Sen. Judy Schwank

Maddy summarySB 260 adds a new exemption category for caregivers from Pennsylvania jury duty. It allows caregivers who request excusal, do not work outside the home, and live with a child under seven or a person with a permanent disability requiring active care during court hours (and lack affordable or available alternative care) to be excused permanently or for a limited period. Courts must require a notarized affidavit confirming these conditions, and caregivers excused for a limited time will be reassigned to the next jury array after their period ends. This bill directly affects caregivers meeting these specific criteria, modifying existing jury duty exemptions under Title 42.

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 summaryThis resolution designates February 2025 as "Career and Technical Education Month" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes the importance of career and technical education programs for students and the workforce, without creating new laws or altering existing policies. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about these programs, which serve over 68,000 students statewide and connect them to in-demand careers.

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 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 summarySB 151 requires Pennsylvania's Independent Fiscal Office to conduct poverty impact analyses for the Governor's proposed budget, the enacted state budget, and any bill or amendment upon written request from a state legislator. The analysis must project how proposed budgets or legislation affect poverty levels (using 200% of the federal poverty threshold), including changes in household incomes below that threshold and access to basic services like health care and housing. The bill mandates the analysis be completed by specific deadlines (e.g., May 1 for the proposed budget) and be impartial and easy to understand. If the office fails to provide the analysis within 10 days of a request, the bill or amendment may proceed without it. This policy directly affects the state budget process and legislative review of measures impacting low-income residents.

Maddy summarySB 214 establishes a Municipal Codes Enforcement Grant Program to help municipalities without existing code enforcement programs hire staff and create new programs, with grants up to $100,000 awarded competitively based on financial need and property conditions. It also creates Municipal Neighborhood Mitigation Funds, funded by penalties for serious property violations (e.g., unsafe structures), which must be used for cleanup, repairs, or demolition of blighted properties. Municipalities must match grant funds and follow specific guidelines, while penalties for repeated violations range from $25 to $1,000. The bill additionally allows counties to adopt property maintenance codes through ordinances, with requirements for public notice and accessibility.

Maddy summarySB 219 establishes Pennsylvania's School-Based Youth Court Pilot Program, creating a three-year initiative to replace traditional disciplinary actions with restorative justice approaches in schools. The bill provides grants of up to $250,000 per school to help schools develop youth courts staffed by students under 21, using trauma-informed methods to address minor misconduct through restorative sanctions like community service, workshops, or mediated conversations. It requires the Department of Education to create an Education and Justice Resource Center to train participants, collect data, and oversee program implementation. The program directly affects schools, students under 21 involved in disciplinary cases, and local education agencies seeking to reduce suspensions through restorative practices.

Maddy summarySB 135 changes sentencing for minors (under 18) convicted of certain murders. It mandates minimum 25- or 35-year prison terms (instead of life without parole) for those aged 15+ at the time of first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child, or murder of a law enforcement officer. The bill also establishes the Life with Parole Reinvestment Fund, which uses prison cost savings from parole decisions to fund victim services, offender reentry programs, and supervision. These changes affect minors convicted of specified violent crimes and modify parole procedures for life-sentence inmates. The fund transfers 25% to victim services, 25% to offender supervision, and 50% to reentry programs starting in 2026.