Rep. Tarik Khan

Maddy summaryHB 424 allows Pennsylvania local governments (like cities, counties, or municipal authorities) to publish redundant legal advertisements online alongside traditional newspaper notices. If a newspaper fails to publish an ad on time, the online version becomes valid. Local governments must keep proof of both newspaper payment (like a receipt) and the online posting. This bill amends Titles 45 (Legal Notices) and 65 (Public Officers) to formalize this online redundancy option for public notice requirements. It directly affects political subdivisions responsible for legal advertising and public meeting notices.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Pennsylvania cities to levy an annual property tax of up to one-tenth of a cent (0.5 mill) specifically to fund local ambulance, rescue, and emergency services. Cities may use up to half the revenue from this tax for staff salaries and benefits, with council approval required to exceed this limit (though a resolution can waive the cap). If a city proposes a tax rate above 0.5 mill, it must submit the question to voters at the next municipal election occurring at least 60 days after the proposal. The law directly affects cities seeking to finance emergency services through property tax without voter approval for rates at or below 0.5 mill.

Maddy summaryHB 493 creates a web-based registry of acute care mental health beds across Pennsylvania, requiring licensed mental health facilities to submit real-time data on available beds (updated every eight hours). The registry includes facility contact details, services offered, patient admission criteria, security levels, and wait times, helping health care professionals (like doctors and nurses) quickly find appropriate beds for patients needing inpatient mental health treatment. Facilities must provide this information to join the registry, and the public will see limited, non-confidential details like available beds, services, and estimated wait times. This system aims to streamline referrals without altering existing mental health care licensing or treatment standards.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 54 designates October 2025 as "William Penn Landing Site in Chester Month" in Pennsylvania. The resolution commemorates William Penn's landing in Chester on October 29, 1682, which is recognized as a significant historical event in Pennsylvania's founding. This is a symbolic commemorative measure with no new policy or legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 166 amends Pennsylvania's sentencing rules for first-degree murder cases by changing jury instructions. It requires juries to unanimously find either: (1) at least one aggravating circumstance with no mitigating circumstances, or (2) that aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt, to impose the death penalty. If these conditions aren't met, the sentence must be life imprisonment. The bill directly affects defendants convicted of first-degree murder in Pennsylvania courts and modifies the procedural steps for jury sentencing decisions under Title 42. This is a procedural change to existing sentencing law, not a policy shift altering what constitutes murder or aggravating factors.

Maddy summaryHB 461, the Commonwealth Funding Safety and Transparency Act, requires nonprofits and their partners receiving state funds for pregnancy-related services (like counseling, testing, and postdelivery support) to provide truthful information and follow specific standards. It mandates compliance with existing transparency laws for funded advertising, adherence to medical safety standards from the AMA and ACOG, and inclusion of all FDA-approved contraceptive options in program materials. Nonprofits failing to meet these requirements lose eligibility for state funding or tax incentives. The law applies directly to organizations administering pregnancy services with Commonwealth funding.

Maddy summaryHB 480 allows Pennsylvania school districts to offer full-time cyber education programs directly to students. If a student enrolls in their district's cyber program, they pay no extra fees beyond standard district charges. However, if they choose a cyber charter school instead, parents must pay monthly tuition (based on state funding formulas), and the student won't count toward their district's enrollment for funding purposes. This bill directly affects students and families in districts that provide these cyber programs, clarifying cost responsibilities and funding impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 459 designates a 2.5-mile segment of Pennsylvania Route 352 (Middletown Road) between Gradyville Road in Edgmont Township and North Pennell Road in Middletown Township, Delaware County, as the "Chief Joseph J. Montgomery, Jr. Memorial Highway." The bill commemorates Joseph J. Montgomery, Jr., a local firefighter, paramedic, community leader, and business owner who died in 2023. The legislation requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain directional signs along the designated highway. This is a ceremonial naming bill with no policy or funding changes, solely honoring Montgomery's community service.

Maddy summaryHB 479 allows Pennsylvania voters to register to vote on election day at their polling place by presenting valid ID and submitting a registration form. It requires voters to show a government-issued ID (like a driver's license, passport, or military ID) and provides a temporary ballot that won't be counted until the state approves the registration within 10 days. The bill mandates that all polling places receive same-day registration forms and instructions for voters. This directly affects qualified Pennsylvania voters who maintain residence in an election district and need to register on election day.

Maddy summaryHB 477 requires candidates for school district office in Pennsylvania to undergo background checks before appearing on ballots. Specifically, candidates must submit Pennsylvania criminal history reports (limited to certain offenses), Department of Human Services certification regarding child abuse investigations, and federal criminal history records with fingerprints. Candidates are deemed ineligible if they have recent convictions for violent crimes (like assault or kidnapping), sex offenses (including rape or child sexual abuse), felony drug offenses, or appear on sex offender registries. This bill directly affects individuals running for school board positions in Pennsylvania, applying to all such elections held 180 days after the law takes effect.