Rep. Roni Green

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Health Insurance Core Benefits Coverage Act to require all individual and group health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover a specific set of essential services. These mandatory benefits include emergency care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health treatment, and preventive services, ensuring that plans are at least as comprehensive as those first offered in the state in 2020. The Insurance Department is authorized to adjust these requirements through regulations by considering factors such as population health needs, potential discrimination, and medical advancements. Insurers that fail to comply with these coverage standards face penalties, while the law explicitly excludes limited policies like dental-only or accident-only plans from these mandates.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania fishing and hunting laws to provide financial relief for disabled veterans and former prisoners of war. It establishes that veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating will receive free fishing, hunting, and furtaking licenses, while those with ratings between 60% and 99% will pay a reduced fee of one dollar. To qualify, applicants must be certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and submit proof that their disability was incurred during military service. The changes apply to resident licenses and will take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Public Utility Credit Act to require public utilities in Pennsylvania to report customer credit information. It defines public utilities to include companies providing electricity, gas, water, transportation, and communications services, while excluding private cooperatives and certain internal building systems. The legislation mandates that these utilities maintain credit records and share them with other providers to help assess a customer's ability to pay for services. By establishing these reporting duties, the bill aims to improve credit assessment for utility accounts across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to clarify lease rules and introduce a rent reporting system for residential properties. It maintains the existing distinction that leases of three years or less can be oral, while requiring written contracts for any lease term longer than three years. Additionally, the legislation establishes a voluntary program where landlords can report on-time rent payments to consumer reporting agencies, such as credit bureaus, to help tenants build credit history. Landlords participating in a specific building credit program must provide written notice to tenants about the option to report their rent payments. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for lease agreements and offer tenants a potential way to improve their credit profiles through consistent rent payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act to create a specific exception for government agencies. It requires public utilities to share emergency response plans and other records with federal or state authorities, such as the National Transportation Safety Board, when there is a reasonable belief of a safety risk or potential harm. The legislation ensures that agencies receiving this information can use it without fear of violating confidentiality rules or triggering public record requests under the Right-to-Know Law. The changes apply to all public utilities in the state and take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on improving Home and Community-Based Services waivers for individuals with disabilities in Pennsylvania. The investigation will examine how these programs, managed by the Office of Long-Term Living and the Office of Developmental Programs, can better meet medical needs, reduce barriers to community living, and enhance employment opportunities. Specifically, the study will compare service menus and pay rates between the two offices, analyze administrative processes, and review how other states have addressed similar challenges. Ultimately, the commission is tasked with issuing a report containing recommendations to improve eligibility, access to care, and support services for this population.

Maddy summaryHB 1032 establishes a new grant program called Solar for Schools to fund solar energy projects at educational institutions. The bill also creates a legal framework requiring owners of solar facilities on leased land to provide financial guarantees that cover the cost of removing the equipment when it stops producing electricity. These financial assurances must remain in place even if the facility is sold to a new owner, ensuring that the original landowner is protected. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the Department of Community and Economic Development to manage these grants and outlines specific rules for solar agreements to prevent future cleanup costs from falling on property owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's military affairs laws to update the list of partners involved in the state's veterans outreach programs. Specifically, it replaces the term "county directors" with "veteran and community outreach partners" who work under the PA VETConnect Program or other department-administered initiatives. The change aims to broaden the scope of recognized collaborators in community engagement efforts for veterans. This legislative update is an editorial adjustment to the existing statutes rather than a new policy initiative.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania law creates a new legal mechanism to protect individuals and organizations when they are sued over their public speech, news reporting, or artistic work. It allows people who are wrongly sued to recover their legal fees and, in cases of malicious harassment, potentially punitive damages. The legislation grants immunity from lawsuits to those exercising free speech rights on matters of public concern, provided they can prove the lawsuit lacks merit. However, the law does not apply to government officials acting in their official capacity, businesses selling goods or services, or claims involving bodily injury, trade secrets, or internal corporate disputes. Additionally, it requires state court and legislative offices to update their resources to reflect these new protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state Department of Health to hold annual regional meetings with long-term care nursing facilities to gather feedback on how the department conducts its surveys. The primary goal is to improve cooperation and communication between the department and these facilities, with the option to hold meetings either in-person or virtually. Any information shared during these meetings is protected from being used in criminal, civil, or administrative cases, unless the data is unrelated to facility performance, knowingly false, or independently verified. Additionally, records collected during these sessions are exempt from public access under the state's Right-to-Know Law.