Rep. Charity Krupa

Maddy summaryThis bill designates rye whiskey as the official state spirit of Pennsylvania to honor its historical significance and support the local distilling industry. The legislation formally recognizes the beverage's role in the state's heritage and its contribution to agriculture and small businesses. It takes effect immediately upon passage without requiring additional regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to allow local governments to temporarily halt the submission of new data center development applications. Under the new provision, a municipality can adopt a resolution at a public meeting to pause these submissions for up to 180 days, a period that begins retroactively from the date of public notice. During this pause, local authorities may update their zoning laws regarding data centers, and any applications received while the pause is in effect will be evaluated under the new rules. The legislation defines a data center as a facility primarily used for housing servers or data storage systems with specific backup power and cooling infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 2535, known as the Commercial Data Center Public Safety Act, regulates large data centers in Pennsylvania that consume 25 megawatts or more of power. To receive a certificate of occupancy, these facilities must submit detailed emergency plans and inventories listing battery types, cooling agents, and fire suppression systems to local fire officials. The bill also mandates annual updates to these documents and restricts access to the information to authorized safety and law enforcement personnel to protect confidential security details.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates September 27, 2026, as Gold Star Mother's Day within the state. The measure formally acknowledges the sacrifice of mothers who lost sons or daughters in military service and honors their ongoing contributions to their communities. By recognizing this specific date, the resolution aims to provide a day of remembrance for Gold Star Families in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 996 repeals an expiration date for a provision regulating basic life support ambulances in Pennsylvania's emergency medical services system. Specifically, it removes the clause stating that exceptions to ambulance standards would expire on April 29, 2027. This change means the existing regulatory exception for basic life support ambulances will remain in effect indefinitely without a future sunset date. The bill directly affects ambulance services and emergency medical providers operating under Pennsylvania's Title 35 health and safety regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to change the deadline for senior citizens to apply for property tax and rent rebates. Under the new rules, eligible individuals must file their claims by December 31 of the year following the tax year, replacing the previous June 30 cutoff. The legislation also removes the requirement that late-filed claims be accepted only if funds are available, allowing the state to process applications submitted after the deadline. These changes directly affect elderly Pennsylvanians seeking financial assistance and streamline the administrative process for the state department handling these claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Pennsylvania state licensing boards to create rules governing how licensed professionals use artificial intelligence in their practice. It requires these boards to establish guidelines on when AI can be used, the level of human review needed for AI-generated work, and the obligation to inform clients if AI is used to create services or advice. The legislation also mandates that clients have the option to communicate directly with a human professional rather than solely through an AI system. By defining AI and generative AI within state law, the bill ensures that professional standards, ethical duties, and confidentiality rules remain clear even when technology is involved.

Maddy summaryHB 2229 amends Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act to clarify and expand the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) authority. It requires the DEP to propose a state fund funded by facility surcharges if federal hazardous waste cleanup funding proves inadequate, targeting abandoned or closed hazardous waste sites. The bill also establishes new regulations for the "beneficial use" of municipal and residual waste, including mandatory monitoring for waste stored longer than one year and requiring facilities to report changes in waste properties. Additionally, it mandates that the DEP forward EPA violation notices to affected municipalities and allows municipalities to opt out of receiving these notices. These changes directly affect waste management facilities, municipalities handling residual waste, and the DEP's enforcement processes.

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 summaryThis bill establishes a regulatory framework for the sale of kratom products in Pennsylvania, requiring businesses to register with the Department of Health and prohibiting the sale of synthetic kratom varieties. It mandates that retailers verify customers are at least 21 years old using electronic ID scanners and strictly forbids sharing this data, while also enforcing specific labeling and child-resistant packaging requirements. Additionally, the legislation imposes a tax on natural kratom products and outlines penalties for violations, aiming to standardize oversight and protect public health.