Rep. Danielle Otten

Maddy summaryThis bill allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs), such as secondary apartments or backyard cottages, to be built on properties with single-family homes across Pennsylvania. It requires every municipality to adopt a simple ordinance permitting at least one ADU per lot and mandates that applications be approved within 30 days (or 60 days with additional review), with automatic approval if deadlines are missed. Municipalities may charge a maximum $250 fee for processing and cannot require permit renewals. The law respects existing deed restrictions and planned community rules while aiming to increase housing options through standardized ADU access.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow students with asthma or severe allergies to possess and self-administer their prescribed asthma medications (including inhalers) and epinephrine auto-injectors at school. Schools must create written policies requiring students to demonstrate self-administration capability and notify the school nurse after use, while ensuring medications are stored safely and accessible only to authorized students. The bill also permits trained school staff, including bus drivers and crossing guards, to administer epinephrine auto-injectors in emergencies for students experiencing allergic reactions or asthma attacks. These changes aim to improve student safety by ensuring timely access to life-saving medications during school hours.

Maddy summaryHB 306 amends Pennsylvania's Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act to require public utilities to share specific emergency response plans and safety records with state or federal agencies (including the National Transportation Safety Board) when a safety risk is suspected, such as potential harm to people or mass destruction. This exception overrides standard confidentiality protections, meaning agencies receiving the information are not bound by usual rules, and disclosures do not make the information public under the Right-to-Know Law. The bill directly affects public utilities and government agencies by streamlining safety-related information sharing during emergencies. It creates a clear process for mandatory disclosure in safety-critical situations while preserving confidentiality safeguards for other uses.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to study Pennsylvania's disability waiver programs. It specifically examines how to improve experiences for individuals receiving Home and Community-Based Services waivers through the Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) and Office of Developmental Programs (ODP). The study will assess medical care access, healthcare support barriers, and staffing challenges for waiver participants. The findings will inform future improvements to these services, focusing on people with disabilities who rely on community-based care instead of institutional settings. (HR 134, 2025)

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act to update provisions regarding training wages for employees under the age of twenty. It allows employers to pay a reduced wage rate during the first sixty days of employment for young workers, provided the employee is informed of their right to the full minimum wage after the training period ends. The legislation also includes a prohibition against hiring new trainees at a lower wage if it results in displacing existing employees through reduced hours or benefits. These changes directly affect employers in the state and young workers entering the workforce, ensuring specific protections while allowing for a temporary training wage structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to make a one-time payment to medical assistance managed care organizations by December 31, 2027, to help increase payments to providers for medical equipment and supplies. The total amount available for distribution is calculated by taking the total funds these organizations paid to providers for such items in 2024 and adding 10% to that figure. Once the department distributes its share, the managed care organizations must pass along 10% of the 2024 payment amounts to each participating provider within 30 days. The law applies specifically to individuals enrolled in the medical assistance program and the healthcare providers and organizations that serve them.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax credit for individuals employed as direct support professionals who assist people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. To qualify, workers must have an adjusted gross income of less than $100,000 and can claim a credit of up to $1,000 against their state taxes, with any unused portion refunded as cash. The program is limited to a total of $2 million per fiscal year and will be available from 2026 through 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws to restrict how juvenile suspects are held in police lockups and defines where they can be detained before a court hearing. It generally prohibits keeping children in adult police facilities, allowing it only for short periods under six hours for tasks like identification or processing, provided the child is separated from adults and under constant supervision. For longer-term detention, the law requires judges to confirm that no less restrictive option exists and mandates that children be placed in approved juvenile facilities rather than adult prisons. Additionally, the bill clarifies that children facing serious charges are entitled to an immediate bail hearing if they are held before trial.

Maddy summaryHB 2506 prevents Pennsylvania counties, municipalities, and townships from passing local laws that restrict the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation of firearms and ammunition, as long as those items are not already banned by state or federal law. The bill also stops local governments from suing gun manufacturers or dealers for damages related to how firearms are designed, manufactured, or sold to the public. Additionally, it removes the specific authority for municipalities to regulate firearms entirely, ensuring that gun policy remains a state-level responsibility rather than a local one.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Second Class County Code to prohibit these counties from passing laws or taking actions that regulate firearms. Specifically, it removes the existing provision that allowed second-class counties to create ordinances regarding the transfer, ownership, transportation, or possession of guns. The change directly affects local governments in second-class counties by restricting their ability to implement their own gun control measures. The legislation becomes effective 60 days after it is passed.