Sen. Nikil Saval

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a three-year statewide ban on approving or building new hyperscale data centers in Pennsylvania. It directly affects large-scale data facilities by halting permits for any new construction, expansions that would create hyperscale centers, and the necessary power or transmission infrastructure required to support them. The law defines hyperscale data centers as facilities with significant electricity demand, ranging from one megawatt to twenty megawatts depending on the local grid size, and prohibits state and local governments from issuing any related approvals during the moratorium period.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Pennsylvania to honor the community's contributions and commemorate the 57th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn demonstrations. The measure serves as a symbolic recognition of historical events, such as early civil rights protests in Philadelphia, and acknowledges the state's long-standing support for LGBTQ+ equality. By passing this resolution, the Pennsylvania Senate aims to foster a welcoming atmosphere and celebrate diversity without altering any laws or government policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Equal Employment for All Act, prohibits employers in Pennsylvania from using credit reports to make hiring or firing decisions, with specific exceptions for national security roles, certain government jobs, financial institution executives, and cases required by law. The law aims to prevent discrimination based on an individual's creditworthiness, credit standing, or credit capacity during the employment process. Any violation of these restrictions will be treated as an unlawful discriminatory practice under the existing Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and will be enforced through that same legal framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a regulatory framework for large commercial data centers in Pennsylvania, specifically targeting facilities with a peak power demand of 25 megawatts or more. It requires these data centers to procure a specific amount of clean, reliable energy from new sources like wind, solar with storage, and nuclear power, while also mandating backup generation capabilities and strict disclosure rules. To support the program, the legislation creates two new funding accounts: one to enhance assistance for low-income households facing high energy costs and another to promote state energy independence. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will oversee contract reviews and enforcement, with penalties in place for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals who have recently received protection from abuse relief or experienced verified abuse in the last four months to get free copies of important state documents. Specifically, it removes fees for corrected or duplicate driver's licenses, birth certificates, and other identification documents for qualifying victims and their dependents. The law requires that abuse be verified through statements from professionals like doctors, lawyers, or victim service providers, and it mandates that state agencies create clear application processes and standardized forms for these requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new legal protections against the deprivation of constitutional rights by prohibiting any individual or entity from infringing upon substantive due process or equal protection rights guaranteed by state and federal laws. It establishes that victims of such violations can file civil lawsuits to seek damages, injunctive relief, and civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, while also allowing the Attorney General or district attorneys to bring actions on behalf of the injured party. The legislation applies broadly to all persons, regardless of whether they are acting under official authority, and includes provisions for awarding attorney fees and costs to prevailing parties in these cases.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution congratulates Indiana University of Pennsylvania on its 150th anniversary, marking 150 years since the institution began as Indiana State Normal School in 1875. The document outlines the school's historical evolution from a teacher training program to a university and notes its current status as the only state-owned institution authorized to confer doctor of philosophy degrees. It also highlights the university's ongoing academic growth, including plans to establish a College of Osteopathic Medicine. The resolution expresses the Senate's best wishes for the university's continued success and directs a copy of the document to the university's Council of Trustees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new large-scale warehouses and distribution centers in Pennsylvania to be built as "solar-ready," meaning their roofs must be designed to easily accommodate solar panels with at least 40% of the area free from obstructions. To enforce this, the Department of Environmental Protection must ensure new projects include specific structural and electrical features, such as reinforced roofs and pre-installed wiring pathways, while denying waivers based on general costs or market factors. The only way to avoid these requirements is to prove that unique site conditions, like severe shading or poor soil, make compliance technically impossible or excessively expensive, a claim that must be supported by detailed engineering reports and independent cost estimates. Additionally, the legislation provides for tax exemptions on eligible solar retrofit costs and establishes penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summarySB 507 amends Pennsylvania's medical licensing law to reestablish the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and update its structure. It directly affects midwifery professionals by creating three new license categories: midwifery, nurse-midwife, and certified midwife. The bill establishes specific requirements and definitions for these licenses under the board's authority. This change clarifies licensing pathways for midwifery practitioners within the state's medical regulatory framework. The bill passed final passage on October 21, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 867 creates an Accessibility Advisory Board to review and recommend updates to Pennsylvania's accessibility standards in building codes. The 11-member board - requiring representation from people with disabilities, architects, business, housing, and municipal officials - must assess new sections of the International Code Council (ICC) accessibility codes within 21 months of their publication. It establishes a 120-day public comment period and requires the board to apply three criteria (public safety, economic impact, technical feasibility) before voting on whether to adopt, reject, or modify changes. The board’s recommendations must be adopted by the Department of Labor and Industry within nine months, directly affecting municipalities, builders, and people with disabilities through updated construction accessibility requirements.