Rep. Jen Mazzocco

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new supplemental monthly annuity to certain Pennsylvania state retirees' benefits, effective July 2025. It applies to retirees receiving superannuation, withdrawal, or disability annuities who retired before July 2, 2001, and do not have specific service credits (like Class D-4 or Class AA). The additional payment amount is a percentage of their July 2025 monthly annuity, ranging from 10% to 20% based on their retirement date. The cost will be funded through equal annual installments over 10 years starting July 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 806 protects student journalists in Pennsylvania public and private schools by prohibiting school officials from reviewing or censoring school-sponsored media content before publication (prior restraint). It requires schools to adopt policies by the 2025-2026 school year, granting student editors final approval authority over content while banning censorship except for legally unprotected speech like libel, obscenity, or material disruption. The bill defines key terms (e.g., "student journalist," "student editor") and ensures student-media advisors cannot be punished for supporting protected student expression. It directly affects all Pennsylvania school entities, including districts, charter schools, and private schools with journalism programs.

Maddy summaryHB 291, also known as "Susan's and Emily's Law," updates Pennsylvania's parking rules to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. It requires vehicles parked next to pedestrian plazas or bike lanes to position their wheels within 12 inches of the buffer zone between the lane and curb, aligned with traffic flow. The bill also clarifies disability parking rules, allowing local governments to restrict access to specific vehicles or license plates and charge reasonable fees while complying with federal disability law. Violations of the new pedestrian/bike lane parking rules carry a $15 fine, while disability parking violations can result in fines of $50-$300.

Maddy summaryHB 443 modifies Pennsylvania's sentencing for second-degree murder convictions, including murder of an unborn child or a law enforcement officer. It reduces maximum sentences: for adults, from life imprisonment to 50 years; for offenders under 18, it sets a maximum of 40 years for those 15+ at the time of crime and 30 years for those under 15. The bill also establishes new parole timelines - 25 years for standard life sentences under this section, 20 years for those under 18 aged 15+, and 15 years for those under 15 - requiring the parole board to prioritize public safety, victim safety, and consider the offender's culpability before granting parole. Additionally, it mandates that victims be notified and given a chance to be heard before parole decisions for these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 46 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require all school districts to establish and maintain pre-kindergarten programs as part of the elementary school system, open at least 2.5 hours daily. It updates kindergarten requirements to ensure districts accept children age 5 or older on the first day of school and clarifies that kindergartens must be integrated into elementary education. The bill lowers the starting age for compulsory school attendance from 6 to 5 years and reduces the end age from 18 to 17 years. These changes directly affect all Pennsylvania public school districts and children aged 5-17, with the new provisions applying to the academic year following the law's effective date.