Rep. Eric Nelson

Maddy summaryHB 437 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's voting rules, requiring voters to present valid identification at all elections. It mandates that voters show a government-issued ID when voting in person (Section 12) and include proof of ID with mail-in ballots (Section 16). Voters without ID can request a free government-issued ID at the polling place (Section 19). This amendment would directly affect all Pennsylvania voters participating in elections, adding ID verification to existing residency and citizenship requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 454 repeals Pennsylvania's requirement for a license to carry a firearm (openly or concealed) for most individuals, making it legal to carry without a license statewide, including in Philadelphia where previous restrictions on public streets and property are removed. The bill also repeals provisions about proof of license and related exceptions, while maintaining existing prohibitions for convicted felons and other restricted locations like schools. Additionally, it includes a new provision for a sportsman's firearm permit and specific regulations for antique firearms. The changes directly affect law-abiding Pennsylvanians who previously needed a license for general firearm carry.

Maddy summaryHB 225 establishes tax-advantaged savings accounts in Pennsylvania for first-time home buyers. It allows individuals who haven’t owned a home in the past three years to open accounts with financial institutions, designating themselves or another person as the "qualified beneficiary" for down payments and closing costs on a single-family residence. Account holders can deduct up to $5,000 annually (or $10,000 for joint filers) from their taxable income, with a lifetime cap of $150,000 total contributions across all accounts. The bill directly affects eligible Pennsylvania residents seeking to purchase their first home, providing a state-level tax incentive to save for homeownership.

Maddy summaryHB 977 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to increase penalties for specific drug-related offenses. The bill classifies the possession or distribution of phencyclidine, methamphetamine, coca leaves, tianeptine, and large quantities of marijuana as felonies punishable by up to ten years in prison or a fine of $100,000. This change directly affects individuals involved in the manufacture, sale, or possession of these substances by ensuring they face stricter legal consequences. The legislation takes effect 60 days after its passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act to update definitions regarding construction work. Specifically, it adds "rebar system assembly" to the list of covered activities while removing the phrase "or smaller prefabricated components" from the definition of prefabricated components. These changes clarify which specific tasks and materials are subject to prevailing wage requirements for public projects. The bill also outlines updated duties for the Secretary of Labor and Industry in enforcing these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Cancer Drug Repository Program Act to clarify definitions and expand the program's scope. It adds specific legal definitions for manufacturers and wholesale distributors and allows approved pharmacies to accept unused prescription drugs from state medical assistance programs for dispensing to patients. The legislation also updates the list of eligible entities that can return or donate drugs to the repository and requires the creation of a list of participating pharmacies. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for program fees, storage regulations, and immunity for participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Independent Energy Office within Pennsylvania's Independent Regulatory Review Commission to oversee the state's electricity grid. The office will be led by an Energy Advocate appointed by the Consumer Advocate, who has the authority to review actions by state agencies to ensure they do not harm energy reliability or affordability. If the Energy Advocate determines an agency action is harmful, they can first request the agency to reverse it, and if that fails, the office has the power to block or reverse the action itself. The office is also tasked with promoting the use of energy produced within Pennsylvania and operates subject to funding decisions by the state legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Regulatory Review Act to require agencies to submit a specific analysis alongside any proposed regulations related to fuel, energy, or electricity. The new provision mandates that these agencies explain how their rules might increase electricity costs and discuss the potential negative impacts on low-income residents. By adding this requirement, the legislation ensures that the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and relevant legislative committees receive more detailed information during the review process. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to refine how pharmacy audits and fees are handled. It clarifies that certain insurance supplements are excluded from specific terms and changes the notice period for additional fees from the time of claim adjudication to thirty days before the fees are applied. The legislation also updates definitions to refer to "generic" drugs instead of "general" ones and expands the scope of federal employee benefit protections. Additionally, it adjusts reporting requirements for pharmacy benefit managers and the state agency overseeing these audits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires private health insurers and state-managed health plans to cover biomarker testing when it is used to diagnose, treat, or monitor a specific disease or condition. The legislation defines biomarker testing as the analysis of tissue, blood, or other biological samples to identify indicators of biological processes, while explicitly excluding coverage for general screening purposes. Coverage for these tests must follow the same rules as other medical services, including standard cost-sharing and medical necessity reviews, and the changes will take effect 180 days after the bill is signed.