to all employees. Employers must provide accommodations like modified schedules, more breaks, or temporary position changes, while protecting employees from retaliation for requesting them. The bill applies to all Pennsylvania employers and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 2125 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Landlord and Tenant Act to strengthen tenant protections in rental properties. It restricts evictions to four specific reasons: nonpayment of rent, a second or subsequent lease violation within six months, a change in land use, or property termination. The bill requires landlords to provide written notices via certified mail before eviction proceedings, with 20-day notice for rent nonpayment (April-September) or 30 days otherwise, and prohibits self-help evictions like lockouts. It also mandates that community rules be uniformly applied to all tenants and posted clearly, with a required "Important Notice" explaining tenant rights and eviction procedures. This bill directly affects tenants and landlords in rental properties governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act.

Maddy summaryHB 1768 establishes four new grant programs to support Pennsylvania's local food system. It provides incentives for schools and institutions to purchase local food (Local Food Purchasing Incentive Grant), offers financial assistance to farmers for production improvements (Keystone Producer Grant), supports food distribution networks (Keystone Assistance Grant), and funds school meal programs sourcing from local farms (Keystone Fresh Farm to School Account). The Department of Agriculture and Department of Education would administer these programs and manage the grant allocations. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania farmers, schools, food distributors, and local food businesses by creating new funding mechanisms to strengthen regional food systems.

Maddy summaryHB 1530, the Genetic Information Privacy Act, requires direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies operating in Pennsylvania to protect residents' genetic data. Companies must obtain clear, separate consent for data collection, use, sharing, and retention; implement security measures; and provide consumers with access to or deletion of their data. The bill specifically prohibits sharing genetic data with insurers, employers, or third parties without explicit written consent. Violations could result in $2,500 civil penalties per incident, enforced by the Attorney General’s office. The law applies to Pennsylvania residents and covers genetic data like DNA test results, but excludes research data collected under federal health privacy rules.

Maddy summaryHB 274 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to change eligibility rules for workers seeking benefits. It specifically expands eligibility for individuals fleeing domestic violence by removing barriers to claiming compensation in such cases. The bill also modifies how unemployment compensation rates and benefit amounts are calculated. These changes directly affect unemployed workers in Pennsylvania who qualify under the updated rules. The bill is currently pending in committee after recent amendments.

Maddy summaryHR 154 is a state resolution designating October 6, 2025, as "German American Day" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes the cultural heritage and contributions of German Americans within the state through official acknowledgment, without creating new laws or funding. The resolution directly affects Pennsylvanians by highlighting this community's historical and cultural impact at the state level. As a procedural resolution, it serves a symbolic purpose rather than implementing policy changes.

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1450 establishes a Homebuyer Rebate Program to provide a financial rebate to eligible individuals purchasing a home in Pennsylvania. The bill creates a dedicated Homebuyer Rebate Program Fund, into which 10% of the state's realty transfer tax collected annually will be deposited, starting July 31, 2026. Beginning January 1, 2026, qualified homebuyers can apply to the Department of Revenue for a $2,500 rebate to help offset their realty transfer tax liability.

Maddy summaryHB 2100 prohibits mental health chatbot suppliers from selling or sharing Pennsylvania users' personal health data or chat inputs with third parties. It directly affects companies providing AI therapy tools that simulate confidential conversations with users in Pennsylvania. The law requires suppliers to protect user data, with limited exceptions for user consent or sharing with health providers. This creates new data privacy rules for AI mental health tools used by therapists in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1713 amends the 1995 Economic Development Agency, Fiduciary and Lender Environmental Liability Protection Act by clarifying specific definitions within the law. It directly affects economic development agencies, fiduciaries, and lenders operating under this environmental liability protection framework. The bill's key mechanism is updating terminology to improve clarity and consistency in how environmental liability protections apply. This procedural amendment focuses on refining the legal language rather than changing substantive protections. The bill passed final passage on November 19, 2025, and was referred to the Urban Affairs & Housing committee.

Maddy summaryHB 439 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to explicitly define "race" as including hair texture and protective hairstyles (such as locs, braids, or afros), and "religious creed" as including head coverings or hairstyles tied to religious practice. Employers cannot prohibit these features unless they prove the rule is necessary for health/safety, non-discriminatory, job-specific, and applied equally. The law does not prevent employers from enforcing general safety rules or anti-harassment policies that apply fairly across all employees. This directly affects employers and employees in Pennsylvania workplaces by clarifying protections against discrimination related to appearance.