Sen. Steve Santarsiero

Maddy summarySB 268 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to establish rules for calculating health insurance cost-sharing. It requires insurers and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to include all out-of-pocket payments made by insured individuals (or others on their behalf) when determining cost-sharing amounts like deductibles or copays. The law applies to health insurance policies issued, renewed, or entered into after its effective date, but excludes dental, vision, workers' compensation, and similar coverage types. This change directly affects health insurers, PBMs, and policyholders by standardizing how cost-sharing is calculated under health plans.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SB 262 creates a legal process for courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a significant risk of harming themselves or others with a firearm. Family members, household members, or law enforcement can petition a court if they reasonably believe a person has firearms and is at risk of violence, requiring specific evidence like recent threats or acts. The court must hold a hearing within 14 days, and if it finds the risk is "more likely than not," it issues a one-year order requiring the person to surrender all firearms. The bill prohibits fees or bonds for petitioners and mandates law enforcement to enforce firearm surrender, with clear procedures for service, notice, and reporting.

Maddy summarySB 251 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's Constitution, creating a two-year window for victims of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits against the Commonwealth. It directly affects individuals who experienced abuse as children and were previously barred by expired statutes of limitations, damage caps, or government immunity. The amendment overrides these legal barriers, allowing such cases to be filed within two years of the amendment's effective date, without being blocked by standard time limits or immunity protections. This change applies only to childhood sexual abuse claims arising before the amendment takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes February 2025 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups directly, but encourages statewide observance of African American contributions to the Commonwealth. The Senate adopted the resolution on February 5, 2025, aligning with the national observance established through historical efforts like Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson's founding of Negro History Week. The resolution acknowledges the annual theme "African Americans and Labor" as designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 20) is a ceremonial statement honoring the 50th anniversary of the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation on January 15, 2025. It recognizes the foundation’s 50-year work serving Philadelphia’s Korean immigrant community and expanding to support broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities through health services, senior employment training, advocacy, and cultural programs. The resolution also commemorates Dr. Philip Jaisohn, a pioneering Korean-American who became the first Korean immigrant to gain U.S. citizenship in 1890 and championed Korean independence efforts in the U.S. This is a symbolic gesture with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation.

Maddy summarySB 233, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, prohibits the sale and distribution of unsafe kratom products and bans sales to anyone under 21. It defines unsafe products as those containing harmful additives, controlled substances, excessive solvents, synthetic compounds, or lacking proper labeling, while requiring clear ingredient disclosure. Retailers cannot sell kratom to minors, and processors must comply with safety standards. The Department of Health enforces these rules, imposing fines up to $5,000 for violations, with penalties increasing for repeat offenses.

Maddy summarySB 234 amends Pennsylvania's domestic relations law to clarify procedures for emergency protection orders in domestic violence cases. It specifies that emergency orders issued by local courts expire no later than 10 business days (or when a court hearing occurs, per local rules), requiring courts to schedule hearings promptly and enter orders into a statewide registry. The bill mandates that hearing officers provide victims with clear instructions on next steps, including how to seek a permanent order, report violations, access free legal aid, and connect with domestic violence support services. This directly affects domestic violence victims, local courts, and hearing officers handling emergency protection cases. The changes aim to streamline safety protections while ensuring victims receive timely, actionable guidance.

Maddy summarySB 237 amends Pennsylvania's Equal Pay Law to clarify that "wages" include all compensation (salaries, benefits, and supplements) and define "comparable work" as requiring similar skill, effort, and working conditions - not just matching job titles. It strengthens protections by requiring employers to prove pay differences are based on job-related factors (like experience or performance), not sex, and prohibits lowering wages to comply with the law. The bill also allows the Attorney General to sue for unpaid wages with no filing fees and extends the statute of limitations to three years for willful violations. It directly affects all employers in Pennsylvania, including state and local government, and workers experiencing pay discrimination.

Maddy summarySR 18 is a procedural resolution recognizing February 2025 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania. It formally honors the contributions of African Americans throughout Pennsylvania's history and aligns with the national observance established by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The resolution does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but rather serves as an official acknowledgment by the Pennsylvania Senate. It follows the annual tradition of designating February for this observance, as established by the ASALH.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 17) symbolically recognizes February 7, 2025, as "National Wear Red Day" in Pennsylvania. It highlights cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and promotes awareness of the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign. The resolution urges Pennsylvanians to wear red on that date to support efforts combating heart disease and stroke in women. It does not create new laws or allocate funding, serving solely as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness.