Rep. Keith Harris

Maddy summaryHB 135 amends Pennsylvania's corporate law to update rules for worker cooperatives, which are businesses owned and managed by their employees. It revises the legal requirements for forming a worker cooperative (including the "articles of incorporation") and clarifies governance rules for directors and officers. This directly affects worker-owned businesses in Pennsylvania by changing how they establish their legal structure and manage leadership roles. The bill proposes concrete changes to state statutes but has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program in Pennsylvania to encourage the construction of workforce housing in areas that might otherwise resist such development. Local governments can apply for funding if they commit to adopting at least five specific pro-housing policies, such as reducing permit fees, allowing higher-density zoning, or eliminating parking requirements. The program aims to increase home ownership and support major economic projects by providing financial assistance to counties and municipalities that streamline their housing approval processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Joint State Government Commission to study the creation of a statewide housing accelerator and review current approval processes that delay construction. The study will examine how inconsistent zoning rules, conservation district backlogs, and permitting steps slow down residential projects, while also looking at successful strategies used by other states. The commission is tasked with developing recommendations to streamline these procedures and expand housing availability, with a final report due to the General Assembly within one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits law enforcement officers from detaining or arresting individuals for civil immigration violations on the property of houses of worship. The only exception allows for arrests if the officer is acting in an official capacity and holds a valid judicial warrant. Additionally, the legislation bars state and local agencies from using taxpayer funds to conduct immigration enforcement and imposes a $10,000 civil penalty for any violations of these rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1964 imposes a temporary pause (moratorium) on selling or leasing public water and wastewater systems to private companies. It creates a Water Utility Reform Working Group to develop recommendations for system management and reform. The bill also repeals specific rules about how acquired water systems are valued. This directly affects communities that own public water systems and their residents, as it delays potential privatization and sets up a process for reviewing system operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that formally recognizes May 2026 as "Sex Ed for All Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not change any laws or require new actions from schools or officials. The resolution highlights the importance of comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education for young people. It aims to raise awareness about the benefits of such education, including improved health outcomes and reduced risks of unintended pregnancies and infections.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's Public School Code to increase financial support for student teachers working in subject areas with staffing shortages. It establishes a new provision that adds a minimum grant of $5,000 to the existing Student Teacher Support Grant for eligible students who complete their teaching assignments in these specific shortage areas. The state agency responsible for the program will use departmental data to identify which subjects currently face shortages before distributing these additional funds. The changes become effective 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's teacher certification laws to make it easier for educators from other states to get certified in the Commonwealth. It allows the Department of Education to issue a Pennsylvania teaching certificate to out-of-state applicants who already hold a valid license and have completed an approved educator preparation program. To qualify, these applicants must also pass subject matter competency tests and complete required field experience in Pennsylvania. The changes apply to public, private, and parochial schools and will take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill directs the Department of Education to create a one-time fee waiver for teacher certification applicants who narrowly failed an assessment. To qualify, an individual must have missed the passing score by three points or fewer, have taken the test only once before, and plan to retake it within one year of seeing their initial results. The Department is required to publish this policy online and share it with teacher training programs and alternative certification providers. The law takes effect 60 days after being signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands death benefit eligibility under Pennsylvania's Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to include telecommunicators, who are now formally recognized as covered personnel alongside firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. The legislation adds telecommunicators to the list of individuals presumed to have died in the line of duty if they suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty or within 24 hours of responding to an emergency. It also clarifies that telecommunicators are considered to be acting in the performance of their duties when following 911 emergency communication service protocols, ensuring they receive the same death benefits as other covered emergency personnel.