Rep. Jim Rigby

Maddy summaryHB 633 designates Bridge Key 8387, carrying Pennsylvania Route 53 over Patty's Run in Gallitzin Township, Cambria County, as the "USMCR Mary A. Lidwell Memorial Bridge." The bill honors Mary A. Lidwell, a former U.S. Marine Corps Women's Aviation Reserve Squadron member during WWII who later served her community in Ashville Borough. The Department of Transportation must install and maintain signs displaying the new name on the bridge. This is a commemorative act with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 528 modifies Pennsylvania's driver license application process by removing the requirement for applicants to provide personal medical information, next of kin details, or emergency contact information on their forms. It also establishes a new process allowing coroners to access, at no cost, three specific records from the Pennsylvania Justice Network: emergency contact details (if voluntarily provided), organ donor status, and a color photograph from the license. These changes apply to all individuals applying for or renewing a driver's license or learner's permit in Pennsylvania. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

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 277 allows victims of sex trafficking to sue individuals or entities that recruit, profit from, or advertise for sex trade activities. The bill amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to create a civil legal pathway for victims to seek remedies in court, specifically targeting those who recruit victims, maintain them in sex trade acts, or cause bodily harm during such acts. It directly affects victims of sex trafficking and those who exploit them through recruitment, advertising, or financial gain. The law does not change criminal penalties but adds a civil remedy for victims to pursue compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 182 designates Bridge Key 8377 on Pennsylvania Route 53 over Bear Rock Run in Lilly Borough, Cambria County, as the Corporal James D. Sloan Memorial Bridge. The bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs on the bridge, based on the General Assembly's findings that Corporal James D. Sloan, a Marine Corps veteran who died by suicide in 1971 due to post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the Vietnam War, received multiple military medals including the Purple Heart and Combat Action Medal. This is a naming resolution with no direct policy changes or affected populations beyond the bridge signage.

Maddy summaryHB 73 updates Pennsylvania's emergency medical services laws by changing certification renewal requirements for EMRs (Emergency Medical Responders) and EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) to every three years through exams or continuing education, with recertification options within six years of expiration. It also modifies EMS vehicle operator rules, making certification permanent but requiring three-year registration (with continuing education) for most operators, excluding those exclusively working for certain qualified providers. These changes directly affect EMS personnel who must meet these updated standards to maintain their ability to work in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryHB 1409 updates the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's authority to set fees for fishing licenses, permits, and issuing agents. The bill allows the commission to adjust specific amounts for various licenses, such as resident annual and senior resident lifetime licenses, as well as different tourist and replacement options, by referencing existing administrative rules. It also establishes fixed fees for special permits, including those for trout fishing and charter boat guides, while capping transaction costs for the automated licensing system at one dollar. This legislation directly impacts anglers and fishing businesses by defining the current fee structure and providing the legal framework for the commission to manage these costs.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill establishes new pension benefits for retired public employees starting in 2025. It provides an additional monthly payment to eligible retirees from state education and government systems who retired before 2001, with the amount calculated as a percentage of their July 2025 annuity based on their original retirement date. The legislation also creates a special one-time adjustment for retired municipal police officers and firefighters, ensuring these groups receive increased benefits. Funding for these new payments will be spread over ten years beginning in 2025, and the benefits are not available to survivors of members who died before that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands workers' compensation coverage to include post-traumatic stress injuries sustained by active volunteer emergency medical services personnel. It specifically defines eligible EMS providers as those designated by a municipality as its primary responder or dispatched via public safety answering points and mutual aid agreements. The legislation also clarifies that compensation is not required to be filed within a specific timeframe and broadens the list of qualified medical professionals who can evaluate these claims to include psychologists and psychiatrists. Finally, the bill sets an immediate effective date for most provisions while delaying the implementation of new sections regarding specific act amendments for one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's fishing and hunting laws to provide special license benefits for state corrections officers and law enforcement officers. It allows these eligible residents to purchase an annual fishing license for just one dollar and grants them a resident hunting license with a one-dollar fee. To qualify, officers must provide employment documentation proving they work in these roles within the Commonwealth. The legislation also sets the specific costs for these discounted licenses and allows the state commission to create regulations to implement the changes.