Rep. Liz Hanbidge

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Pennsylvania Maternal and Infant Outcome Measures Survey Program within the Department of Health to collect data on the health experiences of mothers and babies. The program will conduct surveys of individuals who have recently had a live birth to gather information on their behaviors, attitudes, and experiences before, during, and after pregnancy. The Department of Health is authorized to use available funding, including federal money, and may hire outside contractors to run the survey while ensuring all personal data remains confidential. Additionally, the bill allows the department to share de-identified survey results with researchers and publish them in public reports to help improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Pennsylvania's Human Services department to replace current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards with new chip-enabled versions by January 1, 2028. The new cards will be provided free of charge to eligible recipients and will include security features like tap-to-pay technology to prevent benefit theft. The department must issue regular reports on the transition progress to state legislators and take steps to secure funding, including applying for federal grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Pennsylvania state agencies from using text messages to collect unpaid fines, fees, or tolls or to notify individuals about such charges. It defines a text-based communication as any written message sent on a mobile device, explicitly excluding standard email. The law applies to all Commonwealth agencies as currently defined by state statute and will become effective 60 days after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new framework for Pennsylvania public utilities to earn a return on their equity investments, directly affecting investor-owned electric, gas, and water companies regulated by the state commission. It creates a competitive auction process where utilities can bid to set their own return rates based on market conditions, while also providing a default rate of the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield plus 2 percent if no auction occurs. To support this system, the legislation requires utilities to separate their services into distinct legal entities and mandates annual reporting to ensure transparency. Ultimately, the law aims to determine how much profit these utility companies can make on their investments while maintaining oversight through the state commission.

Maddy summaryHB 75 amends Pennsylvania's Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to update the definition of "primary supervising physician" to include medical doctors (MDs) licensed by the State Board of Medicine, alongside osteopathic physicians (DOs). This change allows physician assistants to have either an MD or a DO as their primary supervising physician under a written agreement, expanding oversight options beyond current restrictions. The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment and does not alter other provisions of the law.

Maddy summaryHB 76 amends Pennsylvania's Medical Practice Act of 1985 to update two key definitions: it revises the term "doctor of osteopathy" to reference the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine (replacing outdated language) and clarifies that a "primary supervising physician" for physician assistants must be licensed by either the State Board of Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. This change directly affects osteopathic doctors, physician assistants, and the licensing boards by aligning the law with current regulatory structures. The bill makes no substantive changes to medical practice rules but ensures definitions accurately reflect the oversight bodies responsible for licensing. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1585 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to prohibit the commercial use of booking photographs taken during arrests. It directly affects businesses or websites that currently sell, license, or profit from publishing these images of individuals arrested but not yet convicted. The bill creates a legal barrier by making it unlawful to publish or disseminate such photographs for commercial purposes. This change aims to prevent the exploitation of arrest imagery for profit, focusing on the specific policy shift in the law.

Maddy summaryHB 1925 regulates how healthcare facilities, insurance companies, and Medicaid/CHIP managed care plans can use artificial intelligence. It requires the Department of Health, Insurance Department, and Department of Human Services to create rules for AI safety and transparency in these sectors. The bill imposes penalties for failing to comply with these new requirements. It directly affects providers and insurers operating in Pennsylvania's health and insurance systems.

Maddy summaryHB 78 establishes rules for businesses handling consumer data, requiring them to be transparent about data collection, secure personal information, and allow consumers to access or delete their data. It directly affects companies that collect personal information (like names, addresses, or online activity) from residents of the state. Key provisions include mandating clear privacy notices, implementing security measures, and giving consumers control over their data. Violations would result in fines imposed by the state's consumer protection agency. The bill passed final passage in October 2025 and is now law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act to formally establish a new license for home inspectors and a registration for those in training. It defines what constitutes a home inspection and a material defect, clarifying that these terms apply to noninvasive visual examinations of residential properties rather than specialized tests for specific systems like plumbing or radon. The legislation also adds definitions for campground membership salespersons and expands the duties of real estate brokers to include requirements for maintaining an office. Additionally, the bill outlines penalties for operating without a license and sets rules for continuing education and reciprocal licensing for home inspectors.