Rep. Tarik Khan

Maddy summaryHB 1301 requires all health insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania to cover pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) HIV medications, along with associated lab tests and doctor visits for counseling or prescription, with no copays, deductibles, or coinsurance. It prohibits insurers from placing PrEP/PEP services in specialty tiers for profit and bans requiring specialist counseling unless medically necessary. The law applies to all health insurance policies issued or renewed in Pennsylvania after its effective date (60 days from passage), including group and individual plans regulated under state insurance laws. This directly affects Pennsylvanians with health insurance who need HIV prevention or treatment services, ensuring full coverage without out-of-pocket costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1313 amends Pennsylvania's 1953 Vital Statistics Law to prohibit identifying a child's sex on birth certificates or registration records filed after the law's effective date. This directly affects newborns and their families in Pennsylvania, as birth certificates issued under this law will no longer include sex designation. The bill specifically prohibits sex identification on state records but includes an exception for forms required by federal law. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1307 allows homeless minors aged 16 or older who are self-supporting without parental financial or physical support to legally enter contracts for housing, employment, medical care (including domestic violence services), bank accounts, and automobile insurance. It requires parental consent (expressed or implied through actions like barring the minor from home or refusing support) or provider verification that returning home would cause harm. Minors’ consent for these services is binding like an adult’s and cannot be disaffirmed later, with providers protected from liability if they follow the consent procedures. The bill directly affects vulnerable homeless youth in Pennsylvania seeking independent access to essential services.

Maddy summaryHB 1312 updates Pennsylvania's death certificate process to include a nonbinary gender option. It allows individuals to pre-select their gender identity (female, male, or nonbinary) for use on their death certificate, which must be recorded if specified. If no pre-selection is made, the certificate will reflect the decedent's gender based on their official documents (e.g., driver's license, birth certificate, or passport). Family members, spouses, or legal guardians can challenge the gender listed within 10 days by filing a court petition.

Maddy summaryHB 1321 creates a new "Military Spouse Leave and Employment Protection Act" in Pennsylvania law. It requires employers with 20+ employees to provide up to 14 paid days per year of leave for employees when their spouse is deployed to a combat zone or during a declared emergency, and up to 14 unpaid days for training deployments. The law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who request this leave and mandates that employers maintain an employee's position, title, and accrued benefits during the leave. This directly affects Pennsylvania employees with military-connected spouses working at qualifying employers.

Maddy summaryHB 1302, the Medical Debt Interest Act, caps the interest rate on unpaid medical bills at 6% for healthcare providers (like hospitals and doctors) and medical debt collectors in Pennsylvania. The bill prohibits charging more than 6% interest on medical debt and classifies violations as unfair business practices under existing consumer protection law, allowing individuals to seek court enforcement. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1297 amends Pennsylvania's Real Estate Appraisers Certification Act to require bias and discrimination training for appraisers before certification or renewal, covering topics like housing discrimination history, fair housing laws, and implicit bias. The bill prohibits appraisers from basing property valuations on protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, or source of income, with penalties including voided appraisals, license suspension, and fines. It also mandates an annual statewide audit of appraisal practices to identify discrimination patterns and requires the board to report findings to the legislature and state agencies. This directly affects licensed real estate appraisers and aims to address systemic bias in property valuation.

Maddy summaryHB 1295 allows Pennsylvania school buses to install extended stop signal arms on the left side, with specific size limits: the front extension cannot exceed 78 inches from the vehicle's left side (minimum 36 inches above ground), and the rear extension cannot exceed 32 inches (also minimum 36 inches above ground). These extensions must include flashing red lights and are permitted only when the bus is stopped for loading or unloading students. The bill permits these extended arms to temporarily exceed standard vehicle width limits during such stops. The Department of Transportation will create implementing regulations for this change, which takes effect in 60 days.

Maddy summaryHB 1327 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to strengthen penalties for election bribery and create a new offense for paying to induce voter registration. It makes offering money, goods, or lottery chances to influence voting a felony (with penalties up to $15,000 or seven years), while paying someone to register to vote becomes a misdemeanor (up to $10,000 or five years). This bill directly affects individuals who attempt to bribe voters or pay for registration to influence election participation. The provisions aim to deter improper election practices by criminalizing financial incentives tied to voting behavior or voter registration.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows land banks to acquire blighted or abandoned properties under specific conditions. Municipalities must verify properties have been vacant/blighted for 5 years (with exceptions for unimproved land), have building code violations or tax delinquency, and send three certified mail notices to owners. Property owners can appeal by submitting a redevelopment plan with financing, architectural details, or developer contracts; if approved, they get 6-month extensions but must meet redevelopment timelines. Land banks must pay owners the property's appraised value minus fines or liens, directly affecting land banks, municipalities, and owners of distressed properties.