Rep. Jason Ortitay

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to establish stricter deadlines for handling election returns and resolving disputes. It requires the Secretary of the Commonwealth to tabulate and certify election results within five days after election day, with a mandatory notification process if this timeline cannot be met. Additionally, the law mandates that county courts decide election appeals within seven days of filing and allows immediate appeals to the Supreme Court, which must also issue a ruling within a tight seven-day window. These changes directly affect county boards of elections, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, state courts, and election officials by enforcing faster processing times for primary and general election results.

Maddy summaryHB 2344 creates a new legal process in Pennsylvania for individuals to dispute debts they claim were incurred under coercion, such as domestic violence, fraud, or intimidation. The bill requires the state Treasury Department to develop a specific petition form that debtors must complete and submit to creditors, including details about the alleged abuse and documentation from qualified third parties like doctors or domestic violence advocates. If a creditor receives this petition, they are obligated to respond within ten business days and may request additional information to resolve the dispute in good faith. This legislation directly affects consumers facing debt collection and creditors who must handle claims of coerced debt according to these new procedural rules.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House resolution designates May 14, 2026, as "Apraxia Awareness Day" to highlight childhood apraxia of speech, a motor speech disorder affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 children. The bill aims to increase public understanding of the condition, which requires intensive speech therapy and can impact a child's ability to read, write, and communicate effectively. By encouraging residents to foster community awareness, the resolution seeks to support families and professionals working to help children with this neurological disorder develop their speech skills.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania gaming laws by adding specific definitions for school entities and school property. It requires interactive gaming and sports wagering operators to use geospatial technology to block registered players from accessing games on their own devices while they are inside licensed facilities or on school grounds. The legislation aims to prevent minors and students from participating in online gambling through personal computers at these locations. The changes will take effect 60 days after the bill is passed.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill directs the Office of Attorney General to run a public education campaign aimed at increasing consumer understanding of artificial intelligence. The campaign will use various media channels to teach the public how to identify AI-generated content, avoid AI-enabled scams, protect personal data, and recognize potential biases in AI systems. Special attention will be given to vulnerable populations and children, with guidance provided on safe use of chatbots and detection of forged digital likenesses. The Office of Attorney General must submit a report on the campaign's performance within one year of its start, and funding will be provided by the General Assembly as needed.

Maddy summaryHB 2173 updates Pennsylvania's Medical Practice Act of 1985 by adding new definitions and licensing requirements for medical imaging professionals. It specifically creates licensing categories for roles like medical imaging professionals, radiation therapists, radiologist assistants, and trainees, defining their scope of practice (including modalities such as MRI, CT scans, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine). The bill removes outdated provisions about radiologic procedures and education requirements while establishing certification standards through recognized medical imaging certification organizations. This directly affects healthcare workers performing imaging procedures, requiring them to obtain board licenses based on their certified modalities. The changes clarify professional responsibilities and ensure consistent training standards for these healthcare roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Legacy Law, amends Pennsylvania's homicide statutes to mandate financial restitution for parents or guardians when a child under 18 or a dependent dies due to a parent driving under the influence. If a court convicts a driver of this offense and the victim was a minor or dependent, the defendant must pay reasonable financial support to the victim's family until the child turns 18 or 19, depending on their education status. The law requires courts to consider various factors, such as the child's needs and the surviving parent's resources, when calculating these payments, which can be made directly to the family or held in a court trust. Additionally, the bill specifies that if a surviving parent has already won a civil lawsuit for damages, the criminal restitution order will be adjusted to avoid double compensation. The new provisions take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Health Care Facility Threat Assessment Grant Program within the Pennsylvania Department of Health to improve safety and security at hospitals and other medical facilities. The program will use state funds to hire a contractor that provides a standardized digital platform for conducting threat and risk assessments. This platform is designed to collect real-time data, manage workflows for identifying and mitigating risks, and allow healthcare administrators and public safety officials to collaborate on security evaluations. Additionally, the bill imposes new duties on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to support these efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Keystone Literacy Investment Tax Credit, a program designed to fund evidence-based reading instruction in Pennsylvania public schools. It allows insurance companies and their holding companies to purchase tax credits that can be applied against their insurance premiums tax liability. The Department of Community and Economic Development will sell up to $150 million in these credits, with the program beginning in 2028 and credits becoming usable in 2029. The legislation also establishes an annual cap of $50 million on the total amount of credits that can be used against tax liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Artificial Intelligence Transparency Act, requires large companies in Pennsylvania that create or host generative AI systems with over one million monthly users to provide free tools for detecting AI-generated content. These covered providers must offer a publicly accessible tool that allows users to upload images, videos, or audio to determine if they were created by the company's AI and to reveal specific technical details about the content's origin without exposing private user data. Additionally, the law mandates that large online platforms and hosting sites make AI-generated content clearly visible to users and prohibits the sharing of certain personal information linked to AI systems. The legislation also establishes penalties for entities that fail to comply with these transparency and disclosure requirements.