Rep. Zach Mako

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to give parents or legal guardians full access to their minor child's medical, dental, and mental health records until the child turns 18, subject to federal law. This new provision (Section 1.3) overrides a prior rule allowing minors to control their mental health records, directly affecting minors under 18 and their parents/guardians. The bill changes how healthcare providers handle record access requests, requiring disclosure to parents unless federal law prohibits it. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed.

Maddy summaryHB 644 repeals a prohibition on salon owners renting booth space to licensed cosmetologists in Pennsylvania's Cosmetology Law. The bill removes Section 8.1, which previously made it unlawful for salon owners to rent booth space to cosmetologists or licensed nail technicians. This change directly affects cosmetologists who rent space in salons (rather than working as employees) and salon owners who provide such rentals. The law now allows cosmetologists to operate independently in rented booths, aligning with modern business practices in the industry.

Maddy summaryHB 645 amends Pennsylvania vehicle laws to allow salvors (businesses handling salvage vehicles) to reconstruct nonrepairable vehicles (vehicles deemed unsafe and valueless except for parts) into safe, roadworthy vehicles. This requires the vehicle to pass an enhanced safety inspection and for the salvor to apply for a special certificate of title through the state. Previously, nonrepairable vehicles could not be rebuilt, but this bill creates a regulated process for reconstruction under strict safety conditions. The bill also updates definitions and procedures for transferring vehicles to salvage dealers or scrap processors, ensuring nonrepairable vehicles cannot be rebuilt without state approval.

Maddy summaryHB 647 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to require county election boards to enter agreements with the judicial system. Specifically, it directs boards to receive records about county residents claiming juror ineligibility due to citizenship status and investigate the voter registration of those individuals. This provision directly affects county election boards by adding a new administrative duty to verify voter eligibility through jury qualification records. The bill does not change voting rights or election procedures, but creates a formal process for cross-checking voter registration with jury eligibility claims. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 651 amends Pennsylvania's Local Tax Collection Law to allow local taxing districts (like counties, cities, and townships) to permit property tax payments in up to twelve installments, increasing the current limit from four. This change directly affects property taxpayers who choose to pay their taxes in installments rather than a single lump sum. The bill specifies that no tax discounts or abatements will apply to taxes paid through this extended installment plan. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 648 creates a new first-degree felony offense for intentionally delivering a controlled substance (in violation of Pennsylvania's drug laws) that results in another person's death. The bill explicitly removes defenses that the victim voluntarily used the drug or used it with other substances, such as alcohol or additional drugs. This law directly affects drug sellers, distributors, or those who illegally provide controlled substances leading to a fatal overdose. It changes the legal standard by making such deaths prosecutable without the previous defenses that could have been raised in court.

Maddy summaryHB 527 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health and Department of Human Services to share information about abuse allegations involving adults or older adults with the appropriate local agencies. Specifically, if abuse is reported in a facility (like nursing homes or assisted living), the receiving department must refer the case to local aging agencies for older adults (60+) or adult protective services for adults (18-59), while sharing all relevant details to aid investigations. The bill establishes ongoing communication between the departments to streamline this process but does not change existing mandatory reporting laws. It directly affects state agencies, local protective services providers, and residents in long-term care facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 435 amends Pennsylvania's Air Pollution Control Act to adjust monitoring requirements for cement plants. It allows the Department of Environmental Resources to remove opacity monitor requirements for cement plants already subject to federal particulate matter (PM) emissions limits, provided those plants use PM monitors. This directly affects cement facilities regulated under federal standards (40 CFR Pt. 63 Subpt. LLL). The change simplifies compliance by eliminating redundant monitoring where PM emissions are already tracked under federal law. The bill focuses on aligning state regulations with existing federal oversight for these facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 365 authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement that allows cosmetologists licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses. The compact establishes uniform licensing standards and requires member states to share information about disciplinary actions against cosmetologists to protect public safety. This would primarily benefit cosmetologists moving across state lines, including military members and their spouses, by reducing the administrative burden of multiple licenses while maintaining consistent safety oversight.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and public service of Frank W. Yandrisevits, a former legislator from Northampton who passed away in May 2024. It acknowledges his decades of work representing Monroe and Northampton Counties in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and his continued community involvement through his legal practice and church membership. The bill directs the House to formally recognize his contributions and sends a copy of the resolution to his wife, Janet Yandrisevits, as an expression of condolences.