Maddy summarySenate Bill 502 establishes the Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition Board within Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection. This new board directly affects companies proposing to build or expand large electric generators (25 megawatts or more) or significant energy storage facilities (10 megawatts or more). Its primary purpose is to create a statewide process for selecting and approving sites for these large-scale energy projects. The Board, composed of state officials and industry representatives, is authorized to issue "certificates of reliable energy supply" to streamline construction while considering human health, safety, and environmental impacts. However, these certificates cannot be granted for facilities planned on land zoned residential since January 1, 2024, or if the project previously sought local government approval.
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Maddy summarySenate Resolution 106 is a commemorative resolution that honors the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles for winning Super Bowl LIX and recognizes them as one of the greatest football teams to represent the Commonwealth. This resolution was introduced and adopted on May 7, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 709, known as the Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act, mandates that all health facilities in Pennsylvania establish violence prevention committees. These committees, comprised of both management and non-managerial employees, are responsible for conducting risk assessments, developing written workplace violence prevention programs, and providing employee training. The bill also requires employees to report incidents of workplace violence and prohibits retaliation against those who report. The Department of Labor and Industry is granted powers and duties related to these requirements, and the bill imposes fines for non-compliance.
Maddy summarySB 651 is a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution to establish "Workers' rights." This amendment would grant employees the fundamental right to organize and collectively bargain through representatives of their choice regarding wages, hours, working conditions, and workplace safety. It specifies that no law can diminish these rights, including those that prohibit agreements requiring union membership as a condition of employment. If passed by the General Assembly twice, this proposed amendment would then be put before Pennsylvania voters for approval.
Maddy summarySB 671 amends the Job Enhancement Act to establish financial assistance programs for businesses materially impacted by the air ambulance crash in Philadelphia on January 31, 2025. It creates both a grant program and a loan program to provide funding and support to these specific businesses. The bill also requires a report on the program's implementation and a study on best practices for assisting small businesses during emergencies. Financial assistance under this act can only be awarded for five years following its effective date.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 696 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle code regarding special speed limitations in school zones. The bill clarifies that the 15 miles per hour speed limit within a school zone can be enforced during regular school hours. This enforcement is permissible regardless of whether students are allowed to walk to and from the school located within that zone. The change aims to ensure consistent application of school zone speed limits based on a school's operational hours, affecting drivers in those areas.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 564 proposes to provide an additional monthly supplemental annuity to eligible retired public school employees and retired state government employees in Pennsylvania. For retired public school employees, these new payments would begin after July 1, 2025, while for retired state employees, they would commence after January 1, 2025. The amount of this supplement will be a percentage of their current monthly annuity, ranging from 15% to 24.5% based on their retirement date, with older retirees receiving a higher percentage. The bill specifies that eligible recipients must have retired before July 2, 2001, and not have certain service credits. The increased costs for these benefits will be funded by the Commonwealth over a ten-year period.
Maddy summarySB 648 establishes new requirements for hospital-based financial assistance programs for residents of Pennsylvania. It mandates the Department of Health to create uniform application forms, a one-page summary template for hospital eligibility policies, and a brief statement about financial assistance availability. Hospitals must post these forms and their full financial assistance policies online, provide the summary to patients upon intake and discharge, and include the brief statement on all billing and admission paperwork. Additionally, patients are not responsible for bills while their application is under review, and hospitals must submit their policies to the Department of Health for public display.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 679 proposes to establish a minimum hourly wage or a living wage for education support professionals in Pennsylvania's public schools, such as aides, custodians, and cafeteria staff. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, these employees would be paid at least $20 per hour or a living wage, whichever is greater, with overtime at one and a half times that rate. The Department of Labor and Industry would be responsible for determining and annually adjusting the living wage for each school entity. Public school entities would receive supplemental reimbursements from the Department of Education to help cover these increased wage costs, including payments for existing contracts that fall below the new minimum.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 663 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish education on deaf and hard of hearing topics for public school students. By the 2025-2026 school year, the Department of Education, in consultation with health experts, must develop and post a model curriculum and guidelines. This curriculum will cover topics such as types and causes of hearing loss, prevention, assistive devices, and related stigmas. School entities can use this model curriculum or create their own, ensuring it aligns with the state's guidelines and academic standards.