Rep. Wendy Fink

Maddy summaryHB 1956 amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act by updating key definitions within the law. This change directly affects how the Act's anti-discrimination protections are interpreted and applied in cases involving protected characteristics. The bill focuses solely on clarifying terminology, without introducing new restrictions or requirements. It is currently in the early stage of the legislative process, having been referred to the State Government committee on October 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryHR 346 is a resolution (not a law) urging Pennsylvania's Department of State to cooperate with federal authorities, specifically the U.S. Department of Justice, regarding voter registration checks. It directly targets state election officials, requiring them to share information to prevent noncitizen voter registration as part of federal election integrity efforts. The resolution seeks to compel state-level compliance with federal requests but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1911 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to require individuals who commit "swatting" to pay for the costs incurred by law enforcement responding to their false emergency reports. It directly affects people who intentionally make false reports to trigger a police SWAT response at someone else's home. The key provision establishes that perpetrators must reimburse law enforcement agencies for the actual expenses of the response, including officer time and equipment. This bill focuses on holding swatting offenders financially accountable for the resources they waste.

Maddy summaryHB 1912 would create a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for "swatting," defined as making a false emergency report to law enforcement to provoke a high-risk police response (like sending a SWAT team) at a victim's location. The bill directly affects individuals who intentionally submit false reports for the purpose of causing fear, harm, or disruption to others. It amends Pennsylvania’s criminal code (Title 18) to specifically address swatting under the section on falsification and intimidation. This would provide a clear legal standard for prosecuting such acts, which currently may not be adequately covered under existing laws.

Maddy summaryHR 281 is a procedural resolution that forces the House Committee on Education to stop considering Senate Bill 9. It discharges the committee after 15 legislative days (since May 7, 2025) passed without the committee reporting the bill to the full House. This resolution does not change the content of Senate Bill 9; it only allows the full House to vote on the bill directly. The resolution itself is purely procedural and does not affect any policy or specific group of people.

Maddy summaryHB 706 establishes a $19 fee for Pennsylvania firearm carry licenses, covering renewal notices and administrative costs. It allows counties to waive this fee for honorably discharged veterans or applicants aged 65 and older after consulting with local sheriffs or police chiefs. The bill modifies existing fee structures without changing licensing eligibility requirements. It would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 1884 amends Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law (1937) to modernize general permit processes for environmental compliance. It directly affects businesses and entities requiring permits under the law by updating administrative procedures. The bill focuses on streamlining permit issuance and management through revised general permit provisions. Specific details about new requirements or timelines are not provided in the available context. This is a substantive policy change within environmental regulation, referred to the Environmental & Natural Resource Protection committee.

Maddy summaryHB 1867 would amend Pennsylvania's criminal code to prohibit courts from issuing extreme risk protective orders (ERPOs), which are court orders temporarily removing firearms from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others. This bill directly affects individuals who might be subject to such orders, as well as law enforcement and courts that currently use ERPOs under existing state law. The key provision would eliminate the legal mechanism for ERPOs in Pennsylvania, preventing judges from issuing these orders even when requested by law enforcement or family members. The bill is currently in the Judiciary committee following its referral on September 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1781 requires organizations receiving Pennsylvania state grants (like nonprofits or contractors) to verify the employment eligibility of new employees using the federal E-Verify system. It establishes a Commonwealth Grantee Employment Verification Account and mandates that grant recipients complete a specific verification form confirming their use of E-Verify before receiving grant funds. The bill imposes penalties for willful violations, such as failing to verify eligibility or providing false information, and prohibits discrimination during verification. This applies to all grantees, contractors, and subcontractors funded by state grants used for employee wages, directly affecting entities receiving public funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1746) is a joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment related to sessions of Pennsylvania's General Assembly. The provided context does not describe the specific changes to session timing, duration, or other mechanics proposed by the amendment. No details are given about who would be directly affected by this constitutional change. As a procedural constitutional amendment proposal, the summary is limited by the lack of substantive bill text or description in the available context. The resolution was recently referred to the State Government committee on July 21, 2025.