Rep. Danilo Burgos

Maddy summaryHB 764 establishes the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, a program that provides grants to support the construction, renovation, or expansion of grocery stores, farmers' markets, and retail food businesses in underserved low-income and moderate-income communities across Pennsylvania. The initiative prioritizes projects located in, owned by, or primarily serving Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, as defined by population data from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will administer the program, develop eligibility guidelines, and ensure grants promote local food systems, job creation, and the use of Pennsylvania agricultural products. The bill also creates a dedicated "Fresh Food Financing Initiative Restricted Account" to hold program funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution designating April 18, 2025, as "Erie Day" in Pennsylvania. It commemorates historical milestones in Erie's founding, including the 1795 land survey that established the city and its 1805 incorporation as a borough. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it is purely symbolic recognition. It does not impact any individuals, groups, or government programs. The designation applies statewide for ceremonial purposes only.

Maddy summaryHB 1174 amends Pennsylvania law governing meetings for condominiums, cooperatives, and planned communities. It requires annual meetings to be scheduled with at least 21 days' notice (previously 10-60 days) and mandates written consent for electronic meeting notices. The bill also requires pre-election sessions for board candidates if more candidates apply than positions available, and allows meetings to be recorded with advance announcement, with recordings kept for six months. These changes directly affect all community associations and their unit owners by standardizing meeting procedures and enhancing transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 1178 establishes a Rural Library Grant Program to provide funding for essential maintenance and infrastructure upgrades at eligible libraries in Pennsylvania. The program targets libraries serving populations of fewer than 10,000 people, offering annual grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for specific repairs like roof replacements, boiler systems, plumbing, energy efficiency projects, health and safety improvements, and internet connectivity (excluding educational technology hardware or software). The Department of Education must create application guidelines within 60 days, review applications to ensure statewide geographic distribution, and publicly report all funded projects on its website.

Maddy summaryHB 1166 regulates digital platforms that connect healthcare workers with facilities (like staffing apps). It requires these platforms to register with Pennsylvania’s Department of Health ($1,000 fee), verify workers’ licenses, background checks, and insurance, and maintain records for three years. The bill also sets rules ensuring healthcare workers using these platforms are classified as independent contractors (not employees) and must have annual physicals/CPR certification if providing direct patient care. These requirements apply directly to platforms operating in Pennsylvania and the healthcare workers using them.

Maddy summaryHB 1155 establishes a legal framework for community solar programs in Pennsylvania, allowing multiple subscribers (including renters and low-income households) to share ownership of solar facilities and receive bill credits for the electricity generated. The bill requires electric distribution companies to implement these programs, mandates prevailing wage standards for solar installation workers, and sets protections to ensure subscribers receive guaranteed savings. It directly affects utility companies, community solar organizations, and subscribers - particularly those who cannot install rooftop solar due to housing constraints or income limits. Key provisions include preventing single subscribers from owning over 50% of a facility, requiring at least 50% of capacity to serve small subscriptions (25 kW or less), and ensuring ratepayer costs are managed responsibly.

Maddy summaryHB 109 creates a new permit review process for specific industrial facilities in Pennsylvania's designated "environmental justice areas" - communities with high pollution burdens and vulnerable populations (low-income, communities of color). It requires the Department of Environmental Protection to consider cumulative environmental and public health impacts when reviewing permits for facilities like large wastewater plants (50,000+ gal/day), major air polluters, waste sites (25+ tons/month), mining operations, and certain landfills. The bill mandates that permits in these areas must address disproportionate environmental impacts, as defined by demographic, economic, health, and environmental data. This directly affects developers and operators of industrial facilities seeking new or expanded permits in designated communities.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs Pennsylvania's Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study a potential change to school funding. It would require the committee to collect data on all school districts' property tax revenue, calculate regional tax rates, and model how pooling that revenue at the intermediate unit level (regional education groups) and distributing it based on student enrollment would affect funding. The study aims to evaluate whether this approach would make school funding more equitable, addressing a court-ordered obligation to fairly fund public education. The committee must report findings within one year, but the resolution itself does not change current funding rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1107 establishes Pennsylvania's Adult-use Cannabis Program, legalizing cannabis for personal use by residents aged 21 and older. The bill creates a permit system for "farmer-growers" to cultivate, process, and dispense cannabis under strict rules, including limits on facility size (max 10 acres), security requirements, and regional zoning considerations. It requires farmer-growers to maintain inventory tracking, report operational changes, and pay fees, while imposing a tax on adult-use cannabis sales. The Department of Health is tasked with administering the program, enforcing regulations, and overseeing permits, directly affecting consumers, licensed businesses, and state regulatory operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1078 updates Pennsylvania's school health requirements to strengthen vision screening and eye health examinations for students. It mandates annual vision screenings by trained school personnel for all school-aged children, with comprehensive eye exams by licensed professionals required if screenings fail. The bill specifies that students must receive eye health exams upon school admission, in fourth grade, and eighth grade, and adds requirements for exams related to special education evaluations. Schools must notify parents of failed screenings and provide resources, but are not responsible for covering exam costs or treatment. This directly affects all public and nonpublic school students in Pennsylvania.