Rep. David Rowe

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 616 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle permit rules to allow oversized (over-length, over-width, or over-height) and overweight commercial vehicles to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week under permits, removing previous restrictions that limited operation to "sunrise to sunset." This directly affects trucking companies and transporters requiring special permits for large or heavy loads. The key change modifies Section 4962(f.3) of Title 75 (Vehicles) to eliminate time-based operating limits, with some exceptions specified in the law. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 656 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow trained school staff to administer emergency anti-seizure medication during seizures when a nurse is unavailable. It directly affects students with epilepsy in public schools who have been prescribed such medication, requiring parental request and adherence to approved training guidelines. The bill establishes that non-nurse staff may provide emergency assistance only after completing designated training and following protocols approved by the Department of Education. It specifies that nasal spray or similar FDA-approved treatments may be used, while ensuring students' rights under disability laws like IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act are upheld. The policy change is voluntary for staff and requires schools to notify parents about potential accommodations under 504 plans or IEPs.

Maddy summaryHB 650 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation to maintain at least five physical locations statewide where auto dealers can obtain vehicle registration plates and safety/emissions inspection stickers. Each location must be open for dealers at least two days per week for a minimum of three hours daily, with locations spread across different regions and one specifically in a city of the third class (population 48,000-55,000). The bill directly affects auto dealers who rely on these services for vehicle transactions and compliance, ensuring more accessible in-person access to registration and inspection services.

Maddy summaryHB 165 amends Pennsylvania's abortion law to require pain relief medication for fetuses over 15 weeks' gestation during abortion procedures, directly affecting abortion providers performing such procedures. The bill adds a new provision (Section 3204(b.1)) stating that pain relief medication must be administered prior to the procedure unless the physician knows the pregnant person has an adverse reaction to it or a medical emergency prevents timely administration. This change applies specifically to abortions at or beyond 15 weeks' gestation. The law would take effect 60 days after enactment. It focuses on procedural requirements for medical care during abortion, not on restricting access.

Maddy summaryHB 579 would require Pennsylvania public schools, charter schools, and participating private schools meeting the state's baseline security criteria to assign at least one armed guard to each school building within one year. The bill mandates designating specific entry and exit points for buildings (excluding emergencies) and installing signs with audible alarms on non-designated exterior doors. School armed guards must be present during school hours and extracurricular activities, holding specific firearm training certifications as defined by the bill. This requirement applies only to school entities that meet the tier 1 security standards.

Maddy summaryHB 585 amends Pennsylvania's statutory interpretation rules by adding "legislative interpretations" to the list of factors courts must consider when determining a statute's meaning. Specifically, it revises Section 1921(c)(8) of Title 1 to explicitly include how lawmakers themselves interpreted a law as a valid consideration. This change directly affects courts and legal interpreters when resolving ambiguities in existing Pennsylvania laws. The bill makes a technical adjustment to statutory construction procedures without creating new policies or affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryHB 565 creates a new tax credit for Pennsylvania employers who pay for their employees' health insurance. It allows businesses to reduce their state tax bill by up to 100% of their contributions toward employee health insurance premiums, but only the first $500 per employee counts toward the credit. The credit percentage decreases as the number of covered employees increases: 100% for fewer than 50 employees, 75% for 50-99 employees, and 50% for 100+ employees. Employers must submit specific employee and insurance provider details to the Department of Revenue to claim the credit, which cannot be carried over, refunded, or sold.

Maddy summaryHB 582 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to exclude the sale of firearms and ammunition from state sales and use tax. It directly affects firearm retailers and buyers, as these items will no longer be subject to tax when purchased at retail. The bill adds a specific exclusion (section 204(77)) defining "firearm" as a weapon designed to expel projectiles via explosives and "ammunition" as bullets or shells for such weapons. This change takes effect immediately upon passage.

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.