Rep. Keith Harris

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of May 18-24, 2025, as "Emergency Medical Services Week" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes emergency medical services (EMS) providers - including paramedics, first responders, dispatchers, and volunteers - for their 24/7 lifesaving work. The resolution has no policy or funding changes; it is purely a ceremonial acknowledgment of EMS teams' contributions to public health and safety. It directly affects Pennsylvania EMS personnel by honoring their service during this designated week.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates April 29, 2025, as "22nd Amendment Day" in Pennsylvania. It commemorates Pennsylvania's ratification of the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on April 29, 1947, which established presidential term limits. The resolution has no legal effect and serves only as a ceremonial observance. It does not alter any laws or impact any individuals or groups.

Maddy summaryHB 685 requires Pennsylvania schools to accept U.S. currency as payment for admission to school-sponsored activities, such as athletic events, assemblies, or field trips. It applies to all school entities, including public school districts, charter schools, and private schools participating in school activities. The bill mandates that cash must be accepted when fees are charged, while allowing schools to also accept other payment methods like credit cards. It defines "cash" as U.S. coins and paper money recognized as legal tender and clarifies that schools may refuse payments in large denominations that exceed the fee amount.

Maddy summaryHB 943 requires water and wastewater utilities planning to sell their systems to obtain and publicly share three specific analyses from Pennsylvania's Independent Fiscal Office before any acquisition proceeding begins. These analyses must cover the costs/benefits of maintaining the utility under current ownership, benefits of acquisition by a public utility under this bill, and benefits under existing Section 1327. The bill mandates that this documentation be made available both in-person and on a public website. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 917 repeals Chapter 33 of Pennsylvania's Insurance Code, which previously required insurers offering plans through the state's health insurance exchange to follow specific federal health care law rules regarding abortion coverage. The repealed provisions included a ban on abortion coverage in most plans (except for complications or miscarriage treatment) and an opt-out option for abortion coverage. This bill directly affects insurers and health plans sold through Pennsylvania's health insurance exchange by removing these specific federal compliance requirements. The change eliminates the state's prior restrictions on abortion coverage within qualified health plans.

Maddy summaryHB 945 repeals specific provisions in Pennsylvania law that governed how the fair market value of water and wastewater systems is calculated when one utility acquires another. The bill removes a detailed 5-step valuation process requiring two independent appraisals, standardized appraisal methods, and specific rate base incorporation rules. This directly affects water and wastewater utilities involved in voluntary acquisition transactions within Pennsylvania. The repeal simplifies the process by eliminating these valuation requirements, though it does not change how acquisition costs are ultimately handled in rate cases.

Maddy summaryHB 946 requires water and wastewater utilities seeking to acquire another utility to include specific documentation - like appraisals, purchase price, and rate base calculations - with their application to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. It mandates a ratepayer referendum for sales valued at $1 million or more, where customers vote on the acquisition using plain-language ballots that clearly state potential rate impacts. Utilities must mail referendum ballots with at least 45 days' notice and 30 days to respond, with non-response counted as disapproval. This bill directly affects utility companies, ratepayers (customers), and the PUC, which must approve acquisitions only if the referendum shows majority support.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new supplemental monthly annuity to certain Pennsylvania state retirees' benefits, effective July 2025. It applies to retirees receiving superannuation, withdrawal, or disability annuities who retired before July 2, 2001, and do not have specific service credits (like Class D-4 or Class AA). The additional payment amount is a percentage of their July 2025 monthly annuity, ranging from 10% to 20% based on their retirement date. The cost will be funded through equal annual installments over 10 years starting July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 944 allows water and wastewater utilities acquiring other systems to include fees paid to valuation experts in their acquisition costs, with a cap of 5% of the selling utility's fair market value. Utilities must submit detailed documentation of hourly rates to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for approval before paying these fees. The bill directly affects acquiring utilities, valuation experts, and the commission overseeing these transactions. It sets clear limits and approval steps to ensure fees are reasonable and transparent during system acquisitions.

Maddy summaryHB 936 modifies Pennsylvania's child care subsidy program by reducing copayments for parents who work in the child care field. It requires that families where a parent or caretaker is employed as a child-care worker or direct support professional (in either family child-care homes or licensed centers) pay no more than 15% of their annual income for subsidized care, regardless of their income level. This change applies to all qualifying child care settings defined in the bill, including family child-care homes (serving 4-6 unrelated children) and centers (serving 7+ children). The policy aims to lower financial barriers for child care workers seeking subsidized care for their own children.