Rep. Chad Reichard

Maddy summaryHB 857 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to update reimbursement rates for emergency ambulance services under Medicaid programs. It requires the state to pay ambulance providers the higher of either Medicare's 2023 rates or current Medicaid ambulance fees (as updated in 2023) for services provided to Medicaid enrollees starting January 1, 2024. For services where patients declined transport, new rates based on 2025 Medicare data or updated Medicaid fees will apply beginning July 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed emergency medical services agencies that provide ambulance transport to Medicaid beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 103 designates April 2025 as "National Volunteer Month" in Pennsylvania. The resolution encourages all residents to engage in volunteer activities, highlighting community benefits such as building social connections, supporting local resilience, and providing personal fulfillment as outlined in the resolution's preamble. It does not create new laws or require specific actions, serving as a symbolic recognition of volunteerism's value.

Maddy summaryHB 177 creates "Keystone Opportunity Dairy Zones" in Pennsylvania to support the state's dairy industry. It provides tax benefits - including exemptions, deductions, and credits - for businesses processing at least 75% Pennsylvania milk into dairy products within designated zones. To qualify, businesses must be located in a zone, process Pennsylvania milk locally, and meet specific requirements under the act. The bill directly affects dairy farmers, processors, and local governments by offering financial incentives to boost economic development in the sector.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 2025 as "Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It is a symbolic designation with no new policies, funding, or regulatory changes. The resolution acknowledges colorectal cancer statistics and the importance of screening, but does not alter health programs or requirements. It serves solely to recognize the disease through an official state observance.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 98 designates March 2025 as "National Athletic Training Month" in Pennsylvania. It recognizes the work of athletic trainers who provide specialized health care services - including injury prevention, emergency care, and rehabilitation - and acknowledges their role in settings like schools, hospitals, and sports organizations. The resolution urges Pennsylvania residents to learn more about athletic training as a health care profession, though it does not create new laws or requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 766 designates a specific segment of State Route 3037 in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County - from Waltz Mill Flats Road to Segment 0170/Offset 0950 - as the "PFC Earl 'Butch' Long Memorial Highway." This procedural bill honors PFC Earl "Butch" Long, a Vietnam War infantryman killed in action in 1967, by naming the highway in his memory. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will install and maintain signs displaying the highway's new name. The bill does not create new policy or affect any regulations; it solely commemorates the veteran's service and sacrifice.

Maddy summaryHB 759 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to update the definition of acceptable identification for voting. The bill specifies that voters must present one of several forms of ID, including a standard driver's license, a photo-less driver's license for religious objections, or alternative documents like state IDs, military IDs, or documents from Pennsylvania institutions (e.g., schools or care facilities). For mail-in or absentee voters without a driver's license, it allows using the last four digits of a Social Security number or other qualifying documents. These changes apply to all voters in Pennsylvania when casting ballots in person or by mail, clarifying existing ID requirements without eliminating the need for identification.

Maddy summaryHB 703 proposes constitutional amendments to require the Secretary of the Commonwealth to be elected directly by voters in the same election as the Auditor General, State Treasurer, and Attorney General, rather than appointed. It establishes new qualifications, including being at least 30 years old, a Pennsylvania resident for seven years, and a U.S. citizen. The bill also prohibits current members of Congress or certain state officeholders from serving as Secretary and updates procedures for contested elections. If approved by voters, these changes would take effect, altering how the state's chief elections officer is selected and qualified. This is a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval after legislative passage.

Maddy summaryHB 691 amends Pennsylvania's Public Official Compensation Law to update how annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) are calculated and published for state legislators and legislative leaders. The bill maintains that COLA will continue to be based on the Consumer Price Index for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland area, with adjustments calculated using the most recent 12-month data. It specifies that adjusted salaries for legislators must be published within 10 days of determination, while adjustments for legislative leaders (like the Speaker or Majority Leader) must be published 20 days before the change takes effect. This bill directly affects the compensation of all members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and their top leadership.

Maddy summaryHB 651 amends Pennsylvania's Local Tax Collection Law to allow local taxing districts (like counties, cities, and townships) to permit property tax payments in up to twelve installments, increasing the current limit from four. This change directly affects property taxpayers who choose to pay their taxes in installments rather than a single lump sum. The bill specifies that no tax discounts or abatements will apply to taxes paid through this extended installment plan. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.