Rep. Keith Harris

Maddy summaryHB 1651 amends Pennsylvania's Second Class Township Code to clarify procedures for filling vacancies on township boards of supervisors. It requires the board to fill vacancies within 30 days, or else a "vacancy board" (composed of the full board plus one appointed township elector) must act within 15 additional days. If the vacancy board fails to fill the position within 15 days, or if the chairperson position is vacant and justification is provided, the board must petition the court of common pleas to resolve the vacancy. This directly affects second-class townships by streamlining how unexpired supervisor terms are filled, ensuring timely representation.

Maddy summaryHB 274 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to change eligibility rules for workers seeking benefits. It specifically expands eligibility for individuals fleeing domestic violence by removing barriers to claiming compensation in such cases. The bill also modifies how unemployment compensation rates and benefit amounts are calculated. These changes directly affect unemployed workers in Pennsylvania who qualify under the updated rules. The bill is currently pending in committee after recent amendments.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 382) urges Congress to extend expanded health insurance subsidies that currently help Pennsylvanians purchase coverage through Pennie, the state's health insurance marketplace. Without extension, these subsidies expire December 31, 2025, causing average premium increases of 102% for Pennie customers - projected to push 150,000 people to lose coverage. The resolution highlights that without the expanded credits, a couple earning $85,000 annually would pay $25,776 yearly for insurance (31% of their income), compared to lower costs under current subsidies. It cites Pennie's 2025 enrollment of nearly 500,000 customers and a 16% drop in new sign-ups since Open Enrollment 2026 as evidence of the need for continued support. The resolution has no legal force but requests congressional action to maintain affordability.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 9, 2025, as "Mary Ann Shadd Cary Day" in Pennsylvania to honor her legacy as a pioneering abolitionist, journalist, and advocate for education and civil rights. It does not create new laws or affect policy; instead, it formally recognizes her historical contributions through a symbolic day of observance within the state. The resolution was referred to the State Government committee and reported as committed, following standard procedural steps for commemorative measures.

Maddy summaryHR 282 designates September 2025 as "Perimenopause Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. This resolution aims to raise public awareness about perimenopause - a natural phase in women's health - and encourages community education efforts during that month. It does not create new laws, funding, or obligations, but serves as a symbolic recognition to highlight health issues affecting women. The bill was referred to the Health committee and reported as committed in September 2025.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 372) symbolically recognizes December 2, 2025, as "World Nuclear Energy Day" in Pennsylvania. It highlights Pennsylvania's significant role in nuclear energy, noting the state produces 30% of its electricity from nuclear sources, supports 15,900 in-state jobs, and prevents over 37 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. The resolution cites historical milestones in nuclear energy and emphasizes the industry's economic contributions, including $2 billion in state GDP impact and $70 million in annual tax revenue. It does not enact new laws or alter regulations but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the sector's importance. This is a non-binding gesture by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Maddy summaryHB 1871 requires commercial businesses and properties used exclusively for nonresidential purposes (like offices or retail spaces) to install shock-based security systems on their premises. The bill mandates these systems be installed on property boundaries to deter unauthorized entry. It directly affects owners and operators of commercial properties, including retail stores, offices, and other non-residential business locations. The legislation passed with final approval on November 18, 2025, after amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 2100 prohibits mental health chatbot suppliers from selling or sharing Pennsylvania users' personal health data or chat inputs with third parties. It directly affects companies providing AI therapy tools that simulate confidential conversations with users in Pennsylvania. The law requires suppliers to protect user data, with limited exceptions for user consent or sharing with health providers. This creates new data privacy rules for AI mental health tools used by therapists in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2086 repeals two existing provisions: Section 704 (which established advisory councils for Pennsylvania's veterans' homes) and Section 1705 (which created a "veterans' home hall of fame"). The bill replaces these with a new State Veterans' Home Board to oversee state veterans' homes. This change directly affects Pennsylvania's veterans' homes by shifting governance from appointed advisory councils to the new board, while removing the commemorative hall of fame program. The bill focuses on structural changes to administration rather than altering resident care policies or admission criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 2060 requires Pennsylvania's Medicaid program and private commercial insurers to provide equal coverage for non-opioid and opioid medications used to treat pain. It prohibits insurers from designating non-opioid pain drugs as "non-preferred" when opioids are preferred, imposing stricter prior authorization requirements on non-opioids, or placing non-opioids in higher-cost tiers than opioids. The law applies immediately to any FDA-approved pain medication, affecting Medicaid beneficiaries and private insurance customers across Pennsylvania. This policy change ensures that patients have equal access to both non-opioid and opioid treatment options without discriminatory coverage barriers.