Dear Friends,
Thank you to everyone who came out to our open house last weekend. I truly value the opportunity to speak with you and learn more about our community. I am also deeply grateful to my staff who attended, met with constituents, and provided on-the-spot assistance – as always, they deliver outstanding service to our district. This week, I’ll continue with an overview of the bills I am working on this legislative session. Last week, I reviewed legislation that passed the House and is now pending in the Senate. This week, I will highlight additional bills currently in the House and awaiting a vote on second consideration or final passage.
Child Interrogation Protection Act – HB 1613
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Miranda v. Arizona (1966), law enforcement officers are required to inform individuals of their Miranda rights upon being taken into custody. However, these rights can be difficult for children to fully understand. Interrogating minors without appropriate safeguards can result in false confessions, wrongful convictions, emotional trauma, and improper interrogations that ultimately produce inadmissible evidence.
To better protect children in these high-stress and sensitive situations, I introduced House Bill 1613. This legislation would require that an attorney be consulted when a child is taken into custody and would ensure that parents or guardians are promptly notified. Additionally, if a law enforcement officer willfully fails to comply with these requirements, the bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that any statement made by the child is inadmissible.
Similar legislation was enacted in Maryland in 2022. Given that Pennsylvania law does not prohibit law enforcement from using deceptive practices during interrogations, requiring legal representation for children is a critical safeguard to ensure their constitutional rights are protected. HB 1613 passed the Judiciary Committee and is awaiting a vote on final passage.
Ensuring that children have the opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to custodial interrogation is vital to the integrity of our legal system. Decades of research show that children differ significantly from adults in their mental and emotional development, decision-making abilities, and capacity for critical reasoning. When combined with the well-documented risks of coercive interrogation practices, the need for this common-sense reform becomes all the more urgent.
Lemon Law Protection for RVs and Campers Owners– HB 804
When Pennsylvanians buy a new car, they have peace of mind knowing that this major purchase is protected under the state Lemon Law. However, in Pennsylvania, Recreation Vehicles (RVs) and Campers are not awarded the same coverage. I introduced HB 804 to ensure that RVs and Campers are protected in the Automobile Lemon Law. If this bill becomes law, manufacturers will be required to replace an RV or camper with repeated problems occurring within one year or 12,000 miles of purchase. RVs are a significant financial investment, and consumers deserve the comfort of knowing their purchase is protected if something was built or assembled improperly. This crucial step ensures quality motor homes are crossing the Commonwealth, one vacation at a time. The bill passed in the Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee and awaits a vote on second consideration. The lobbyists for the RV industry have been lobbying heavily against this bill (for obvious reasons), and I am not sure if it will come up for a full house vote.
Right-To-Know Law Disability Accommodations Exception – HB 802
The Right-To-Know law exempts certain sensitive records from public access. However, the current version of the law, as written, does not address sensitive records produced or used to accommodate a disability. This was brought to my attention when Mayor Neil McDevitt, who is deaf, informed me that he uses a device when in executive session to generate a visual transcript of the conversation. There is a concern that this transcript may be subject to a right-to-know request as it is a written document of communication.
I introduced House Bill 802 to amend the Right-To-Know Law, to create a specific exception covering disability accommodations. My bill exempts reference notes and working papers prepared by or for a public official or public employee that are used to accommodate an individual’s disability. This bill has previously passed in the House with unanimous support. I am hopeful it will pass again.
Homeowners Associations Solar Access – HB 1239
I introduced House Bill 1239 to prevent homeowners associations (HOAs) from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting the installation or use of solar energy systems on detached homes and townhouses. I have heard from many constituents across the district, and from residents throughout the Commonwealth, about the importance of protecting the right to access clean, renewable energy.
Under current law, homeowners are not afforded equal rights or opportunities when it comes to solar energy adoption. Too often, HOAs create unnecessary barriers to energy-efficient, environmentally responsible choices, favoring outdated and inefficient energy practices instead. Solar power is a proven, economically viable, and sustainable energy source that lowers costs for homeowners while benefiting the environment.
HB 1239 ensures fairness, promotes energy independence, and supports Pennsylvania’s transition to clean energy. The bill passed the Energy Committee and is awaiting a vote on second consideration.
Ban Cat Declawing – HB 1716
I introduced House Bill 1716 to prohibit the non-therapeutic declawing of cats in Pennsylvania. A practice that is widely recognized as inhumane and medically unnecessary. Declawing, or onychectomy, is not a simple nail trim, but the amputation of the last bone of each toe. When done for convenience rather than medical need, it can cause lifelong pain, infection, lameness, and serious behavioral issues that too often lead to abandonment or euthanasia.
HB 1716 takes a balanced approach by allowing declawing only when it is medically necessary and therapeutically justified by a licensed veterinarian. This reflects the growing consensus within the veterinary profession, as many veterinary schools no longer teach the procedure and more veterinarians are choosing not to perform it. Although the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, which protects the economic interests of vets, has lobbied heavily against the bill and declined to negotiate language, support continues to expand among animal welfare advocates, veterinary professionals, and organizations across the country.
Pennsylvania is increasingly out of step with states and municipalities that have already banned non-therapeutic declawing. While I was disappointed that this common-sense, bipartisan animal welfare bill advanced from the Judiciary Committee along party lines, I am encouraged by the growing support from animal welfare advocates and veterinary professionals nationwide. HB 1716 is a humane, responsible reform, and I remain hopeful it will continue to move forward.
Looking Ahead
I will continue to keep you appraised about what is happening with these bills as they move through the legislative process. Although some groups may rely on paid lobbyists to advance their interests, we should remember that our voices carry even greater weight when we choose to use them. Real change comes from individuals willing to advocate for what they believe in. As ever, I encourage you to contact your legislatures and encourage your friends to do the same on issues of importance to you.
I am hopeful that two bills will soon join those I mention above; House Bill 1670, which would require insurance companies to cover a portion of hearing aid costs and House Bill 2018, which would establish a statewide system to track and compile data on domestic violence–related deaths in Pennsylvania, addressing a critical gap that prevents an accurate understanding of the scope of the problem. Providing reliable, standardized data gives policymakers and advocates the information needed to develop targeted, effective strategies to prevent future domestic violence fatalities.