Rep. Scott Barger

Maddy summaryHB 795 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require high schools (public, private, and parochial) to include at least four semesters of U.S. and Pennsylvania history and government courses in grades 7-12, emphasizing American republican principles. Starting with the 2026-2027 school year, these courses must also cover how victims suffered under specific authoritarian regimes - including Mao Zedong's China, Stalin's Soviet Union, Castro's Cuba, Lenin's Russia, Pol Pot's Cambodia, and Maduro's Venezuela - detailing impacts like poverty, starvation, and violence. The State Board of Education must issue implementing regulations by April 1, 2026, to enforce these curriculum requirements. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania high schools and their students through mandated instructional content.

Maddy summaryHB 700 creates a new, non-lapsing "Home and Community-Based Services for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Augmentation Account" within Pennsylvania's General Fund. It directs funds from the sale of former state centers for intellectual disabilities, annual transfers from the General Fund (based on prior-year funding levels), and operational cost savings from closed centers into this account. The money must be used by the Department of Human Services to provide home and community-based supports, housing assistance, and emergency waiting list services for individuals with intellectual disabilities. This bill directly affects people with intellectual disabilities receiving these services and the Department of Human Services managing the funds.

Maddy summaryHB 629 amends Pennsylvania's 1966 recreational liability law to expand protections for landowners, volunteers, and volunteer organizations that provide unpaid recreational access to the public. It adds definitions clarifying that "volunteers" are unpaid individuals caring for recreational land, and "volunteer organizations" include 501(c)(3) nonprofits or similar groups. The bill states these entities owe no duty to keep premises safe, give warnings about hazards, or assume liability for injuries to recreational users, including during hunting activities. This directly affects landowners who open areas for public recreation through volunteer efforts, ensuring they face no legal liability for ordinary risks. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 677 amends Pennsylvania's Apprenticeship and Training Act to establish new supervisor-to-apprentice ratio requirements based on occupational hazard levels. It requires that for high-hazard occupations (with fatality rates ≥9 per 100,000 workers), no more than three supervisors may be required per apprentice; for medium-hazard occupations (2-9 fatalities per 100,000), no more than two supervisors; and for low-hazard occupations (≤2 fatalities per 100,000), no more than one supervisor. These ratios are determined annually using U.S. Department of Labor fatality data, with updates published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and implemented July 1 each year. The bill directly affects all registered apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania, particularly those in construction, manufacturing, and other high-risk industries.

Maddy summaryHB 606 requires Pennsylvania public and private schools to integrate "early human life development education" into biology courses starting in the 2025-2026 school year. This mandates including specific ultrasound videos showing fetal development at 8, 12, 17, 22, 27, 32, and 37 weeks' gestation, plus a computer-generated animation of fertilization and prenatal development stages. The bill applies to all school entities (districts, charters, cyber charters) and directly affects all K-12 students in Pennsylvania. It amends the 1949 Public School Code to standardize this curriculum component within existing biology requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 548 strengthens Pennsylvania's state preemption of local firearm regulations by declaring that all aspects of firearm regulation - including purchase, sale, possession, and transportation - must follow state law, invalidating any conflicting local ordinances. It directly affects counties, municipalities, and townships that previously enacted stricter gun rules, as well as residents, gun dealers, or organizations challenging such local laws. Key provisions include creating legal remedies for those harmed by illegal local regulations (allowing lawsuits for damages, attorney fees, and injunctions) and explicitly stating that state law supersedes all local efforts. The bill takes effect in 90 days for its core preemption rules, requiring local governments to align with state firearm laws immediately.

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 380 amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to expand the definition of "eligible entity" for obtaining liquor licenses. It adds specific nonprofit organizations, historical groups, museums, community associations, and specialized clubs (like those focused on cystic fibrosis research, watershed conservation, or equine therapy) to the list of qualifying entities. The bill directly affects these organizations by allowing them to apply for liquor licenses under the revised definition, provided they meet criteria such as being a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating for 10+ years or having a specific community purpose. This change modifies the Liquor Code's preliminary provisions to broaden access to liquor licensing for certain community-serving nonprofits.

Maddy summaryHB 398 amends Pennsylvania's transportation law to regulate the use of state-owned aircraft by Commonwealth agencies and the General Assembly. It requires officials to sign a declaration confirming flights are for exclusive official business (prohibiting political activities or sporting events), bans lobbyists from using these aircraft, and mandates a publicly accessible monthly flight log detailing trip purposes, event names, sponsors, and attendees. All costs for aircraft use must be paid into a special Aviation Restricted Account. The bill also restricts out-of-state flights to emergencies, as verified by the emergency management agency.