Rep. Abigail Salisbury

Maddy summaryHB 2226 amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to explicitly prohibit pyramid schemes and similar deceptive promotional plans. The bill adds a new definition clarifying that schemes where participants pay to join and earn compensation primarily by recruiting others (rather than through product sales) are illegal, including "chain-letter plans," "pyramid clubs," and "pyramid promotional schemes." This change directly affects businesses operating such schemes and protects consumers from being misled by these fraudulent programs. The amendment specifically bans practices like requiring participants to pay for "opportunities" to recruit others, while excluding minimal initial payments of $25 or less.

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 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 summaryHB 1135 prohibits the use of paraquat, a specific chemical pesticide, within Pennsylvania. It defines paraquat by its chemical identifier (CAS number 4685-14-7) and includes related salts, making it unlawful for farmers, agricultural businesses, or any pesticide users to apply it in the state. The bill amends Pennsylvania's 1973 Pesticide Control Act to add this prohibition, effective one year after enactment, and overrides any conflicting existing regulations. This directly affects pesticide users and applicators operating in Pennsylvania.

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 summaryHB 1678 adds a 45-mill tax plus a 5-mill surtax on gross receipts from digital advertising services displayed to users within Pennsylvania. It directly affects digital advertising providers (e.g., companies running banner or search ads) but exempts broadcast and news media entities. The tax applies to revenue from ads shown on digital interfaces (websites, apps) where users are located in Pennsylvania, excluding sales of internet access, telecom hardware, and resale services. The law takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

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 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections to recognize medical diagnoses made by healthcare providers before an individual is incarcerated. It prohibits the department from removing or ignoring such diagnoses, except when a healthcare provider (who made the diagnosis or has relevant expertise) submits a written recommendation for removal. The department may then choose to remove the diagnosis based on that recommendation. This change directly affects individuals entering state prisons by ensuring their pre-incarceration medical conditions are acknowledged in their records. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution honors the life of Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Timothy J. O'Connor, Jr., who died in the line of duty in March 2026, and extends condolences to his family. The document details his 15-year career, numerous awards, and community service, while formally recognizing his sacrifice as the 105th state police officer to die in service. It directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to his wife, Casey O'Connor, as a gesture of respect and support.

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.