Rep. Mandy Steele

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 2025 as "Melanoma Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to encourage community education and prevention efforts related to skin cancer. It has no funding or regulatory requirements and does not directly affect specific individuals or organizations, serving only as a symbolic designation to promote public health awareness.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 2025 as "Preeclampsia Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to raise public attention about preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy-related condition. It does not create new laws, funding, or obligations - it serves as a symbolic recognition effort. The bill was referred to the Health committee, reported as committed, and ultimately laid on the table (per House Rule 71) on June 4, 2025, indicating it is no longer active.

Maddy summaryHR 166 is a symbolic resolution that urges the U.S. Congress to maintain support for Taiwan and formally recognizes the existing friendship between Pennsylvania and Taiwan. It does not create new laws or alter policies but expresses legislative support through a formal statement. The resolution was adopted by the Pennsylvania legislature on June 3, 2025, after committee review. It directly affects Pennsylvania's official stance on U.S.-Taiwan relations but has no binding effect on federal legislation or international policy.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates April 2025 as "Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the month to promote public awareness about Parkinson's disease. The resolution directly affects Pennsylvania residents by encouraging community and organizational efforts to highlight the disease during that month. As a symbolic gesture, it has no binding requirements or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 1547 bans single-use plastic bags at retail stores in Pennsylvania, requiring them to offer recycled paper bags for a 10- to 25-cent fee instead. It directly affects stores like supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, and farmers' markets, with exemptions for bags used with perishable foods, pharmacy medications, or dry cleaning. Retailers must post clear signs explaining the change until January 2027 and keep all fees collected from bag sales. The Department of Community and Economic Development must create educational materials and regulations to support the policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1096 creates the Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program, which provides financial assistance to low-income residents for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at participating retailers. The bill establishes a dedicated "Pennsylvania Food Bucks Program Account" within the state treasury to fund the program and requires the state to conduct research on the program's effectiveness. It directly affects eligible low-income Pennsylvanians and participating farmers and retailers by expanding access to healthy food options. The law, which passed on June 3, 2025, focuses on concrete policy changes: creating the program structure, securing funding through the new account, and mandating program evaluation.

Maddy summaryHB 1140 requires health insurers and Medicaid/CHIP managed care plans in Pennsylvania to cover all FDA-approved contraceptives - including prescription drugs, devices, emergency contraception (like levonorgestrel), and oral contraceptives - without any out-of-pocket costs for enrollees. It specifically prohibits prior authorization or step therapy for emergency and oral contraceptives, and mandates coverage for sterilization procedures and related services like counseling. The bill directly affects health insurers, managed care plans, and their enrollees by expanding contraceptive coverage under state insurance regulations. It exempts male condoms from coverage requirements but ensures no cost-sharing for covered contraceptive methods.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 79 requires hospitals to establish clear financial assistance programs for patients who cannot afford care, including standardized forms and easily accessible information about eligibility and coverage. It mandates that hospitals publicly share details about their financial aid policies and report their program rules to the Department of Health. These requirements directly affect hospitals operating in the state and patients seeking financial help with medical bills. The bill aims to standardize and increase transparency in hospital financial aid offerings.

Maddy summaryHB 1062 creates a statewide system for tracking neighborhood blight by requiring municipalities to collect data on property maintenance violations. It establishes a Property Maintenance Code Serious Violations Registry to list properties with repeated severe maintenance issues and a dedicated funding account to support blight remediation efforts. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania municipalities, property owners, and landlords in areas designated as blighted, providing local governments with standardized data to target enforcement. Key provisions include mandatory data collection by cities/towns, a centralized registry for serious violations, and dedicated funding through the new account to aid property rehabilitation. If enacted, this would standardize blight reporting and funding across Pennsylvania communities.