Rep. Dave Zimmerman

Maddy summaryHR 87 is a resolution directing Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study security risks to critical infrastructure from foreign purchases of infrastructure assets and adjacent land. The study will examine current state protections, compare approaches used by other states, and assess whether adopting a process similar to the federal CFIUS review (which evaluates foreign investments for national security risks) would be feasible. It requires the Commission to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly within 24 months. This resolution does not create new laws but aims to inform future policy decisions about protecting critical infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's definition of "exotic wildlife" in wildlife permit rules. It specifically adds nonhuman primates and expands the list of protected big cats, bears, wolves, and coyotes to include scientific species names (like *Panthera leo* for lions). The definition also explicitly excludes common native species (such as deer, moose, and rabbits), domestic animals, and birds from the "exotic" category. These changes clarify which animals require special permits under existing wildlife regulations, directly affecting wildlife permit applicants and regulators.

Maddy summaryHB 693 amends Pennsylvania's Dog Law to update safety and health requirements for kennels. It requires all kennels to implement vet-approved exercise plans, install smoke alarms or fire extinguishers, and maintain structurally sound enclosures. For Kennel Class C facilities specifically, the bill adds mandatory ventilation and humidity standards to protect dog health during high temperatures (85°F+), as determined by the Canine Health Board. The bill also removes an existing regulation (7 Pa. Code § 28a.4(a)(1)) governing kennel operations.

Maddy summaryHB 695 requires health insurance plans to cover vaccinations administered on schedules chosen by parents or guardians that differ from CDC recommendations, provided at least one vaccine is given annually. It prohibits insurers from offering financial incentives to providers based on per-member vaccination rates. Health care practitioners must continue providing pediatric care for patients on non-CDC schedules and cannot bill for discussions about alternative schedules. Violations by practitioners could result in disciplinary action from their licensing board.

Maddy summaryHB 686 amends Pennsylvania's 1970 law to give parents or legal guardians full access to their minor child's medical, dental, and mental health records until the child turns 18, subject to federal law. This new provision (Section 1.3) overrides a prior rule allowing minors to control their mental health records, directly affecting minors under 18 and their parents/guardians. The bill changes how healthcare providers handle record access requests, requiring disclosure to parents unless federal law prohibits it. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed.

Maddy summaryHB 694 amends Pennsylvania's 1955 Disease Prevention and Control Law to clarify when local county governments without their own health departments may access de-identified communicable disease data. Specifically, it allows county governing bodies to receive limited, anonymized disease reports (including municipality-level data for cases within the past 24 hours) if they pass a resolution authorizing this, provided they follow all applicable confidentiality laws. This provision directly affects counties without local health departments, enabling them to monitor outbreaks while protecting patient privacy. The law explicitly excludes counties with existing health departments from this process, ensuring existing reporting structures remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryHB 687 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to disqualify individuals with delinquent school property taxes from serving as school directors. It prohibits anyone who has failed to pay school taxes on their primary residence or business in their school district for two or more years (without pending legal challenges) from holding this office. The bill applies to both candidates and those elected after its effective date, requiring objections to be filed under existing election law. This change directly affects school board members and candidates in Pennsylvania school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 617 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee every Pennsylvanian the right to refuse any medical treatment, including vaccines, without government interference. The amendment would prohibit denying legal rights to individuals based on their refusal of such treatments. It requires the state legislature to pass the resolution twice before submitting it to voters for approval, following Pennsylvania's constitutional amendment process. If approved by voters, this amendment would become part of the state constitution, altering how medical consent is legally protected.

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 658 allows first-class cities and townships in Pennsylvania to temporarily hire retired police officers back for up to five years to address staffing shortages. Police departments must establish a program where retired officers complete an eight-week training course and agree not to have disciplinary records. Retired officers must choose between keeping their full retirement benefits or temporarily pausing them during participation, with credited service for retirement benefits applied upon return. The program expires six years after implementation and only applies to officers retiring before the bill's effective date.