Rep. Mandy Steele

Maddy summaryHB 1352 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to expand the offense of "unlawful contact with a minor." It directly affects individuals who intentionally contact minors (or law enforcement posing as minors) for specific prohibited activities, including sexual offenses, human trafficking involving minors, incest, or sexual exploitation. The bill adds new categories to the existing law, such as human trafficking with sexual servitude involving minors, endangering a child's welfare through sexual contact, and expanded corruption of minors offenses. These changes clarify that contact for these activities - whether initiated by the adult or the minor - is a criminal offense within Pennsylvania. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1328 creates a new program providing property tax and rent rebates to eligible Pennsylvania veterans. It directly affects veterans honorably discharged from U.S. armed forces (including National Guard) within the past three years who live in Pennsylvania. The bill establishes income-based rebates: $650 for households earning $0-$8,000, $500 for $8,001-$15,000, $300 for $15,001-$18,000, and $250 for $18,001-$35,000 annually. A new Veterans Property Tax Rebate Account will fund these rebates, which apply to real property taxes or rent payments exceeding 15% of household income.

Maddy summaryHB 1301 requires all health insurance policies sold in Pennsylvania to cover pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) HIV medications, along with associated lab tests and doctor visits for counseling or prescription, with no copays, deductibles, or coinsurance. It prohibits insurers from placing PrEP/PEP services in specialty tiers for profit and bans requiring specialist counseling unless medically necessary. The law applies to all health insurance policies issued or renewed in Pennsylvania after its effective date (60 days from passage), including group and individual plans regulated under state insurance laws. This directly affects Pennsylvanians with health insurance who need HIV prevention or treatment services, ensuring full coverage without out-of-pocket costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1324 creates a new criminal offense for bullying in Pennsylvania, defined as committing specific crimes (like assault or property damage) with the intent to harass, intimidate, or cause fear. It directly affects individuals who commit these acts with bullying intent, classifying the offense as a misdemeanor (typically third-degree for minor crimes, or one degree higher for more serious offenses). Sentencing enhancements for severe cases are directed to the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing. The bill excludes labor disputes and constitutionally protected activities from coverage. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1321 creates a new "Military Spouse Leave and Employment Protection Act" in Pennsylvania law. It requires employers with 20+ employees to provide up to 14 paid days per year of leave for employees when their spouse is deployed to a combat zone or during a declared emergency, and up to 14 unpaid days for training deployments. The law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who request this leave and mandates that employers maintain an employee's position, title, and accrued benefits during the leave. This directly affects Pennsylvania employees with military-connected spouses working at qualifying employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows land banks to acquire blighted or abandoned properties under specific conditions. Municipalities must verify properties have been vacant/blighted for 5 years (with exceptions for unimproved land), have building code violations or tax delinquency, and send three certified mail notices to owners. Property owners can appeal by submitting a redevelopment plan with financing, architectural details, or developer contracts; if approved, they get 6-month extensions but must meet redevelopment timelines. Land banks must pay owners the property's appraised value minus fines or liens, directly affecting land banks, municipalities, and owners of distressed properties.

Maddy summaryHB 1305 establishes an independent Office of Child Advocate within Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to champion children's interests across state care systems. The bill sets qualifications for the Child Advocate (requiring six years in child advocacy/social work, a bachelor's degree, and no conflicts of interest), mandates a four-year term with reappointment options, and requires staff training in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and mandated reporter protocols. This office directly affects children in foster care, juvenile justice, early intervention programs, and residential facilities by independently monitoring their welfare and advocating for systemic improvements. The bill amends Pennsylvania’s Human Services Code to formalize this oversight role, ensuring accountability without direct program changes to existing services.

Maddy summaryHB 1293 amends Pennsylvania's Housing Authorities Law (1937) to update the policy declaration section (Section 2), reaffirming that unsafe housing conditions harm public health, safety, and the economy, and that housing authorities are necessary to provide safe housing for low and moderate income residents. The bill does not change operational procedures for housing authorities, such as tenant selection, rental rates, or property management, but revises the foundational policy statement justifying their existence. This update directly affects housing authorities by modernizing the legal basis for their work under state law. The bill focuses on clarifying legislative intent without altering existing mechanisms for housing projects or tenant eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1210 requires crypto-mining operations in Pennsylvania exceeding five megawatts of power consumption to report detailed data - including location, equipment usage, energy sources, and electricity timing - to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill also mandates the DEP to conduct a comprehensive study analyzing environmental impacts (like electronic waste and cooling water use), grid stress, fossil fuel reliance, and potential rate-design solutions related to these operations. The study’s findings must be published online and shared with state officials, including the Governor and relevant legislative committees. This applies specifically to large-scale mining operations (over 5MW) and aims to inform future policy through data-driven analysis.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution designates May 2025 as "Nurses Month" in Pennsylvania to honor the contributions of nurses across the state. It highlights nurses' critical roles during the pandemic, their daily patient care responsibilities, and their impact on community health without creating new legal requirements or funding. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation for the nursing profession, which includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other specialized roles.