Rep. Liz Hanbidge

Maddy summaryHB 1109 would establish a legal process for "compassionate aid in dying" in Pennsylvania, allowing terminally ill adults to request medication to end their life under strict safeguards. To qualify, patients must be 18 or older, under the care of a healthcare provider, have a terminal illness confirmed by a consulting provider, and be deemed capable of making an informed decision after counseling. The process requires a written request, a waiting period, and detailed documentation to ensure the decision is voluntary and informed, while protecting healthcare providers from forced participation. Violations of the law would be subject to penalties as outlined in the bill.

Maddy summaryHB 1150 raises Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2026, with annual increases thereafter. It also establishes a phased timeline for tipped employees: requiring higher base cash wages starting in 2025 (e.g., $5.00/hour after June 2025) and mandating that by July 1, 2029, employers must pay the full minimum wage without relying on tips. The bill ensures all tips received by employees remain their property and cannot be used by employers to meet minimum wage requirements. This directly affects most private-sector employers and tipped workers in Pennsylvania, particularly in hospitality and service industries.

Maddy summaryHB 832 requires hospitals planning to close all or most units (general hospital closure) or critical departments like emergency or maternity units (significant impact closure) to follow specific steps. Hospitals must submit a detailed closure plan for approval by the Department of Health or local health authorities at least 180 days before closing, include a health equity impact assessment, and hold two public hearings in the affected community. The bill mandates public notice, comment periods via phone and website, and ensures hospitals address community health needs before proceeding. This directly affects hospitals seeking to close operations and the communities relying on their services, aiming to prevent abrupt healthcare disruptions.

Maddy summaryHB 1097 creates a new minor criminal offense in Pennsylvania for organizing or operating events where live pigeons are used as targets for shooting contests, either for amusement or skill testing. This applies to anyone who willfully runs such events at a designated location, including using mechanical aids to present pigeons to shooters. The bill explicitly excludes legal hunting under state game laws, dog training activities, or permitted special events. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1070 requires all health insurance policies covering maternity benefits in Pennsylvania to provide 24 additional hours of elective postpartum observation and care beyond the existing 48-96 hours of inpatient coverage, starting January 1, 2026. It also prohibits hospitals from involuntarily discharging postpartum patients or newborns between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., with billing under "observation status" if discharge is refused. The bill directly affects mothers, newborns, hospitals, and health insurers by extending coverage duration and restricting nighttime discharges. The Department of Human Services must seek a federal waiver to extend government program coverage for this additional 24-hour period.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to provide free menstrual products (such as pads and tampons) in Pennsylvania public schools. Schools with 25% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch programs can apply for grants to purchase these products and install dispensers or disposal units. Recipients must report annual spending on products and dispenser maintenance to the state. The program is funded by a state appropriation for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 1065 creates a new felony offense for selling unmarked firearm components in Pennsylvania. It specifically targets the sale of firearm frames/receivers, silencer frames, split/modular frames, or partially complete frames without serial numbers registered to a federal firearms licensee. The bill defines "privately made firearm" as one assembled by non-licensed individuals without federal serial markings. This law directly affects sellers of homemade or unlicensed firearm parts, making such sales a third-degree felony. It does not change laws regarding firearm ownership or purchase, only penalizing the sale of unmarked components.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 14, 2025, as "Parkland School Shooting Victims Remembrance Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the 17 victims of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but serves as a formal observance for Pennsylvanians to reflect on the tragedy. The resolution expresses condolences to victims' families and references Pennsylvania's existing school safety programs, such as Safe2Say Something and the Office for Safe Schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1055 creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for threatening healthcare workers, specifically targeting threats intended to interfere with their duties. It defines the crime as knowingly making oral/written threats against healthcare practitioners, technicians, or hospital security officers, with penalties escalating from a minor violation for a first offense to a third-degree misdemeanor for repeat offenses. The law requires healthcare facilities to post clear notices about this offense at all public entrances, and a person cannot be convicted if the notice wasn’t displayed (unless they knew about the offense). This bill directly affects anyone making threats against covered healthcare workers in Pennsylvania, aiming to protect them from intimidation during work.

Maddy summaryHB 988 creates the Jayanna Powell Hit-and-Run Direct Notification System to help identify drivers who flee the scene of accidents causing serious injury or death. The bill requires all motor vehicle repair facilities (like garages and shops) to register with the state and report any vehicle matching details provided through the system after a qualifying accident. Law enforcement must directly notify repair facilities via the system with vehicle details including make, model, color, license plate, and damage. Failure to report a matching vehicle is punishable as a misdemeanor. This bill directly affects repair businesses across Pennsylvania, mandating new reporting duties to aid investigations.