Rep. Liz Hanbidge

Maddy summaryHB 2256 amends Pennsylvania's theft laws to clarify when a theft offense is classified as a felony of the third degree. It specifies that theft becomes a third-degree felony if the stolen property is valued over $2,000, involves certain vehicles (such as automobiles, motorcycles, or motorboats), includes human remains, or occurs when a person in the business of buying or selling stolen property receives the goods. The bill also defines "human remains" to include any part of a dead body or cremated remains. This change directly affects individuals convicted of theft and how courts categorize these offenses for sentencing.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's process for accepting shared control of military lands from the U.S. government. It requires military installations to provide detailed written requests (including boundary descriptions and scope of jurisdiction) before the Governor can accept jurisdiction transfers, followed by a 30-day public notice period. The Governor must document accepted requests with the state secretary, and local agencies can then create coordination agreements with federal partners. This directly affects Pennsylvania's military installations, state agencies, and local governments managing lands with concurrent federal jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryHB 490 amends Pennsylvania law to protect confidential communications between journalists and their sources during legal proceedings. It specifically updates statutes related to depositions and witness testimony to prevent courts from forcing reporters to reveal confidential sources. This change directly affects journalists, news organizations, and individuals who share information with reporters. The bill aims to strengthen press freedom by clarifying that reporters can maintain source confidentiality in court, consistent with existing protections.

Maddy summaryHB 2242 amends Pennsylvania law to clarify the Governor's authority as Commander-in-Chief over state military forces. It specifically prohibits armed military forces from other states or territories from entering Pennsylvania for military duty without the Governor's express permission, except when federal service under the President's authority is involved. The Governor may grant permission for up to 30 days per calendar year, or longer if approved by a concurrent resolution of the General Assembly. This directly affects Pennsylvania's military operations and limits how neighboring states' forces can operate within Pennsylvania. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 660 establishes minimum energy and water efficiency standards for specific products sold in Pennsylvania, directly affecting businesses that sell or install these items. The bill covers commercial equipment like dishwashers, fryers, and ovens, as well as residential products including faucets, showerheads, and water coolers. It requires these products to meet defined efficiency levels to reduce energy/water waste, save consumers money, and lower environmental impact, with fines for non-compliance. The law updates existing rules but excludes products sold outside Pennsylvania, used items, and certain installations like mobile homes.

Maddy summaryHB 460 requires all teachers in Pennsylvania public schools to complete child abuse recognition and reporting training as part of their certification process. It amends the Public School Code of 1949 to integrate this training into both initial certification and ongoing educator requirements. The bill directly affects educators by mandating specific training to identify and report suspected abuse, ensuring schools meet updated child safety standards. This change applies to all public school teachers, including those seeking certification or renewing credentials.

Maddy summaryHB 1935 requires individuals convicted of terroristic threats to pay restitution for costs incurred during evacuations, including emergency response, transportation, and employee wages for first responders. It also mandates a sentencing enhancement for threats targeting schools or institutions of higher education, which the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing must consider. The bill defines "school entity" to include public, charter, private, and cyber charter schools, and "institution of higher education" to cover specific universities like Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and others. These changes directly affect offenders who make terroristic threats in educational settings, holding them financially accountable for the costs their actions trigger.

Maddy summaryHB 1909 updates Pennsylvania's criminal code by clarifying and adjusting definitions and penalties for several existing offenses. It specifically addresses simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, harassment, stalking, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, indecent assault, and disorderly conduct. The bill aims to refine how these crimes are defined and prosecuted under current law. It directly affects individuals charged with these specific offenses in Pennsylvania courts. The changes focus on improving legal clarity without creating new criminal categories.

Maddy summaryHB 2217 requires Pennsylvania public schools to provide specific minimum recess and lunch periods for students. It mandates at least 30 minutes of recess daily for full-day kindergarten through fifth grade, 15 minutes for half-day kindergarten, and 30 consecutive minutes of lunch for all full-day kindergarten through twelfth grade. The bill prohibits withholding lunch for discipline or make-up work, ensures students can opt out of cafeteria lunch for religious reasons, and prevents schools from reducing non-tested subject instruction time to provide recess without balancing with tested subjects. This applies to all school entities (including districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) and takes effect July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 710 updates Pennsylvania's vehicle financial responsibility rules by requiring drivers to prove they can cover accident costs. It directly affects Pennsylvania drivers who need to show proof of financial responsibility (like insurance) when registering vehicles or after incidents. The key change is creating an online verification system to replace paper documents, allowing real-time checks by law enforcement and state agencies. This simplifies the process for drivers and officials while ensuring compliance with existing financial responsibility standards.