Rep. Ben Waxman

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs state committees to study how Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance pay for behavioral health crisis services in Pennsylvania. The investigation aims to understand how current payment methods affect the ability of crisis centers to operate sustainably and provide accessible care. The study will analyze specific financial data, compare reimbursement rates across different payors, and review successful models used in other states. Ultimately, the committees will develop recommendations to improve funding and ensure the long-term viability of these essential services.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill directs the Office of Attorney General to run a public education campaign aimed at increasing consumer understanding of artificial intelligence. The campaign will use various media channels to teach the public how to identify AI-generated content, avoid AI-enabled scams, protect personal data, and recognize potential biases in AI systems. Special attention will be given to vulnerable populations and children, with guidance provided on safe use of chatbots and detection of forged digital likenesses. The Office of Attorney General must submit a report on the campaign's performance within one year of its start, and funding will be provided by the General Assembly as needed.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs), such as secondary apartments or backyard cottages, to be built on properties with single-family homes across Pennsylvania. It requires every municipality to adopt a simple ordinance permitting at least one ADU per lot and mandates that applications be approved within 30 days (or 60 days with additional review), with automatic approval if deadlines are missed. Municipalities may charge a maximum $250 fee for processing and cannot require permit renewals. The law respects existing deed restrictions and planned community rules while aiming to increase housing options through standardized ADU access.

Maddy summaryHB 2254 adds Chapter 14 to Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, allowing terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana within specific care facilities (like hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living residences) under strict conditions. Facilities must create written guidelines within 180 days covering safe storage, patient safety, allowed forms of marijuana, and documentation. The bill imposes a $500 daily civil penalty for noncompliance, with penalties deposited into the Medical Marijuana Program Fund. It does not require facilities to provide certifications, administer marijuana, or permit use in emergency departments. This directly affects terminally ill patients seeking access in regulated care settings and facilities operating under the existing medical marijuana program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow students with asthma or severe allergies to possess and self-administer their prescribed asthma medications (including inhalers) and epinephrine auto-injectors at school. Schools must create written policies requiring students to demonstrate self-administration capability and notify the school nurse after use, while ensuring medications are stored safely and accessible only to authorized students. The bill also permits trained school staff, including bus drivers and crossing guards, to administer epinephrine auto-injectors in emergencies for students experiencing allergic reactions or asthma attacks. These changes aim to improve student safety by ensuring timely access to life-saving medications during school hours.

Maddy summaryHB 2120 amends Pennsylvania's Loan Interest and Protection Law by adding two definitions: "residential mortgage" and "shared appreciation agreement." It defines a residential mortgage as a loan secured by a lien on property with two or fewer residential units (or for construction) with an original principal amount at or below a specific base figure. A shared appreciation agreement is defined as a transaction where an individual receives money in exchange for an interest in residential property secured by a lien, excluding government-backed home loans. This bill directly affects lenders, borrowers, and legal interpretations of mortgage agreements by clarifying the law's scope without changing existing interest rate rules or protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Public Utility Credit Act, requires public utilities in Pennsylvania to report credit information related to customer accounts. It defines "public utility" broadly to include providers of electricity, gas, water, transportation, and telecommunications, while excluding specific entities like nonprofit cooperatives and private generators. The legislation imposes duties on these utilities to maintain and share credit data, aiming to create a standardized system for tracking customer payment history. By establishing clear reporting requirements, the bill seeks to improve how financial responsibility is managed and shared across the utility sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to clarify lease rules and introduce a rent reporting system. It maintains the existing requirement that leases longer than three years must be in writing while confirming that shorter leases can be oral or written. Additionally, the bill establishes a program allowing landlords to report on-time rent payments to consumer reporting agencies, which tenants must opt into. Landlords participating in this program must provide written notice and a signed receipt to tenants at the start of the lease to ensure they are aware of the reporting option.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to recognize March 2, 2026, as "Adwa Victory Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the 1896 Ethiopian victory over Italian colonial forces. The resolution commemorates the historical battle where Ethiopia successfully defended its independence and sovereignty against European colonization. It aims to acknowledge the heritage of the Ethiopian community in Pennsylvania and the broader African diaspora's struggle against colonialism. This is a symbolic measure that does not change laws or allocate funding, but rather establishes an official date of recognition within the state.

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.