Rep. Tarik Khan

Maddy summaryHB 181 requires all political subdivision authorities (like water districts or housing boards) in Pennsylvania to maintain a publicly accessible website with specific transparency details. The bill mandates that these websites include each board member's name, term length and expiration date, contact email, the appointing official's name and office, and links to the governing government entity's website. It directly affects every authority created by a local government, ensuring residents can easily identify leadership and accountability structures. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment, requiring authorities to update their public information practices.

Maddy summaryHR 10 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study how Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers can be improved to better serve individuals with disabilities. It directly affects over 2 million Pennsylvanians with disabilities who rely on HCBS waivers administered by the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), including those excluded from eligibility despite meeting federal disability criteria. The study will examine five key areas: whether waivers meet medical needs, compare payment rates across programs, analyze service menus, address barriers to community living, and investigate low employment rates (16% in integrated settings) for waiver participants. The goal is to identify concrete changes to improve access, affordability, and outcomes for people using these programs.

Maddy summaryHB 168 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to update the definition of "income" for senior citizens' property tax and rent rebate eligibility. It adds a provision allowing seniors who were eligible for these rebates as of December 31, 2018, to retain benefits if household income temporarily exceeds limits solely due to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). This replaces a previous temporary rule that expired in 2016 for seniors eligible as of December 31, 2012. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania seniors receiving property tax or rent rebates who experience automatic income increases from Social Security COLAs.

Maddy summaryHB 186 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to adjust appeal deadlines for unemployment benefit disputes. It extends the standard appeal window from 21 to 30 days for claimants and employers challenging benefit determinations, and adds a 60-day appeal period when a decision date is revised more than one year after the original notice. These changes directly affect unemployed workers (claimants) and employers who dispute benefit awards or payment decisions. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 195 establishes Pennsylvania's Mental Health Workforce Retention Program under the Human Services Code. It provides $5,000 grants to mental health workers who are Pennsylvania residents and have worked with adolescents for at least seven consecutive years, using a lottery system to select recipients. The program allocates up to $1 million annually from a $5 million appropriation (continuing from the General Fund), with grants exempt from income tax. The program expires on June 30, 2030, and is open to workers in psychology, counseling, social work, or human services.

Maddy summaryHB 194 creates Pennsylvania's Mental Health Professional Student Loan Forgiveness Program, targeting mental health workers serving children and adolescents. It allows eligible residents who complete qualifying degrees (like social work, counseling, or psychology) and work in early childhood-to-adolescence mental health roles to receive up to $22,500 in loan forgiveness after signing a 7-year employment contract. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers the program, requiring applicants to prove residency, partial degree completion, faculty recommendations, and secure employment in the specified field. Participants must maintain employment for seven years or repay the forgiven amount if they leave the field early, fail to comply, or provide false information. This directly affects mental health professionals in Pennsylvania seeking relief from student debt while addressing workforce needs in youth mental health.

Maddy summaryHB 52 requires developers seeking building permits in Pennsylvania to submit information about potential impacts on endangered or threatened species to three state agencies: the Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These agencies must review the information within 90 days to determine if construction would harm protected species, providing written confirmation to both the developer and the municipality. If agencies fail to complete the review within 90 days, it is presumed no harm exists, allowing the municipality to issue the permit. The bill also includes funding to support this process. This directly affects developers, municipalities, and state agencies involved in building permit approvals.

Maddy summaryHB 93 designates specific dates for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha as official holiday observances in Pennsylvania, based on Jewish and Islamic calendars. The bill recognizes these dates without requiring employers to provide paid leave or treat them as legal holidays. It explicitly states that the designation does not alter existing employment policies for businesses or schools. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 55 exempts certain small businesses from startup fees when opening a new business in Pennsylvania. It provides full fee exemptions for woman-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, disadvantaged businesses, and microbusinesses (with five or fewer employees). Other small businesses (up to 100 employees with under $10 million annual revenue) receive a 50% fee reduction. The law applies to new business applications filed on or after July 1, 2025, and requires applicants to provide documentation of eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 50 amends Pennsylvania's Water Services Act by updating the definitions of "authority" and "city" to clarify which entities are subject to the law. It specifies that an "authority" must provide water or sewer services to at least 50% more residents outside a city's boundaries than inside, and defines "city" as a city of the third class with a population of 30,000 or less. These changes help determine which municipal authorities and cities must follow the Act's requirements for water and sewer service approvals. The bill does not alter existing service rules but ensures the law applies consistently to relevant entities.