Rep. Brian Rasel

Maddy summaryHB 2190 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act to change how collective bargaining impasses are resolved for specific public safety and court staff. It requires binding arbitration for disputes involving prison guards, mental hospital staff, peace officers, and court employees when mediation fails - meaning the arbitrator's decision becomes final and enforceable. However, if an arbitration decision would require new legislation (e.g., changing pay rates or benefits), that part would only be advisory, not binding. The bill directly affects these public employee groups whose work is critical to security and court operations. This change streamlines dispute resolution while maintaining legislative oversight for policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1849 requires public colleges and school districts to explicitly designate all sports activities as "male," "female," or "coed." It directly affects students, athletes, and school administrators by mandating this classification for all team sports. The bill creates legal claims for individuals who suffer harm due to a school's designation of a sport as male, female, or coed. This changes how schools categorize sports and provides a new legal pathway for those impacted by the designation.

Maddy summaryHB 158, the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," requires public schools and colleges in Pennsylvania to explicitly designate athletic teams as male, female, or coed based on biological sex. It prohibits teams designated for females from allowing male students to participate and allows students who face denied opportunities or harm due to violations to sue for damages. Schools can also sue entities that punish them for following the law. The bill applies directly to all public school districts, colleges, and athletic programs covered under Pennsylvania's Public School Code.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania House Resolution designates February 22, 2026, as "United States Men's and Women's Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Champions Day" to honor the state's hockey teams' achievements at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The resolution formally recognizes the athletes' gold medal victories and congratulates the teams on their performance, while also acknowledging the support of coaches, staff, and communities who contributed to their success. It is a commemorative measure intended to celebrate the accomplishments of the hockey teams rather than to change laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to temporarily exempt specific consumer goods from sales tax for a six-month period starting July 1, 2026. The temporary exclusions apply to ceiling fans and related accessories, single-use paper or plastic tableware, and swimwear with sun protection items, provided the purchase is made by an individual for personal rather than business use. To ensure clarity, the Department of Revenue is required to publish a list of exempt items and implementation guidance on its website during this time. The tax relief is limited to the six-month window following the bill's effective date, after which the standard sales tax rules will resume for these products.

Maddy summaryHB 2442 amends Pennsylvania's Safe Drinking Water Act to allow the Department of Agriculture to issue temporary operating licenses to applicants seeking retail food facility permits. To qualify, applicants must prove they have submitted a complete public water system permit application and provide certified lab tests showing their water system meets federal standards. The temporary license remains valid only while the permit application is pending and automatically expires if the permit is issued, denied, or if the applicant fails to submit required compliance tests every six months.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Temporary Budget Continuity Act, allows Pennsylvania state agencies to continue operating if the legislature fails to pass a new budget by the start of the fiscal year. It authorizes the State Treasurer to spend up to 85% of the funding levels from the previous year for existing programs and services. Any money spent under this temporary authority will be subtracted from the final budget amounts when the new appropriation act is eventually passed. The law ensures that government functions can continue without interruption while maintaining strict limits on spending to prevent budget overruns.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill proposes changes to state rape sentencing laws by introducing mandatory hormonal or surgical treatment options for convicted offenders. The legislation would allow courts to order convicted rapists to undergo medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment or voluntarily elect surgical castration as part of their sentence. These measures apply to individuals convicted under specific subsections of the state's rape statute, with maximum sentences ranging from 40 years to life imprisonment depending on the offense severity. The Department of Corrections would administer any ordered treatment starting within one week before the offender's release from incarceration.

Maddy summaryHB 2209 requires all state-funded institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to implement a mandatory one-credit course on "the dangers and realities of communism and socialism" starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The course must cover specific topics including definitions of capitalism, communism, and socialism; historical examples like China, Cuba, and the Soviet Union; comparisons between free markets and communist systems; and the impact on civil liberties. It applies to all public universities, community colleges, and state-funded private institutions as defined in the bill. The law mandates this curriculum for all students at these institutions, with no exemption for existing courses. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill narrows who can legally kill wildlife to protect farm property in Pennsylvania. It restricts the definition of "person" to only: (1) owners/lessees of farms under the state's Right-to-Farm Law, (2) their immediate family living on the farm, (3) household members residing there, or (4) employees regularly working the farm. Previously, broader categories like general land cultivators were included, but this amendment limits the exception strictly to active agricultural operations. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.