Sen. Steve Santarsiero

Maddy summarySB 119 amends Pennsylvania's banking laws to establish requirements for community reinvestment by banks and nonbank financial entities operating in the state. It mandates banks to report loan data, maintain public files with performance evaluations, and display community reinvestment notices in branches, while requiring nonbank entities to follow similar standards. The law aligns Pennsylvania's rules with federal community reinvestment principles (like the CRA), directing the Department of Banking to assess banks' efforts to meet credit needs in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. This directly affects all banks and qualifying nonbank entities conducting business in Pennsylvania under state oversight.

Maddy summarySB 59 clarifies Pennsylvania's definition of "community college" to explicitly include programs like career training, college-parallel courses, and credit courses for high school students. It grants the State Board of Education authority to set mandatory standards for community college facilities, curriculum, faculty qualifications, student enrollment, and degree requirements. The bill also requires the State Board to prescribe all types of diplomas and certificates awarded by community colleges and permits them to offer nursing bachelor's degrees to students with associate's in nursing. This directly affects community colleges and their students across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 42 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to explicitly include 3-D printed firearms in all definitions of "firearm" across multiple sections, affecting anyone possessing, manufacturing, or selling such weapons. Key provisions require 3-D printed firearms to comply with standard firearm regulations, including prohibiting their creation without a federal manufacturing license (Section 11). The bill also updates definitions for offenses like assault on law enforcement, discharge of firearms in occupied structures, and paramilitary training to encompass 3-D printed weapons. It directly impacts firearm creators, sellers, and possessors by extending existing licensing, registration, and sales surcharge requirements to 3-D printed firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 37) amends Pennsylvania law to prohibit individuals convicted of specific violent or dangerous crimes from possessing firearms. It directly affects people convicted of offenses like murder, aggravated assault, robbery, sexual assault, stalking, or certain types of kidnapping. The key mechanism adds over 50 existing criminal offenses - such as assault involving a firearm, robbery, or child sexual abuse - to a list where a conviction triggers an automatic firearm possession ban. The change clarifies that if someone is convicted of any of these listed crimes, they cannot legally own or carry a firearm.

Maddy summarySB 121 establishes the Center for Gun Violence Research in Pennsylvania to conduct nonpartisan, academic research on gun violence causes, prevention, and impacts. The center, to be operated by a state-selected university, will analyze data on gun-related deaths, costs, and prevention strategies, and provide evidence-based findings to policymakers. It requires state agencies to share relevant data and mandates biennial reports to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania residents by funding research to address a public health crisis highlighted by the state’s high gun violence death rates and the lack of federal research funding since the 1996 Dickey Amendment.

Maddy summarySB 24 establishes Pennsylvania's Office of New Americans within the Department of Community and Economic Development to support immigrant integration. The office will serve as a central resource for state agencies, immigrants, and organizations by answering inquiries, coordinating policies, analyzing demographic trends, and developing strategies to attract and retain immigrants. It also creates an Advisory Committee with 11 voting members representing state agencies, immigrant-serving organizations, businesses, education, healthcare, and language services to guide the office’s work. The bill directly affects immigrants seeking to integrate into Pennsylvania’s economy and communities, as well as state agencies responsible for licensing, education, and economic development. The Office of New Americans will begin operations upon the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summarySB 28 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require the state Department of Education to develop and share age-appropriate resources for integrating Black history into school curricula. It directs the department to create these materials within three months of the law's effective date and post them online for all schools to use. The bill applies to every public school district, charter school, private school, and other school entities in Pennsylvania, but does not mandate specific curriculum changes - only that schools can access the state-provided resources. Schools may also use other approved materials to teach the history of the Black experience as part of required or elective courses.

Maddy summarySB 25 amends Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law to update regulations for certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs). It clarifies definitions, including "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Certified Nurse Practitioner" (APRN-CNP), and specifies their scope of practice, including prescribing authority for certain medications. The bill requires CRNPs to collaborate with physicians through written agreements and immediate communication protocols, while transferring oversight of CRNP licensing from the State Board of Medicine to the State Board of Nursing. These changes directly affect nurse practitioners, the State Board of Nursing, and physicians working with CRNPs in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt certain veterans and their surviving spouses from Pennsylvania property taxes on their primary residences. It applies to veterans who served honorably and have specific service-connected disabilities (such as blindness, paralysis, amputation, or a 100% VA-rated disability), as well as surviving spouses of veterans killed in action or with service-connected deaths. The exemption requires the State Veterans' Commission to verify the applicant’s financial need and does not consider disability compensation when determining eligibility. The amendment must be approved by the General Assembly and voters before taking effect.

Maddy summarySB 148 requires applicants for a Pennsylvania concealed firearm license to demonstrate firearm competency through approved training or experience. It directly affects individuals seeking concealed carry permits by adding a new requirement to prove competency before a license can be issued. Key provisions include listing specific acceptable methods (like hunter safety courses, NRA training, or military service) and mandating documentation like certificates or instructor affidavits. The bill amends the application form to include a certification statement about completing such training, which must be submitted with the license application.