Rep. Darisha Parker

Maddy summaryHB 1696 updates Pennsylvania's Housing Finance Agency Law to create a new program enabling low-to-moderate income renters to purchase homes through a lease-with-guaranteed-purchase-option model. The program allows tenants to lease a home for a set period, after which they have the right to buy it at a predetermined price. A dedicated "Pennsylvania Lease with Guaranteed Purchase Option Home Ownership Program Fund" will provide financial support to facilitate this initiative. This bill directly affects eligible renters seeking homeownership opportunities and aims to expand access to affordable housing through this specific lease-to-own mechanism.

Maddy summaryHB 1103 updates Pennsylvania's mortgage lending rules under Title 7, focusing on licensing requirements and consumer protections for mortgage lenders. It clarifies definitions for mortgage loan industry terms and specifies the powers that licensed mortgage businesses can exercise. The bill directly affects mortgage lenders (who must comply with revised licensing standards) and borrowers (who gain clearer protections under the updated rules). Key changes include streamlining licensing procedures and strengthening safeguards against predatory lending practices.

Maddy summaryHB 1100 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to allow public assistance recipients to use their benefits to purchase diapers and menstrual hygiene products through a new waiver program. This directly affects low-income individuals and families enrolled in public assistance programs who currently cannot use their benefits for these essential items. The key provision adds diapers and menstrual hygiene products to the list of eligible purchases under an administrative waiver, changing the existing code to expand access to basic necessities. The bill does not change benefit amounts or eligibility criteria but creates a new pathway for purchasing specific hygiene products. It passed the legislature in June 2025 and was referred to the Health & Human Services committee for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1650 establishes Pennsylvania's Home Preservation Grant Program, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development. It provides grants to local governments (counties, cities, townships) to fund repairs and improvements on existing owner-occupied homes, targeting households earning 80-120% of the area median income. Grants can cover up to $50,000 per unit for habitability fixes, energy/water efficiency upgrades, or accessibility modifications, with local governments allowed to use up to 10% of funds for administration. Applications must demonstrate experience in housing rehabilitation and include plans for using funds per the bill's requirements, with priority given to projects leveraging additional funding sources.

Maddy summaryHB 1658 amends Pennsylvania's Recorder of Deeds Fee Law to change how counties charge for recording property documents like deeds and mortgages. It repeals the current fee schedule and establishes new fee structures for recording documents, while updating definitions related to these fees. The bill also modifies provisions for the County Records Improvement Fund and the county demolition fund, specifying how these funds are managed. This directly affects county offices that handle property records and individuals/businesses submitting documents for recording.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 amends Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to create new pathways for career-changers and technical educators. It establishes a "Career and Technical Second Career Certificate" valid for up to five years while completing 18 semester hours in an approved program, and adds "Career and Technical Intern" and "Career and Technical Instructional" certificates for those with occupational experience. The bill replaces outdated regulations (22 Pa. Code Ch. 49) and requires postbaccalaureate programs to offer flexible training for candidates with bachelor's degrees in relevant fields. These changes directly affect individuals seeking teaching roles in career and technical education programs who lack traditional teaching credentials.

Maddy summaryHB 1511 creates the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Program within Pennsylvania's Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The bill requires the Commission to establish this program, which provides funding and guidance for law enforcement agencies to use technology like digital forensics and data analysis to solve violent crimes more effectively. It directly affects Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies handling violent incidents by mandating new reporting requirements and resource allocation for technology-driven investigations. The program aims to improve clearance rates for violent crimes through standardized, tech-enhanced investigative methods.

Maddy summaryHB 1589 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update provisions regarding school library collections, specifically addressing books, furniture, and supplies. It directly affects public school libraries by establishing new requirements or standards for their collections under the existing code framework. The bill focuses on procedural changes to library resource management within the school system. As a referral to the Education committee (June 11, 2025), it has not yet advanced further. Specific policy details beyond the title are not provided in the available context.

Maddy summaryHB 1550 would allow Pennsylvania inmates to receive parole based on advanced age or serious medical conditions. It would amend state law to create two new pathways for parole eligibility under specific circumstances, changing the current criteria used by the Board of Probation and Parole. The bill directly affects incarcerated individuals who meet these age or medical criteria, rather than the general public. The key mechanism is updating statutory language to expand the board's authority to grant parole in these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 180 replaces Pennsylvania’s existing school lunch and breakfast reimbursement system with a new Universal School Meal Program, ensuring all public school students in the state can receive free meals regardless of family income or unpaid meal debt. The bill requires school districts to provide meals to any student who requests one (unless parents specifically withhold consent in writing) and prohibits schools from stigmatizing students with meal debt through wristbands, public identification, or denying activities like sports or graduation. It bans collecting fees, interest, or using collections agencies for unpaid meal costs, and mandates schools help families apply for assistance instead of pursuing debt. This directly affects over 1.5 million Pennsylvania public school students and their school districts, shifting from a means-tested system to universal access.