Rep. Dan Frankel

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits licensed health insurers in Pennsylvania from increasing costs such as premiums, copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for specific health care services that were already covered under a policy. The law applies to individual and group health insurance plans but excludes self-funded employer plans and other limited benefit policies. Insurers may still raise costs if a service was obtained through fraud or if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues a warning about safety or if a drug manufacturer announces a discontinuance. Violations of these rules would be treated as unfair trade practices and could result in a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for the insurer.

Maddy summaryHB 2377 requires Pennsylvania retail food facilities to clearly label any beverage containing 80 milligrams or more of caffeine per serving as 'high caffeine' on their menus. This labeling must appear directly next to the drink's name and can use approved text, icons, or symbols. If a business fails to comply after receiving a written warning, it may face penalties under existing food protection laws. The bill applies to both permanent and temporary menu items offered for sale.

Maddy summaryHB 2184 amends Pennsylvania's public utilities law to define "public interest" and require the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to consider eight specific factors when making utility decisions. These factors include residential rate affordability, energy strategy (renewables, distributed generation, energy efficiency), grid modernization, environmental protection, economic growth (jobs, tax revenue), reliability, and environmental justice. The bill updates existing provisions about "just and reasonable" rates (Section 1301), mandatory 60-day notice for rate changes (Section 1308), and complaint-based rate investigations (Section 1309). It directly affects all utility companies operating in Pennsylvania and the PUC, which must now document how decisions align with these public interest factors. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a regulatory framework for the sale of kratom products in Pennsylvania, requiring businesses to register with the Department of Health and prohibiting the sale of synthetic kratom varieties. It mandates that retailers verify customers are at least 21 years old using electronic ID scanners and strictly forbids sharing this data, while also enforcing specific labeling and child-resistant packaging requirements. Additionally, the legislation imposes a tax on natural kratom products and outlines penalties for violations, aiming to standardize oversight and protect public health.

Maddy summaryHB 37 modifies Pennsylvania's Election Code to change how counties process absentee and mail-in ballots. It requires county election boards to pre-canvass all such ballots received before election day at least seven days prior, with 48-hour public notice posted online. The bill also mandates that counties begin reviewing ballots at 7 a.m. on election day without interruption until all ballots received by that time are processed. These changes directly affect county election offices, candidates, and voters who use absentee or mail-in ballots, while aligning with funding requirements for the Election Integrity Grant Program.

Maddy summaryHB 497 would amend Pennsylvania's Election Code to ban foreign-influenced corporations from making political contributions or expenditures. A "foreign-influenced corporation" is defined as one where a foreign investor (such as a foreign government or entity) owns 1% or more of its equity (or 5% in aggregate) or influences its U.S. political activities. The bill prohibits these corporations from contributing to candidates, political parties, committees, or ballot questions, or spending money to support or oppose elections. Violations would trigger penalties under the Election Code, directly affecting corporations meeting the foreign-influence criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania electric distribution companies to build a combined 3,000 megawatts of energy storage systems by July 2033, with specific targets for short-duration and long-duration storage. The Public Utility Commission will assign storage goals to each company based on their service area's demand and may adjust these targets if market conditions change. Companies must use open, competitive bidding processes overseen by an independent monitor to purchase this capacity through long-term contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund in Pennsylvania to streamline how grants are reviewed and awarded. It requires the commission to evaluate applications on a rolling basis and must decide on each one within 90 days of receiving it. The legislation also clarifies that a nonprofit's lack of financial participation cannot be used to deny an application and allows those with less than $250,000 in annual revenue to receive grants without any matching funds. Additionally, it sets specific grant amounts between $25,001 and $75,000 for applicants who can provide a 33% financial match. These changes aim to make the grant process more efficient and accessible for eligible organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 1905 amends Pennsylvania law to expand the offense of assault to explicitly include "ethnic intimidation" under Title 18, making bias-motivated harassment a specific criminal charge. It also strengthens protections under Title 42 by prohibiting civil rights violations related to discriminatory conduct. The bill directly affects victims of bias-based crimes and law enforcement handling such cases, requiring specific legal procedures for these offenses. Key provisions clarify that assault charges can now be filed when harassment targets a person's ethnicity, religion, or other protected characteristics. The bill remains pending before the Judiciary committee after its referral on September 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1902 updates Pennsylvania law to specifically address hate-based harassment by adding "ethnic intimidation" as a distinct criminal offense under assault laws. It expands civil rights protections for victims of hate crimes by clarifying violations related to bias against race, ethnicity, or national origin. The bill requires municipal employees to complete annual training on recognizing and responding to hate-based intimidation. These changes directly affect law enforcement, municipal staff, and individuals experiencing bias-motivated violence or discrimination in Pennsylvania.