SB 839 requires Pennsylvania public schools to incorporate media literacy education into K-12 curricula. The bill mandates the Department of Education to develop an age-appropriate model curriculum within 12 months, covering critical thinking about media messages, bias, misinformation, marketing tactics, and perspective gaps. School districts must implement this curriculum starting the school year after the bill takes effect. The Department must also provide free online resources and teacher training on media literacy.
SR 83 is a resolution from the Pennsylvania Senate urging the U.S. Congress to adopt three specific federal bills: H.R. 1876, H.R. 1877, and S. 770. These bills are aimed at keeping Social Security field offices open, protecting Americans' Social Security data, and expanding Social Security benefits. The resolution also expresses strong opposition to federal cuts to Social Security benefits and the Social Security Administration's plans to close local offices and reduce staff, advocating for robust staffing and local facilities to serve beneficiaries.
This bill (HR 81) is a resolution urging Congress to amend two sections of U.S. copyright law (17 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 107) to protect creative workers. It specifically targets how artificial intelligence systems use copyrighted creative work (like writing, music, or art) without permission, seeking to require authorization for AI training on such material. The resolution directly affects artists, writers, musicians, and other creative professionals whose work could be displaced by AI. It proposes concrete policy changes by adjusting copyright protections to prevent AI from automatically using their creations without consent, rather than creating new rules. The bill was referred to the Communications & Technology committee but was later laid on the table, halting further progress.
SB 112, the Consumer Data Privacy Act, establishes new rules for how businesses handle personal data in Pennsylvania. It requires businesses (like online services or retailers meeting revenue or data volume thresholds) to get clear, affirmative consent from Pennsylvania residents before collecting or selling their data, bans deceptive "dark patterns" that trick users into sharing information, and prohibits selling data for targeted advertising without consent. The law defines personal data broadly to include location and biometric information (but excludes de-identified data or publicly available information) and imposes penalties for violations. It directly affects Pennsylvania consumers by giving them more control over their data and businesses that process their information.
SB 245 establishes Pennsylvania's Regulatory Sandbox Program, allowing businesses to temporarily test innovative products and services - such as those using blockchain technology - in regulated sectors like finance and insurance without full compliance with certain state laws. The program is administered by the new Regulatory Relief Office (within the Governor's Office), which reviews applications and works with agencies to waive or suspend relevant regulations for approved participants. An advisory committee, including business representatives and legislators, provides input and can override agency rejections of applications. This directly affects businesses developing new offerings who seek a controlled environment to demonstrate innovations before full market rollout.
SB 939 establishes Pennsylvania's Office of Transformation and Opportunity and creates a regulatory sandbox program for artificial intelligence, data centers, and emerging technologies. It defines "high impact data centers" as facilities with 50+ megawatts of critical power, requiring owners to notify the office when they meet this threshold. The bill standardizes local regulations to prevent stricter rules for these facilities than for other industrial uses, ensuring permitting reviews occur within 30 days for complete applications. It also creates a testing program allowing businesses to trial new technologies under temporary regulatory flexibility while requiring consumer protections and annual reports to the legislature.
SB 811 establishes Pennsylvania's SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program to support small businesses with federal research grants. It provides state matching funds (up to $50,000) to Pennsylvania-based businesses that receive Phase I awards under the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. To qualify, businesses must conduct at least 51% of their Phase II research in Pennsylvania, submit a Phase I report, and avoid duplicate state funding. The program aims to foster economic growth by helping small businesses advance federal-funded research projects.
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HB 1779 requires businesses using algorithms to set prices (like online retailers or service platforms) to disclose how those algorithms work to consumers. It mandates the Pennsylvania Attorney General and Consumer Protection Bureau to develop rules for transparency and investigate unfair pricing practices. The bill directly affects companies that use dynamic or automated pricing models and aims to give consumers clearer insight into how prices are determined. This is a concrete policy change focused on disclosure, not on regulating specific prices or outcomes.
SB 886 would protect patient records related to reproductive health services (including pregnancy care, contraception, and abortion) in Pennsylvania by requiring healthcare providers to obtain written consent before sharing such records in court, investigations, or other proceedings. It directly affects patients receiving these services and healthcare providers (referred to as "covered entities" in the bill). Key provisions include a general consent requirement for disclosure, with exceptions for court orders, legal defense, abuse investigations, or child/senior abuse reports. The law does not override existing privacy rules for other medical information or mental health services.
SB 468 allows Pennsylvania to form agreements with other states for drone (unmanned aircraft system) research and testing. It requires Governor approval for these agreements and specifies that drone operations must occur in certain counties (including defined population ranges) or with approved educational partners like schools or colleges offering aviation courses. The bill lets the state Transportation Department create temporary rules for drone operations without standard regulatory review, while ensuring compliance with federal and local laws. This primarily affects state agencies, educational institutions, and drone operators seeking to test or deploy drones across state lines.
