Rep. Jessica Benham

Maddy summaryThis bill grants school administrators in Pennsylvania's first-class cities and school districts the right to engage in collective bargaining with their employers. It allows these administrators to negotiate terms regarding pay, working hours, benefits, and dispute resolution through designated representatives. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will handle any disagreements about these bargaining items using the same process applied to other public employees. The changes apply immediately upon the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for small businesses in Pennsylvania that help employees pay for health insurance purchased through the state exchange. To qualify, a business must have 50 or fewer employees and make contributions toward health reimbursement arrangements for their workers. The credit is calculated based on the first $1,000 of contributions per employee and can be applied to reduce the business's state tax liability. Companies claiming the credit must submit detailed forms to the Department of Revenue listing employee information and insurance provider details.

Maddy summaryHB 2544 updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish a formal framework for negotiating compensation and benefits plans for school administrators, including principals and assistant principals. The bill requires school boards to meet with administrators in good faith to create written agreements covering salary schedules, fringe benefits, and performance evaluation processes. These agreements must remain in effect for at least one school year but no longer than five, and they include a nonbinding mediation step for resolving disputes before potential legal appeals. The legislation applies to all public school entities in the state and maintains existing restrictions on strikes while clarifying the definitions of administrative roles and employer responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Pennsylvania state agencies from using text messages to collect unpaid fines, fees, or tolls or to notify individuals about such charges. It defines a text-based communication as any written message sent on a mobile device, explicitly excluding standard email. The law applies to all Commonwealth agencies as currently defined by state statute and will become effective 60 days after passage.

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 summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates June 19, 2026, as "Juneteenth Independence Day" within the state to honor the anniversary of the final abolition of slavery in the United States. The measure formally recognizes the historical significance of June 1865, when Union troops announced freedom to enslaved people in Texas, and encourages residents to observe the day with ceremonies and educational programs. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create a paid state holiday or alter employment laws but serves to acknowledge the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and the resilience of African American descendants.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 453 clarifies definitions in Pennsylvania law related to emergency services. It adds a specific definition for "telecommunicator" (including 911 dispatchers and call takers) and expands the definition of "emergency responder" to explicitly include telecommunicators, medical personnel, and other emergency workers in multiple sections of law. This bill directly affects emergency service workers like dispatchers, firefighters, and medical personnel by formally including them under defined terms for mental wellness programs and mutual aid protocols. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment and does not create new policies or funding.