Rep. Dave Zimmerman

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 1462, also known as The Fair Play Broadcasting Act, amends the Public School Code to grant visiting school teams the same rights as home teams to broadcast interscholastic athletic competitions. This allows visiting school entities, including public and nonpublic schools, to provide radio broadcasting, video streaming, or telegraphic play-by-play accounts. These rights apply if the visiting team has an agreement with a media organization or if it has a curricular program for secondary students that typically broadcasts its home games. The provisions of this act will apply to competitions beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 1454 expands the duties of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing. The bill requires the commission to establish and publish guidelines for setting bail and pretrial release conditions. These guidelines will assist courts in determining appropriate conditions by considering factors such as the seriousness of the offense, a defendant's criminal history, and community-based support systems. It also mandates the commission to collect and disseminate data on bail and pretrial release practices, in addition to its existing responsibilities for sentencing and parole.

Maddy summaryHB 800 amends Pennsylvania's hunting laws to prohibit specific actions that disrupt lawful wildlife activities. It directly affects hunters, trappers, and landowners by banning behaviors like disturbing wildlife to interfere with others' hunting, blocking hunters, tampering with equipment, or entering lands without permission to disrupt permitted activities. Key provisions define eight prohibited actions under Section 2302(a.1), including creating barriers, interjecting in line of fire, or altering property used for wildlife observation. Violations are punishable as summary offenses, with the most severe penalty (a one-year hunting/trapping ban) applying specifically to tampering with equipment (Section 2302(d)(2)). The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution recognizes May 2025 as "National Water Safety Month" to promote awareness of water safety education. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture highlighting efforts to prevent water-related injuries and drownings, referencing statistics on boating safety and drowning incidents. The resolution aims to support existing community education initiatives by the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance, American Red Cross, and other water safety organizations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of March 17-21, 2025, as "Flood Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to encourage Pennsylvanians to learn about flood risks and safety practices. The resolution references Pennsylvania’s history of flooding, the role of climate factors like increased rainfall, and safety tips from the National Weather Service. It specifically urges residents to practice flood safety procedures during this designated week. The resolution is symbolic and does not implement policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1444 creates new regulations for association health plans (AHPs) under Pennsylvania's insurance code. It defines key terms like "association" (groups of employers in the same industry or profession) and sets requirements for coverage, rates, and insurer filings. The bill directly affects employers forming AHPs, health insurers offering these plans, and individuals enrolled in them. It adds enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance, while repealing outdated sections of the insurance code.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 187) is a ceremonial recognition, not a policy change. It formally designates May 10, 2025, as "National Train Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the historical significance of rail travel. The resolution encourages Pennsylvania residents to learn about train history and the benefits of rail transportation, such as reducing road congestion and supporting environmental goals. It does not create new laws, impose requirements, or directly affect specific groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update grading policies in public schools. It requires school districts to establish grading systems that reflect a student's actual mastery of assignments, prohibits teachers from assigning minimum grades without considering work quality, and allows students to retake failing assignments for a revised grade. These changes apply to all public school students and teachers in Pennsylvania. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution designates March 2025 as "Music in Our Schools Month" in Pennsylvania. It recognizes the value of music education in developing students' creativity, problem-solving skills, and cultural understanding, while commending music educators across the state. The resolution does not create new laws, allocate funding, or impose requirements - its sole purpose is to formally acknowledge and support existing music education efforts in Pennsylvania schools during March 2025. It directly affects Pennsylvania public schools and music educators by highlighting their work through a symbolic designation.

Maddy summaryHR 114 is a resolution that recognizes the week of March 10 through 14, 2025, as "Civic Learning Week" in Pennsylvania. It highlights the importance of civic education for an informed and engaged citizenry.