Rep. Keith Harris

Maddy summaryHR 353 is a commemorative resolution designating October 2025 as "Italian and Italian American History and Culture Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or affect specific individuals or groups, but formally recognizes and encourages the celebration of Italian and Italian American heritage within the state. The resolution was adopted by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on October 29, 2025, following committee review. This procedural bill serves to honor cultural contributions without implementing policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 157 creates state grants to help healthcare entities in rural counties or designated medically underserved areas cover the student loan debt of their employed healthcare practitioners. The grants would be paid directly to the healthcare facilities (like clinics or hospitals), not to individual providers, to offset the cost of practitioners' education debt. This aims to support recruitment and retention of healthcare workers in areas with limited access to medical services. The program would be funded through state appropriations, targeting facilities serving communities with significant healthcare access challenges.

Maddy summaryHB 1900 would amend Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971 to create a tax credit for educators. This credit would allow teachers and school staff to reduce their income tax liability. The bill specifies this credit as part of the state's tax code changes, though details on eligibility or credit amount are not provided in the available context.

Maddy summaryHB 1999 would add a Smokey Bear-themed license plate as an option for Pennsylvania vehicle owners during registration. It directly affects residents who choose to display this specialty plate instead of standard license plates. The bill amends vehicle registration rules to include this specific design option under Pennsylvania's license plate program.

Maddy summaryHB 414 creates the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act in Pennsylvania, directly affecting military parents and their children during deployments. It updates state laws to automatically grant deployed military parents specific custody and visitation rights, ensuring these arrangements are recognized without requiring separate court orders. The bill amends Domestic Relations and Military Affairs statutes to provide clear, consistent protections for military families during active duty. Signed into law on October 27, 2025 (Act No. 40 of 2025), it standardizes these provisions across Pennsylvania courts.

Maddy summaryHR 357 establishes a legislative Hunger Task Force to study hunger, food insecurity, and access to healthy food within the Commonwealth. The task force will analyze these issues and develop findings and recommendations for state policymakers. This resolution affects state-level planning and future policy decisions but does not create new laws or programs. It is a procedural step to guide potential future legislative action on food access.

Maddy summaryHB 1988 amends the 1913 Separations Act to update construction and alteration rules for public buildings, including adding clarifying definitions. It directly affects state agencies and contractors responsible for building projects funded by public money. The bill modifies technical specifications for construction standards but does not create new funding or impact residents or businesses. This procedural update focuses solely on revising existing building code language.

Maddy summaryHB 1955 prohibits local governments and state agencies in Pennsylvania from setting targets for issuing traffic citations (quotas) or spreading citation numbers across police stations (station averaging). It also changes how traffic violations affect driver license points and establishes a pilot program testing radar enforcement systems on roads. The bill directly affects local police departments, state agencies, and drivers by altering citation practices and licensing consequences. It codifies existing restrictions on citation quotas while adding new rules for radar use, without changing traffic laws themselves.

Maddy summaryHB 1940 would establish a new specialty license plate option called the "Fish PA plate" for vehicle registration in Pennsylvania. This plate would be available to Pennsylvania residents who choose to purchase it as part of their vehicle registration process. The bill amends Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to add this plate as an official registration option. The specific fees or revenue allocation for the plate are not detailed in the provided context.

Maddy summaryHB 1949 establishes standardized contract requirements and procurement guidelines for state agencies receiving federal grant funds. It directly affects state departments managing federal grants, such as those handling education, infrastructure, or social services programs. The bill mandates specific processes for awarding contracts under federal grants, including transparency measures and compliance checks. This aims to streamline grant management and ensure adherence to federal regulations. The bill was recently referred to the State Government committee for further review.