Rep. Roni Green

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania zoning laws to allow municipalities with over 5,000 residents in growing counties to permit multi-family housing, specifically duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes, on lots where single-family homes are allowed. The legislation requires that rules for these smaller multi-unit buildings cannot be more restrictive than those for single-family homes, while also defining specific criteria for what constitutes each housing type. Localities can petition a county or regional planning agency to review proposed developments to ensure existing infrastructure can support them, potentially requiring developers to make necessary improvements. The act applies only to municipalities meeting specific population and growth thresholds and takes effect 180 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to allow club license holders to apply for special permits that extend their hours for serving food only between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM. It also mandates that when a licensee must stop serving alcohol, all patrons must leave the area used for alcohol service within 30 minutes and cannot take any remaining drinks with them. These changes aim to clarify rules for specific license types, including restaurants, hotels, and distributors, while repealing older provisions regarding the surrender of club licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to prohibit liquor license holders from displaying alcoholic beverages next to nonalcoholic drinks that share similar brand names, logos, or packaging. To prevent consumer confusion, the law requires businesses to post clear and distinct signage identifying which products are alcoholic and which are not. The measure directly affects all individuals licensed to sell alcohol in the state by establishing this specific display restriction. It also defines "nonalcoholic beverages" as any product marketed or sold as anything other than an alcoholic beverage. The changes are set to take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Net Operating Loss Transfer Program in Pennsylvania to allow certain new or expanding biotechnology and technology businesses to sell their unused tax losses to other companies. The program specifically targets businesses that have been operating in the state for five years or less and employ at least 15% of their U.S. workforce within Pennsylvania. Under the new rules, these "selling taxpayers" can transfer the value of their tax benefits to "purchasing taxpayers," who may then use those benefits to offset their own taxable income. The legislation also updates penalty provisions for tax violations and renumbers existing sections of the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to reflect these changes.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill prohibits the intentional addition of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, to a wide range of consumer products including cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, and artificial turf. While the law generally bans these chemicals, it allows for their use in specific items if the Department of Environmental Protection determines that no safer alternative exists and the chemical is critical for the product's function. The Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with enforcing these restrictions, managing a public database of PFAS information, and imposing penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to help Pennsylvania school districts provide annual mental health screenings for students in grades six through twelve. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, eligible school entities can apply for funding to hire staff, purchase materials, or partner with outside organizations to conduct these evidence-based screenings. The program requires applicants to submit detailed plans outlining how they will screen students, protect privacy, and connect those who need help with licensed mental health professionals or community resources. Additionally, the Department of Education will consult with national mental health experts and maintain a list of qualified vendors to assist participating schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Paid Rest Period for Workers Act, requires employers in Pennsylvania to give employees at least 30 consecutive minutes for a meal break or rest period after working five or more consecutive hours. These breaks must be paid and counted as work time, though the law allows for exceptions during workplace emergencies or if a union contract already offers equal or better protections. The Secretary of Labor and Industry is authorized to investigate violations by inspecting worksites and reviewing records, and employers who fail to comply face fines of up to $500 per affected employee per missed break. Additionally, the law provides a mechanism for the state to recover lost wages on behalf of employees who were denied these required paid breaks.

Maddy summaryHB 2353 establishes civil liability for entities that use artificial intelligence or other automated systems to create deceptive campaign advertisements featuring current or former candidates. The bill defines "covered persons" as firms, political committees, foreign governments, and individuals acting on their behalf, while also clarifying that generative AI and synthetic content like deepfakes fall under these regulations. To avoid liability, covered persons must provide clear and conspicuous disclosures stating that an advertisement contains manipulated or generated content, with specific formatting requirements for text, video, and audio formats. If a covered person fails to provide such a disclosure and is found liable, the law requires the immediate removal of the advertisement and imposes financial penalties based on the jurisdiction where the candidate filed with election officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Second Class City Firemen Relief Law to clarify membership rules and improve benefits for surviving spouses and children. It requires new members to sign an agreement forfeiting fund rights upon leaving the fire department and mandates that active members contribute six percent of their wages plus a one-dollar monthly fee, while retirees pay one dollar monthly. The legislation establishes specific death benefits, including a lump sum for all dues paid and monthly survivor payments for widows who die on duty, which continue for up to five hundred weeks or until remarriage. Additionally, it outlines how pensions are distributed to dependent children or parents if there is no surviving spouse, ensuring that total family benefits do not exceed fifty percent of the deceased member's salary.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill amends the Solid Waste Management Act to clarify definitions and restrict how oil and gas wastewater is handled. It explicitly adds various types of oil and gas wastewater, such as production water and brine, to the legal definition of "residual waste." The legislation prohibits spreading this wastewater on roads or applying it to land, with the sole exception of tophole water used at the specific well site where it was extracted. Additionally, the bill bans vehicles transporting this wastewater from having mechanisms that could facilitate the prohibited disposal or reuse methods. These changes aim to limit the environmental impact of oil and gas operations by preventing the use of wastewater for dust suppression, road deicing, or road stabilization.