Rep. Barb Gleim

Maddy summaryHB 28 amends Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act to give the Department of Health new authority over medical marijuana practitioners. It directly affects doctors and healthcare providers who certify patients for medical marijuana use. The bill adds specific conditions the department can impose, including probation periods, limits on how many patient certifications a practitioner can issue, mandatory supervision by another provider, and reporting requirements to ensure patient safety. These changes aim to strengthen oversight of practitioners without altering patient eligibility or program structure. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 93 requires institutions of higher education and private licensed schools in Pennsylvania to offer voluntary, free human trafficking prevention and education programs to first-year students. These programs must cover specific topics such as how traffickers profile victims, the role of online activity, and the differences between prostitution and trafficking. Schools are also required to submit an annual report to the Department of Education confirming that they have implemented these educational initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act to specifically regulate the handling and application of food processing residuals, such as food waste used in farming. It requires the Department of Agriculture and the State Conservation Commission to create a tiered system for managing these materials based on odor potential and to establish new standards for storage facilities and land application sites. Under the new rules, businesses must use certified haulers or brokers and maintain detailed data sheets that track the origin, composition, and transfer history of the residuals. The legislation also mandates that operators provide evidence of compliance with local zoning laws and implement specific odor mitigation measures to protect nearby communities.

Maddy summaryThis document is a set of amendments to House Bill 2594 that standardizes terminology by replacing the phrase "residual waste" with "residuals" throughout the text. The changes also update specific definitions to align with the term "food processing waste" and adjust references from "secretary" to "department." These edits do not introduce new policies or alter the bill's core functions but rather refine the language for consistency and clarity.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create guidelines for schools on teaching social studies through the lens of "What Is Your Pennsylvania Story," focusing on religious freedom and diverse cultural experiences. The guidelines must include specific content about the state's religious heritage, the history of the United States since 1776, and opportunities for students to share their personal and family backgrounds. School districts and other educational entities will use these materials during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years to help students understand their unique contributions to the nation. The legislation also requires schools to notify parents about the chance to contribute to the development of these guidelines before they are implemented. The law is set to expire at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates October 2024 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Pennsylvania to highlight the prevalence and impact of domestic violence. It aims to educate the public about the issue and encourage victims to seek available support services and report abuse to law enforcement. The bill does not change any laws or allocate funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Dam Safety and Encroachments Act to update rules for emergency permits related to stream clearing. It specifically allows state agencies and local governments to request emergency permits for maintenance activities around water obstructions when a disaster declaration is in effect. Under the new provision, these permits would authorize clearing work for a minimum distance of 250 feet from the water obstruction. The law applies to any emergency permit issued under state law and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates legal definitions in Pennsylvania to explicitly include unborn children as "persons" under state crime statutes and defines an individual as a human being from fertilization until live birth for death-related legal actions. By amending the definitions in the Crimes and Offenses and Judiciary titles, the legislation ensures that laws protecting persons and addressing death apply to fetuses from the earliest stage of development. The changes clarify the scope of legal protections available to unborn children without altering the substantive rights or procedures currently in place.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's parole laws to establish specific rules for denying release to inmates who commit new crimes while already in prison. It defines "violent offenses" and "obstruction of justice offenses" by listing specific crimes such as murder, rape, and witness intimidation. Under the new provisions, the Board of Probation and Parole cannot grant parole to individuals convicted of a violent crime committed while incarcerated until they have served at least 24 months after their original minimum sentence ends or after the new conviction, whichever is longer. Similarly, parole is barred for those convicted of obstruction of justice offenses committed while incarcerated until they have served at least 12 months after their original minimum sentence ends or after the new conviction, whichever is longer. These restrictions apply only to crimes committed on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows minors who are family members of active-duty military personnel to receive credit for driving experience gained in other states when applying for a Pennsylvania driver's license. Specifically, it permits these minors to count the time they held a learner's permit and the hours of practical driving completed elsewhere toward the state's requirements, provided they now live with the service member in Pennsylvania. The law applies to minors under 18 seeking a junior driver's license, including those wanting to operate a motorcycle. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.