Rep. Rick Krajewski

Maddy summaryHB 966 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law of 1921 to strengthen consumer protections in health insurance. It requires insurance companies to pay penalties if over 50% of their denied health claims (excluding administrative denials) are later overturned through internal or external review processes. Penalties start at $50,000 for the first overturned claim and increase to $250,000 per claim for subsequent violations. Collected penalties must fund consumer protection activities, in addition to any other existing penalties. This directly affects health insurers operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 362 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to authorize the Energy Development Authority to administer federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 for the Solar for All Program. It directs the Authority to distribute funds for residential solar installations, storage, and upgrades to qualifying households across all Pennsylvania counties, prioritizing rural, suburban, and urban communities. The bill specifically prohibits using funds for solar panels or parts made with forced labor (defined as work performed under threat of penalty without voluntary consent) and requires the Public Utility Commission to protect non-participating ratepayers from cross-subsidization. This creates a clear administrative framework for implementing the federal program while adding labor and ratepayer safeguards.

Maddy summaryHB 777 requires Pennsylvania public school districts to pay education support professionals (like aides and clerical staff) a minimum hourly wage of $20 or a living wage based on cost-of-living adjustments, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. School districts must make supplemental payments to cover wage gaps for existing contracts below this rate through 2029-2030, with the Department of Labor setting and annually adjusting the living wage using the Consumer Price Index. The Department of Education will reimburse districts for these supplemental payments, adding the reconciled amount to their annual funding allocation. This applies directly to over 500 school districts and their education support staff, ensuring wage standards align with inflation.

Maddy summaryHB 924 amends Pennsylvania's Public Utility Code to establish internet neutrality protections for residents. It prohibits internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking lawful content, impairing traffic based on content, engaging in paid prioritization, or using deceptive marketing practices. The bill defines key terms like "broadband Internet access service" and requires ISPs to clearly disclose service details to customers. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will enforce these rules, and violations would be considered unfair trade practices under existing consumer protection law. This applies to all ISPs operating broadband services in Pennsylvania, directly affecting how they manage internet traffic for consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Pennsylvania courts to end long-term parole supervision for eligible individuals who have been under supervision for at least five consecutive years and are at least 40 years old. The process requires a formal petition filed by either the Department of Corrections or the parolee, which must be reviewed by the sentencing court. Courts must evaluate multiple factors including community safety risks, the individual's conduct history, financial hardship, and efficient use of department resources before deciding whether to terminate supervision. The law applies to all parole cases regardless of when the sentence was originally imposed and ensures victims, prosecutors, and relevant parties receive notice and an opportunity to be heard during the review process.

Maddy summaryHB 894 establishes the Veterans Entering the Sustainability Sector Program (VETSS) to help veterans enter jobs in renewable energy and environmental sectors. The bill creates a Veterans Entering the Sustainability Sector Fund to provide grants to eligible employers - businesses focused on renewable energy (like solar, wind, or bioenergy) that hire veterans who completed approved apprenticeship training in fields such as electrician work, solar installation, or environmental maintenance. The Department of Community and Economic Development will administer the program, overseeing training development and grant applications. This directly affects veterans seeking sustainability-sector careers and employers in renewable energy who hire them, with the goal of addressing environmental concerns like climate change through workforce development.

Maddy summaryHB 860 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to prohibit public schools from removing library books or instructional materials based on specific reasons, such as an author's race, gender identity, political views, or content about sexuality. It directly affects public school entities (including districts, charter schools, and libraries) by banning "soft censorship" - removing materials outside formal review processes - and requires schools to publicly report such removals. The bill mandates that materials can only be removed following a defined procedure, ensuring decisions are based on educational appropriateness, not personal views. It also requires schools to provide online complaint forms for students or parents who experience unauthorized removals, referencing data showing 457 book challenges in Pennsylvania from 2021-2022. The law aims to protect students' access to diverse learning resources while aligning with First Amendment principles.

Maddy summaryHB 833 proposes a constitutional amendment to add a 4% tax on Pennsylvania residents with annual taxable income exceeding $1 million. This tax would apply only to income above the $1 million threshold, directly affecting high-income earners in the state. The amendment includes an annual cost-of-living adjustment for the income threshold, aligning it with federal tax bracket methodology. This is a policy change to the state constitution, not an immediate law, requiring approval through the constitutional amendment process.

Maddy summaryHB 803 requires Pennsylvania high schools (grades 9-12) to maintain opioid antagonists like naloxone (Narcan) on-site and train staff to use them during suspected overdose emergencies. Schools must develop a policy within 60 days with the Department of Education, detailing safe storage, administration procedures, and mandatory hospital transport after use. Trained staff, including nurses or teachers, can administer the medication in good faith without facing legal liability, criminal charges, or professional penalties. This law directly affects all public, charter, private, and nonpublic high schools in Pennsylvania, aiming to improve emergency response to opioid overdoses among students and staff.

Maddy summaryHB 742 amends Pennsylvania law to expand DNA collection requirements beyond felony sex offenses. It defines "other specified offenses" for adults (including certain felonies, misdemeanors like assault, and offenses requiring sex offender registration) and for juveniles (such as murder, aggravated assault, or terrorism when tried as an adult). The bill mandates DNA sampling upon conviction, delinquency adjudication, or certain ARD cases for these offenses, applies to individuals transferred from other jurisdictions, and includes provisions for expungement and mandatory costs. This affects individuals convicted of specified crimes who may now have DNA collected for the state database.