Rep. Ben Waxman

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a fee program for certain nonemergency medical services provided to inmates in Pennsylvania prisons, with fees capped at $1 per service when requested by the inmate. It requires the Department of Corrections to create regulations specifying which medical services incur fees, their amounts, and payment procedures while exempting medical emergencies, chronic care, and preexisting conditions from fees. The legislation also mandates that inmates pay for medical services related to injuries they caused to themselves or other inmates. The Department of Corrections must update existing rules to align with these changes within 180 days of the bill's effective date, which is set to occur 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill updates state regulations on cigarette sales and retailer licensing by adding new definitions for youth centers and recreational places. It establishes stricter requirements for new cigarette retailers starting January 1, 2027, prohibiting stores from opening within 500 feet of schools, day-care centers, youth centers, recreational facilities, or other licensed cigarette retailers. The law also clarifies rules for transferring cigarette vending machine licenses and maintains existing requirements for accurate tax reporting and compliance with state pricing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to update definitions for "specialty drug" and "spread pricing" while establishing a new role for a State pharmacy benefits manager. The updated definitions clarify which prescription medications qualify as specialty drugs based on cost, handling requirements, and patient needs, while defining spread pricing as when a pharmacy benefits manager charges more than it pays pharmacists. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to select a single third-party administrator to manage all pharmacy benefits for Medicaid recipients by July 2026, ensuring all managed care organizations contract with this designated manager. The procurement process mandates competitive selection with strict conflict-of-interest disclosures to prevent conflicts between the manager and other healthcare entities like pharmacies, drug distributors, or managed care organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's obstruction of governmental operations laws to create a specific exception for healthcare facilities. It allows nonviolent obstruction of law enforcement entry at hospitals and emergency departments unless officers have probable cause and a judicial warrant for a specific individual. The law defines key terms like "health care facility," "emergency department," and "judicial warrant" to clarify when this protection applies. The changes would take effect 60 days after enactment and apply to all law enforcement officers within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 554 would authorize Pennsylvania to join the Social Work Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement that allows social workers licensed in one member state to practice in others without additional exams. The bill provides Pennsylvania with the legal framework to adopt the compact's standard terms, directly affecting licensed social workers seeking to practice across state lines. Key provisions include aligning Pennsylvania's licensing requirements with the compact's uniform standards, simplifying the process for social workers to obtain reciprocal licenses in participating states. This change would streamline professional mobility for social workers while maintaining consistent regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires online platforms in Pennsylvania to inform users when their content may be used to train artificial intelligence systems. It applies to websites and apps that collect user-created content like posts, videos, or images for AI training purposes. The law mandates that platforms must provide a clear, separate disclosure at sign-up and require users to acknowledge receiving this notice before they can post content. The bill defines key terms like "artificial intelligence" and "platform" to ensure consistent application of the disclosure requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a fee system for Pennsylvania municipalities that receive patrol services from the State Police, requiring towns without their own full-time police forces to pay for those services. The legislation creates new definitions for different types of patrol services and sets fee amounts based on the difference between 2021-2022 and current Motor License Fund appropriations to the State Police. Small municipalities with limited local police hours and those that have existing patrol agreements with the State Police are exempt from paying fees. The bill also requires the State Police to submit annual reports on these services and includes provisions for penalties and intermunicipal police response coordination.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania law to allow individuals and married couples filing for bankruptcy to choose between federal exemptions or a new state-specific set of protections for their assets. The state options include up to $650,000 in home equity, $50,000 to $100,000 in personal property, $20,000 to $40,000 in vehicle equity, and various protected items like wages, Social Security benefits, and government assistance programs. Dollar amounts in the state exemptions will automatically adjust every three years based on inflation data published by the federal government. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted, applying to bankruptcy proceedings filed in Pennsylvania courts.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 31, 2026, as Transgender Day of Visibility in Pennsylvania to honor the contributions and lives of transgender individuals. The measure does not change laws or policies but serves as a symbolic recognition of the date, which is already observed nationally to celebrate transgender accomplishments and raise awareness about challenges the community faces. It is sponsored by multiple representatives and referred to the Committee on State Government for consideration. The resolution highlights the importance of transgender visibility and acknowledges the ongoing discrimination and violence the community experiences.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to establish a new requirement for health care site neutrality, which aims to prevent insurance companies from charging different rates based on where a patient receives care. The law defines "campus" as the main buildings of a health care facility plus areas within 250 yards, and prohibits health benefit plans from applying different reimbursement rates for services provided on campus versus off-campus locations. Key provisions include defining applicable services such as outpatient evaluations, diagnostic services, and imaging, while excluding private practitioner offices and religious facilities from these requirements. The bill also establishes specific definitions for facility fees and health care contracts to ensure consistent application of the neutrality rules across various types of health care providers and facilities.