Rep. Dave Zimmerman

Maddy summaryHB 538 requires colleges and private licensed schools to implement education, prevention, and response programs addressing sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking for students and staff. It updates the 1949 Public School Code by adding specific definitions, mandating annual training, and requiring follow-up procedures after incidents. The bill expands existing requirements to cover all institutions of higher education, ensuring consistent policies across affected schools. This is a substantive policy change focused on improving safety protocols, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands fee exemptions in Pennsylvania for volunteers serving in fire companies or nonprofit emergency medical services agencies. Under the new provisions, these individuals would no longer pay the standard vehicle registration fee, though they would still be required to pay a $11 processing fee to cover administrative costs. The legislation also clarifies that such exemptions are limited to one passenger car or truck per volunteer, ensuring the benefit applies only to a single vehicle per person.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that officially recognizes July 4, 2026, as Independence Day in Pennsylvania to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States. It highlights Pennsylvania's historical significance in the nation's founding, including its role in the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The resolution serves as a formal acknowledgment of these events rather than creating new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 377 adds tianeptine - a medication sometimes misused as an opioid substitute - to Pennsylvania's list of prohibited substances under the Controlled Substance Act. It makes it illegal for unregistered individuals or unlicensed practitioners to manufacture, deliver, or possess tianeptine with intent to distribute. Violators face felony charges punishable by up to five years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The bill directly affects healthcare providers, pharmacies, and anyone handling tianeptine without proper authorization under state drug laws. This amendment updates existing penalties to address emerging misuse of tianeptine.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates the week of April 19 through 25, 2026, as "National Library Week" within the state. The measure serves as a commemorative recognition of the importance of libraries and library workers in the community. It does not create new laws or change any policies, but rather formally acknowledges the role libraries play in providing books, technology, and programs to residents across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution designates the week of March 16 through 20, 2026, as "Pennsylvania Ag Literacy Week" in Pennsylvania. The bill directly affects schools, educators, and the agricultural community by formally recognizing a program that connects volunteers from the farming sector to local classrooms. It highlights the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau as the originators of the initiative, which aims to educate students about agriculture through volunteer storytelling and educational materials. The resolution also acknowledges the economic significance of agriculture in Pennsylvania, noting its contribution to jobs and state revenue.

Maddy summaryHB 2193 creates a $100 tax credit per deer processed for Pennsylvania deer processors who donate all consumable venison from a single deer to an approved food charity (like those meeting requirements under the Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act). Processors must retain Pennsylvania Game Commission ear tags as proof and submit applications by September 15 for the prior year. The credit is limited to $5,000 per taxpayer annually and $200,000 total statewide each year, with unused credits potentially carried over for up to 15 years. This directly affects deer processors who donate meat to qualifying charities, providing a financial incentive for their donation services.

Maddy summaryHB 2233 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle registration law to exempt specific all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) used by emergency services from registration requirements. It directly affects police, fire, and emergency medical services agencies that operate ATVs as emergency vehicles during off-highway response or on closed streets for special events. The bill adds two key exemptions: ATVs used primarily off-highways (traveling ≤10 miles on public roads incidentally) and those operating on restricted streets for events, both exempt from the audible warning system requirement normally applied to emergency vehicles. Operators acting within official duties receive identical liability protections as standard emergency vehicle operators under Pennsylvania law.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 378) designates December 17, 2025, as "Sustainable Forestry Initiative Day" in Pennsylvania to commemorate the 30-year work of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Pennsylvania's SFI Implementation Committee (PA SIC). It recognizes their efforts in promoting sustainable forestry practices, training over 8,000 professionals, and supporting Pennsylvania's forest-based communities and economy through voluntary, science-based stewardship programs. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally honors their contributions to forest sustainability.

Maddy summaryHB 1296 adds an optional $5 contribution during vehicle registration renewals and driver's license/ID renewals to fund two specific programs. Vehicle registrants and driver's license holders can choose to contribute $5 (or $10 for two-year registrations) to either the Fire Company Grant Program or Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. The contributions are added to existing renewal fees and deposited into restricted accounts within the General Fund, which the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency then uses to make grants under existing law. This bill directly affects Pennsylvanians renewing vehicle registrations or driver's licenses, with no mandatory contribution required.