Rep. Chris Rabb

Maddy summaryHB 1463, known as the Smoke Alarm Responsibility Act, regulates smoke alarms in rented dwelling units across Pennsylvania. It requires owners to install specific types of smoke alarms, such as those with a 10-year battery or electrical power, and ensure they are operational for new tenants. Tenants are responsible for maintaining and annually testing these smoke alarms, and must notify owners in writing of any deficiencies. Owners must then address reported issues within 96 hours. Violations of this act may result in a fine of up to $50.

Maddy summaryHB 526 protects mothers' right to breastfeed their children in any public or private location where they are otherwise permitted to be, without being considered indecent exposure, a nuisance, or obscenity. It defines "breastfeeding" to include both direct feeding and expressing milk for bottle-feeding, and creates a private right to sue for violations, allowing recovery of $1,000 per incident plus attorney fees. The law applies broadly across Pennsylvania, ensuring mothers can feed their children without legal interference while maintaining existing protections from the repealed 2007 Freedom to Breastfeed Act.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania would officially recognize the first day of the Islamic lunar month of Shawwal as Eid al-Fitr Day annually. This designation applies to all Pennsylvanians celebrating the holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan and includes prayer, charity, and community gatherings. The bill clarifies that this recognition does not require employers to grant paid leave or treat the day as a legal holiday. It takes effect immediately upon enactment, focusing on symbolic acknowledgment without imposing new obligations on businesses or government.

Maddy summaryHB 280 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to clarify primary voting rules for unaffiliated voters. It defines "unenrolled electors" as voters who registered without party affiliation (selecting "none," "no affiliation," or "other" with a clear independent preference). The bill allows these voters to participate in primary elections for candidate nominations by following specific procedures, while maintaining that only enrolled party members can vote in party primaries or hold party office. It also repeals provisions about voters accidentally casting ballots for the wrong party at primary elections.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 2025 as "Menstrual Health Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the importance of menstrual health, highlighting issues like limited access to education and hygiene products, stigma, and health disparities affecting women and girls. The resolution does not create new laws, funding, or requirements; it is a formal acknowledgment by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to raise awareness about these issues. It directly affects Pennsylvanians by designating a month for community education and discussion around menstrual health.

Maddy summaryHB 1439 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. The bill requires that the pharmaceutical composition of crystalline polymorph psilocybin be scheduled in Pennsylvania to match federal law immediately upon its approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Following federal rescheduling by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the state Secretary of Health must publish notice of this change. The state's rescheduling of this substance will then take effect 30 days after its publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This process directly affects the legal classification of this specific substance within the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryHB 1441 proposes significant changes to sentencing and parole eligibility for certain serious offenses in Pennsylvania, applying these changes retroactively. The bill modifies sentences for individuals under 18 convicted of first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child, or murder of a law enforcement officer, replacing "life without parole" with minimum terms of 25 or 35 years to life, making them eligible for parole. It also removes "without parole" from life sentences for repeat violent offenders, allowing them parole consideration. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole would gain the power to parole individuals serving life sentences, though it would be prohibited from granting parole to offenders who murdered a law enforcement officer. Additionally, for those serving life sentences, parole consideration would not begin until at least five years of incarceration.

Maddy summaryHB 265 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to change eligibility rules for workers at educational institutions, such as teachers or staff employed on a term-by-term basis. It removes a prior requirement that these workers must prove they would not return to the same institution for the next academic term to receive benefits during breaks between terms. This change applies to service performed after the bill's effective date and aligns with federal guidelines (26 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(6)). The bill directly affects temporary and part-time employees in schools and colleges who experience academic breaks.

Maddy summaryHB 1430 would require social media platforms operating in Pennsylvania to protect minors under 16 years old. The bill bans "dark patterns" (deceptive design features that impair user choice) and mandates that platforms allow minors to permanently delete their accounts and personal information so it cannot be retrieved. It also requires platforms to implement a consent process for minors to open accounts. Violations would be subject to penalties under the law.

Maddy summaryHR 217 is a resolution that formally recognizes May 7, 2025, as "Philadelphia Eagles Day at the Capitol" in Pennsylvania. It also honors the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles for their victory as the Super Bowl LIX Champions.