Rep. Morgan Cephas

Maddy summaryHB 764 establishes the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, a program that provides grants to support the construction, renovation, or expansion of grocery stores, farmers' markets, and retail food businesses in underserved low-income and moderate-income communities across Pennsylvania. The initiative prioritizes projects located in, owned by, or primarily serving Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, as defined by population data from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will administer the program, develop eligibility guidelines, and ensure grants promote local food systems, job creation, and the use of Pennsylvania agricultural products. The bill also creates a dedicated "Fresh Food Financing Initiative Restricted Account" to hold program funds.

Maddy summaryHR 181 is a symbolic resolution recognizing April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" in Pennsylvania. It aims to raise awareness about racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, specifically highlighting that Black women in Pennsylvania face maternal mortality rates twice as high as White women (148 vs. 74 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020) and that 93% of pregnancy-related deaths in the state are preventable. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but uses official recognition to spotlight these inequities, citing data on higher rates of complications and preventable deaths among Black mothers across Pennsylvania. It directly focuses attention on Black women in the state, particularly in high-impact areas like Philadelphia and Allegheny County.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a symbolic resolution recognizing April 11, 2025, as "Black Doula Day" in Pennsylvania. It acknowledges Black doulas' role in improving maternal and infant health outcomes during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care, including reducing C-sections and postpartum blues. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally honors this observance, aligning with International Day for Maternal Health and Rights. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents by designating a day for community recognition of Black doulas' contributions to maternal health. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect on legislation or funding.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with policy changes) honoring Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for its 112-year commitment to social activism, academic excellence, and civic engagement in Pennsylvania. It specifically recognizes the sorority's members for their participation in "Delta Day" at the Pennsylvania State Capitol on May 5, 2025, where they connect with legislators and advance community-focused initiatives. The resolution acknowledges their work in areas like voting rights, healthcare access, economic empowerment, and support for historically Black colleges. It does not create new laws or affect any specific group through policy changes.

Maddy summaryHR 180 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing April 13-19, 2025, as "Public Safety Telecommunicators Week" in Pennsylvania. It honors telecommunicators who handle 911 calls, process approximately 14.5 million emergency requests annually, and provide critical support during crises. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally acknowledges their service through a designated week of recognition. This applies directly to Pennsylvania’s public safety telecommunicators, who serve as first responders during emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis resolution recognizes March 14, 2025, as "Black Midwives Day" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically honors Black midwives' historical and ongoing contributions to maternal health while highlighting persistent disparities, including that Black women in Pennsylvania faced nearly three times the pregnancy-related mortality rate of White women in 2020. The resolution aims to raise awareness about systemic barriers like discrimination, maternity care deserts, and preventable maternal deaths, aligning with the National Black Midwives Alliance's campaign. It does not create new laws or allocate funding but serves as a statement of recognition.

Maddy summaryHB 707 amends Pennsylvania's Freedom to Breastfeed Act to require all Commonwealth-owned buildings (like state offices, courthouses, and the State Museum) to provide dedicated nursing parent rooms. These rooms must be at least 50 square feet, lockable, accessible, and include essentials like a chair, work surface, sink, refrigerator, and privacy. The Department of General Services must install signage, maintain a public online list of room locations, and ensure compliance with accessibility standards. This directly affects employees and the public using state buildings who need to breastfeed or express milk.

Maddy summaryHB 1154 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to develop and implement a mobile application targeting Medicaid-eligible individuals for pregnancy, prenatal, postpartum, and infant care programs. The app must provide multilingual resources, connect users to state health services, meet clinical standards from major medical organizations, and operate on Android/iOS platforms. The department must select a vendor through competitive bidding within 90 days, paying $10 per user monthly with an annual cap of $500,000. The bill mandates the vendor to report de-identified usage data, including Medicaid eligibility engagement and app interaction metrics, to the department.

Maddy summaryHB 109 creates a new permit review process for specific industrial facilities in Pennsylvania's designated "environmental justice areas" - communities with high pollution burdens and vulnerable populations (low-income, communities of color). It requires the Department of Environmental Protection to consider cumulative environmental and public health impacts when reviewing permits for facilities like large wastewater plants (50,000+ gal/day), major air polluters, waste sites (25+ tons/month), mining operations, and certain landfills. The bill mandates that permits in these areas must address disproportionate environmental impacts, as defined by demographic, economic, health, and environmental data. This directly affects developers and operators of industrial facilities seeking new or expanded permits in designated communities.

Maddy summaryHB 1121 allows private providers of applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to work with students who have autism or developmental delays during school hours, as specified in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Schools must permit this access without charging fees or creating barriers, provided parents give written consent and the services align with the student’s IEP. Private providers must coordinate with school staff, hold required certifications, and be supervised by a nationally certified behavior analyst. The bill requires schools to accommodate these services without disrupting classrooms and prohibits discrimination or retaliation against families using private pay services.