Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

Maddy summaryHB 1706 requires Pennsylvania schools to integrate student mental health awareness into existing health education standards and school operations. It mandates the State Board of Education to update health standards, the Department of Health and Education to develop public guidelines on mental health warning signs for students and families, and schools to notify students and parents twice yearly about local mental health services. The bill also requires school entities to report student absences or injuries in activities to student assistance programs and directs the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to add mental health training to coach certification by the 2025-2026 school year. This bill directly affects all public, private, and parochial schools in Pennsylvania, their students, families, and athletic staff.

Maddy summaryHB 586 amends Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act to update definitions, clarify department responsibilities, and revise permit requirements for waste management entities. It specifically adds new rules for handling food processing residuals (waste from food processing plants) and includes reporting obligations. The bill also establishes penalties for noncompliance with these updated provisions. These changes directly affect waste management companies, food processors, and local departments overseeing waste handling. The amendment focuses on modernizing regulatory processes rather than creating new programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Price Gouging Act to specifically target price increases for petroleum products like gasoline, diesel, and heating oil during market emergencies. It defines a market emergency as disruptions caused by severe weather, supply shortages, strikes, or other extraordinary events and gives the governor authority to declare such emergencies for up to 30 days, with possible extensions. Under the new rules, businesses selling petroleum products cannot change prices more than once every 24 hours, and during a declared emergency, they are prohibited from charging prices that are grossly higher than those offered seven days prior. These measures apply to producers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers of fuel and take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryHB 728 establishes Pennsylvania's Identification Upon Reentry Program, requiring prisons to provide newly released inmates with essential identification documents (like state ID cards) before their release. This directly affects individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community, who often face barriers to accessing services without valid ID. The key provision mandates that correctional facilities coordinate with state agencies to issue these documents during the reentry process, replacing the current inconsistent practice. This policy change aims to streamline access to housing, employment, and government services for returning citizens.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits law enforcement officers from detaining or arresting individuals for civil immigration violations on the property of houses of worship. The only exception allows for arrests if the officer is acting in an official capacity and holds a valid judicial warrant. Additionally, the legislation bars state and local agencies from using taxpayer funds to conduct immigration enforcement and imposes a $10,000 civil penalty for any violations of these rules.

Maddy summaryHR 58 is a resolution urging Congress to propose a constitutional amendment banning slavery and involuntary servitude as punishments for criminal offenses. It directly targets a legal exception in the 13th Amendment that currently permits such practices within the criminal justice system. The resolution itself has no legal effect but seeks to initiate the constitutional amendment process to address this longstanding exception.

Maddy summaryHB 1800 would repeal the current legal provisions in Pennsylvania that recognize marriage between people of the same sex by removing specific sections from the domestic relations code. The bill directly affects same-sex couples currently married in Pennsylvania, as it would eliminate the statutory basis for their marriages. Key provisions include amending definitions in the preliminary sections of the code and striking down existing language that addresses same-sex marriage. The bill is currently referred to the Judiciary committee and has not been enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a state-funded paid family and medical leave program for eligible workers needing time off for health issues, childbirth, or family care. It establishes a dedicated state fund to cover leave costs, creates an advisory board to guide implementation, and assigns oversight to the Department of Labor. The program would directly affect employees in the state who qualify for these leave types, requiring employers to provide the benefits. The bill also specifies penalties for businesses failing to comply with the new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1834 requires commercial data centers in Pennsylvania to pay fees to the state. These fees fund a new Data Center LIHEAP Enhancement Fund, which boosts assistance for low-income households struggling with energy costs. The bill also mandates that data centers meet specific renewable energy targets and allows them to recover certain operational costs through regulated rates. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and Department of Human Services are tasked with implementing these requirements and managing the fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to change the deadline for receiving absentee and mail-in ballots from election day to the seventh day following the election. It allows voters who declare under penalty of perjury that their ballot was timely submitted to have their ballots counted even if they lack a postmark or have an unreadable one. The changes apply to both traditional absentee voters and new mail-in voters, ensuring ballots received by the extended deadline are processed and counted. The legislation would take effect 60 days after passage.