Rep. La'Tasha Mayes

Maddy summaryHB 1806 would establish "6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion Day" as an official observance in Pennsylvania, recognizing the service of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion - a unit of African American women in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. The bill amends Pennsylvania's statutes to include this day in the state's list of recognized holidays and observances. It directly affects Pennsylvanians by creating a designated day for educational and commemorative activities honoring this historic military unit. The measure is procedural, focusing solely on formal recognition without altering existing laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2185 requires Pennsylvania municipalities with populations over 5,000 (or high-density areas) to allow duplex, triplex, and quadplex housing as a permitted use by right where single-family homes are allowed, without requiring additional approvals. It prohibits municipalities from applying stricter zoning, subdivision, or design rules to these multi-unit housing types than to single-family homes. Developers must demonstrate that existing infrastructure (water, sewer, roads, and emergency services) can support new developments before permits are issued. The requirements apply differently based on municipality size: duplexes for 5,000+ residents, duplexes/triplexes for 10,000+, and all three housing types for 20,000+ residents.

Maddy summaryHB 2023 amends Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 to update eviction procedures. It directly affects tenants facing eviction and landlords seeking to regain property by requiring courts to hold hearings before eviction judgments, setting specific deadlines for issuing writs of possession, and clarifying how tenants must pay rent during the legal process. The bill adds new procedural requirements for each step in eviction cases, including detailed rules for rent payments to prevent or resolve disputes. These changes aim to standardize and clarify the eviction process without altering core tenant or landlord rights. The bill is currently referred to the Housing & Community Development committee.

Maddy summaryHB 2172 simplifies transferring a decedent's primary residence in small estates by allowing a "small estate primary residence affidavit" process. It directly affects surviving spouses, descendants, or ascendants of someone who died owning a primary residence valued at $150,000 or less, without requiring full probate. The bill establishes a county-based process where a sworn affidavit (with income verification below 120% of federal poverty guidelines to waive fees) can transfer the home, bypassing court-appointed administrators. The law expires seven years after implementation and includes a requirement for the Local Government Commission to study its effectiveness after five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to allow individuals who have been subject to or witnessed civil rights violations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents or cooperating federal/state/local law enforcement during immigration enforcement to file complaints with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. The Commission can then refer these complaints to the state Attorney General or the relevant county district attorney. It directly affects Pennsylvanians experiencing or witnessing such violations within the state. The change expands the Commission's authority to address immigration-related enforcement issues under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 2164 would create a program allowing family members of Pennsylvania medical assistance recipients to become certified complex care assistants. These family members would provide specific medical services at home - such as feeding, catheter care, and medication administration - under a registered nurse's supervision after completing 75 hours of training and passing a competency evaluation. The program targets recipients under 21, those eligible for private duty nursing, or those needing both services for medical reasons, with home health agencies reimbursed at a minimum of $45 per hour. It explicitly requires the services to supplement, not replace, existing private duty nursing under the medical assistance program.

Maddy summaryHB 1671 amends Pennsylvania's sentencing laws to require courts to consider restorative justice programs when sentencing individuals convicted of crimes. This directly affects people in Pennsylvania's criminal justice system who are facing sentencing decisions. The bill adds specific provisions requiring judges to evaluate whether restorative justice - where offenders repair harm to victims and communities - can be applied alongside traditional sentencing. It aims to expand judicial options beyond incarceration by formally integrating these community-focused approaches into sentencing considerations.

Maddy summaryHB 2018 requires Pennsylvania law enforcement and courts to disclose specific criminal history records and abuse-related information to the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board and local review teams. It directly affects domestic violence fatality review boards, teams, and the individuals whose records are shared. The bill establishes a formal Domestic Violence Fatality Review Program to collect and analyze this information for improving responses to domestic violence cases. Key provisions mandate the disclosure of certain records to these review bodies, aiming to better understand factors in domestic violence fatalities.

Maddy summaryHB 2148 requires Pennsylvania school entities (including school districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) to adopt policies ensuring all students, parents, guardians, and school personnel can access school property regardless of immigration status. Specifically, schools must develop and publicly adopt inclusive policies within 90 days of the bill’s effective date, requiring school boards to approve these policies via public resolution with 45 days’ notice. Policies must be published in all languages spoken by students at home and reviewed quarterly to maintain accessibility. The bill explicitly prohibits immigration or law enforcement officials (including ICE, Customs, and local agencies acting under federal immigration authority) from restricting access to school zones without proper legal process. This directly affects all Pennsylvania public and private schools serving students, mandating concrete procedural changes to protect school access.

Maddy summaryHB 2130 renames the Fort Duquesne Bridge on U.S. Route 279 over the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh as the Franco Harris Bridge. This commemorative bill honors Franco Harris, the late Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back and community advocate, by renaming a specific bridge in his hometown. The bill does not create new policies or affect any regulations - its sole purpose is to rename the bridge. The legislation is procedural and has no direct impact on residents, businesses, or government operations.