Rep. Rick Krajewski

Maddy summaryHB 782 prohibits Pennsylvania electric utilities from including lobbying or political activities in their rate base, meaning these costs cannot be passed on to customers through utility rates. It requires utilities with over 75,000 customers to file annual reports detailing all lobbying and political spending, including employee hours, third-party vendor payments, and specific expense breakdowns. The bill also states that advertising expenses can only be recovered if the utility demonstrates they are reasonable and meet defined criteria. This legislation directly affects large electric utilities operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 769 requires Pennsylvania public schools (excluding fully online cyber charters) to provide dedicated physical space for libraries or information centers and maintain a library collection of at least 1,000 items per grade served, including print and nonprint materials like audio-visual equipment, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The State Board of Education will establish building standards for library spaces and review these requirements every ten years. School boards must design spaces following the State Board's guidance, and the Secretary of Education can deny approval for construction projects that fail to meet the standards. This bill amends the Public School Code to ensure schools have adequate library resources for student learning.

Maddy summaryHB 739 amends Pennsylvania's 1951 Professional Nursing Law to modernize terminology and clarify roles for advanced practice nurses. It replaces "certified registered nurse practitioner" with "APRN-CNP" throughout the law, defines "collaboration" requirements for new APRN-CNPs (requiring 3,600 practice hours before independent work), and updates definitions for "medical nutrition therapy" and "population focus areas." The bill explicitly removes the State Board of Nursing's authority to license APRN-CNPs, shifting that responsibility elsewhere. These changes directly affect registered nurses seeking advanced practice certification and the Board's regulatory role in nursing licensure.

Maddy summaryHB 719 prohibits Pennsylvania insurance companies from denying coverage, limiting benefits, or charging higher rates to applicants or policyholders solely because they use FDA-approved HIV prevention medications (PrEP for pre-exposure or PEP for post-exposure prophylaxis). The bill directly affects individuals seeking or maintaining insurance coverage who are prescribed these medications for HIV prevention. It bans specific "adverse actions" like coverage denial, reduced benefits, or discriminatory pricing based solely on PrEP or PEP use. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment and enforces violations through existing insurance fraud and unfair practice laws.

Maddy summaryHB 570 requires developers of new residential projects with 30 or more units to include affordable housing units. Specifically, projects must reserve 5% of units for very-low-income households (earning 50% or less of the area median income), 10% for low-income households (up to 80% of median income), and 10% for middle-income households (80-120% of median income). Developers must meet phased completion targets as market-rate units are finished - such as 10% affordable units when 25% of market units are complete - and municipalities may withhold certificates of occupancy if requirements aren’t met. The bill directly affects developers of qualifying new residential projects in Pennsylvania, aiming to increase housing options for lower-income residents.

Maddy summaryHB 605 creates a program where individuals on probation, parole, or post-release supervision in Pennsylvania can earn time off their supervision period by meeting specific requirements. For each month of compliance - including fulfilling their case plan, avoiding new arrests, and making scheduled payments for restitution or fines - they earn 15 days toward reducing their supervision term. Agencies must award these "earned compliance credits," place compliant individuals in nonactive status, and petition courts to shorten supervision when all financial obligations are met. Individuals facing financial hardship that prevents payments cannot be barred from earning credits if they meet other requirements. The bill requires agencies to publish forfeiture rules online for violations, limiting forfeited credits to those already earned.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds music therapy to Pennsylvania's existing licensing framework for mental health professionals. It creates a new "licensed professional music therapist" category and defines "practice of music therapy" to include clinically proven techniques like music improvisation, songwriting, and music-based assessments. The State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Professional Counselors, and Professional Music Therapists will regulate this new license. It directly affects individuals who provide music therapy services independently, requiring them to hold this specific license while clarifying that existing healthcare providers (like hospitals or schools) aren't required to obtain it for their employment.

Maddy summaryHR 12 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing February 2025 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the month through the House of Representatives. The resolution highlights the historical origins of Black History Month, including Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson's founding of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, and notes the 2025 theme focused on African Americans and labor. This resolution directly affects Pennsylvania residents by designating the month for commemoration, without altering any legal rights or obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 291, also known as "Susan's and Emily's Law," updates Pennsylvania's parking rules to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. It requires vehicles parked next to pedestrian plazas or bike lanes to position their wheels within 12 inches of the buffer zone between the lane and curb, aligned with traffic flow. The bill also clarifies disability parking rules, allowing local governments to restrict access to specific vehicles or license plates and charge reasonable fees while complying with federal disability law. Violations of the new pedestrian/bike lane parking rules carry a $15 fine, while disability parking violations can result in fines of $50-$300.

Maddy summaryHB 470 requires employers with 15 or more employees in Pennsylvania to provide a paid 30-minute meal break or rest period after five consecutive hours of work. This applies to all covered employees, with exemptions for union contracts that already provide equivalent or better break rights and during workplace emergencies. Employers violating the law face penalties of $100-$500 per affected employee per missed break, with additional recovery of lost wages for workers. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment.