Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates the week of April 26 through May 2, 2026, as "Conservation District Week" throughout Pennsylvania to raise awareness about local conservation efforts. The measure directly affects Pennsylvania's conservation districts, which are volunteer-led local government units responsible for managing natural resources like soil and water on private and public lands. By officially naming this specific week, the bill aims to highlight the work these districts perform in partnering with landowners, businesses, and other agencies to protect the environment. This action is a commemorative gesture that does not alter existing laws or create new funding, but rather serves to recognize the role of conservation districts in the state.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 1268 amends Pennsylvania's Labor Relations Act to clarify definitions of employees and independent contractors while introducing new rules for union elections and employer conduct. The bill requires employers to post notices about employee rights both physically and electronically and mandates the provision of detailed voter lists to labor organizations following union elections. Additionally, it designates specific actions as unfair labor practices, such as forcing employees to participate in employer-led campaigns unrelated to their job duties. These changes aim to standardize how labor disputes are managed and ensure clearer communication between employers and workers regarding their collective bargaining rights.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's existing professional licensing law to formally include art therapists alongside social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors under state regulation. It establishes the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors and Professional Art Therapists to oversee the field and defines specific qualifications, including the requirement for an accredited degree and supervised practice. The legislation also sets new standards for what constitutes art therapy services, outlines procedures for obtaining and renewing licenses, and creates penalties for practicing without a valid license or using protected titles without authorization.
Maddy summarySenate Bill 1276 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to require candidates for various public offices to file a detailed affidavit alongside their nomination paperwork. This affidavit must include personal information, confirm eligibility, declare awareness of campaign finance laws, and state whether the candidate is running for multiple offices simultaneously. The bill also updates procedures for special elections and strengthens penalties for submitting false information or signatures in nomination documents.
Maddy summarySB 1257, known as the Small Necessities Leave Act, requires Pennsylvania employers to provide eligible employees with up to 24 hours of paid leave per year to attend to specific family needs. Eligible employees, defined as those working at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months, can use this time to participate in their children's school activities or accompany children and elderly relatives to medical and dental appointments. The bill mandates that employers cannot retaliate against workers for using this leave and allows for the use of accrued vacation or sick time if preferred. Additionally, the legislation assigns duties to the Department of Labor and Industry to ensure compliance with these new requirements.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates April 2026 as National Fair Housing Month in Pennsylvania. The measure serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of fair housing principles without altering existing laws or regulations.
Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Data Center Fair Share Act, requires large data centers in Pennsylvania that consume significant amounts of electricity to negotiate binding agreements with local community organizations. These agreements must include specific, measurable benefits for the host community, such as job training or infrastructure support, and the bill also mandates that these facilities make financial contributions to help pay for local power grid upgrades. Additionally, the legislation creates a new fund to support low-income households with energy bills and directs state agencies to create temporary regulations within 120 days to enforce these new requirements on large energy users.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to allow local governments to approve certain residential developments without enforcing standard zoning restrictions like minimum lot sizes, building height limits, or mandatory setbacks. It applies specifically to multifamily, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse projects in nonresidential zones, provided the developer has secured water and sewer connections from municipal systems. Under the new rules, these developments would not be subject to existing zoning requirements for density, parking, walls, fences, or open space, while still maintaining basic accessibility standards. The legislation defines key terms such as mixed-use (residential with less than 50% nonresidential space on the first floor) and adaptive reuse (retaining at least two exterior walls of an existing building). The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.
Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill establishes a statewide paid parental leave program requiring employers to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child within the first year. Eligible employees must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months and completed 1,250 hours of service in the previous year, and they will receive their full pre-leave pay rate during the leave period. The Department of Labor and Industry will administer the program, enforce compliance through complaints and penalties, and maintain a Paid Parental Leave Account to fund the initiative. Additionally, the bill creates a Small Business Grant Program to assist smaller employers with the costs of providing paid parental leave, and requires employers to notify employees about their rights and post information about the program in the workplace.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates March 20, 2026, as Eid al-Fitr Day in Pennsylvania to recognize the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan. The measure is sponsored by multiple state senators and serves as a formal acknowledgment of the religious observance rather than establishing a state holiday or altering government operations. The resolution includes background information on Eid al-Fitr, explaining its significance to the Muslim community and the traditions associated with the celebration.