Rep. Lee James

Maddy summaryHB 2248 designates May 20 as "Jimmy Stewart Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the late actor, who was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and starred in iconic films like *It's a Wonderful Life* and *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*. The bill is purely commemorative, with no requirement for employers to grant paid leave or treat the day as a legal holiday. It includes legislative findings about Stewart's life, career, military service, and legacy, including his 1985 Presidential Medal of Freedom. The designation applies annually without imposing new obligations on individuals or organizations.

Maddy summaryHB 2221 designates Bridge Key 52427 on Pennsylvania Route 970 over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Bradford Township, Clearfield County, as the Ashley E. Woolridge Memorial Bridge. The bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs displaying the new name on the bridge. This commemorative measure honors Ashley E. Woolridge, a WWII pilot and local community member, as documented in the bill's findings. The designation takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1738 updates Pennsylvania laws to clarify local government authority over veterans' memorials and public monuments. It grants boroughs specific powers to erect, maintain, and repair memorials for veterans, and gives third-class cities control over memorial maintenance and repair. The bill also strengthens rules for preserving, repairing, and completing public monuments related to war veterans across all public grounds. These changes directly affect boroughs and third-class cities statewide by standardizing their responsibilities for memorial care.

Maddy summaryHB 2209 requires all state-funded institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to implement a mandatory one-credit course on "the dangers and realities of communism and socialism" starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The course must cover specific topics including definitions of capitalism, communism, and socialism; historical examples like China, Cuba, and the Soviet Union; comparisons between free markets and communist systems; and the impact on civil liberties. It applies to all public universities, community colleges, and state-funded private institutions as defined in the bill. The law mandates this curriculum for all students at these institutions, with no exemption for existing courses. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThe provided context does not include the specific policy language or provisions of HB 17. While the bill's title references amendments to the Public School Code of 1949 regarding "subjects of instruction and flag code," the details of what changes are proposed - such as which subjects would be added or modified, or specific flag-related requirements - are not described in the given information. Without these concrete details, a factual summary of the bill's mechanisms, affected parties, or policy changes cannot be created. The procedural history (e.g., committee referrals) does not substitute for the bill's substantive content. For an accurate summary, the full text of the bill or detailed explanatory materials would be required.

Maddy summaryHB 2205 prohibits the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission from using eminent domain to acquire property for turnpike projects. The bill repeals a section allowing the commission to obtain possession of condemned property and amends the law to explicitly forbid condemnation by the commission for any purpose. This change directly affects property owners near turnpike corridors, requiring the commission to seek land through voluntary agreements instead of forced acquisition. The bill does not apply to ongoing or pre-existing condemnation cases that began before its effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 2196 requires electric and natural gas suppliers in Pennsylvania to provide consolidated billing, replacing separate bills from utilities and suppliers with a single bill showing all charges. This directly affects residential and commercial customers who choose alternative energy suppliers (currently only 23% of residential electric and 11.3% of natural gas customers). The key mechanism mandates that suppliers must consolidate all electric and natural gas charges onto one bill, using smart meter data to enable more tailored pricing options like time-of-use rates. The bill also includes penalties for non-compliance with these billing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 8, 2026, as "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's 345th birthday, commemorating the 1681 charter granted to William Penn by King Charles II. It urges Pennsylvania residents, schools, and historical organizations to participate in events hosted by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and related institutions. The resolution is non-binding and aligns with the Commission's existing annual observance of this date. It does not create new laws or affect policy, but formally recognizes a historical milestone.

Maddy summaryHB 1375 requires Pennsylvania's Public School Employees' Retirement Board and State Employees' Retirement Board to livestream all public meetings and post unedited video and written records online for at least three years. The bill clarifies that certain sensitive investment details - like confidential financial information from alternative investments - can be withheld from public access under the Right-to-Know Law if disclosure would cause competitive harm or breach fiduciary duties. However, specific investment data must remain public, including the name, manager, and funding amounts for alternative investment vehicles. This bill directly affects how retirement boards manage transparency and public access to their investment decisions. It focuses on procedural transparency rather than changing benefit amounts or eligibility.

Maddy summaryHR 328 is a procedural resolution designating October 5-11, 2025, as "Fire Prevention Week" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or allocate funds; it solely recognizes this week for public awareness about fire safety. The resolution directly affects Pennsylvania residents by highlighting fire prevention efforts during the designated dates. This is a symbolic gesture with no concrete policy changes, as confirmed by its referral to the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness committee.