Sen. Maria Collett

Maddy summarySB 46 requires Pennsylvania's Attorney General to develop a statewide model policy within 120 days to prevent excessive force by law enforcement officers and school security personnel, after consulting with agencies, associations, and community groups. The policy must include specific standards for de-escalation tactics, reasonable alternatives to force, and prohibitions on chokeholds. All law enforcement agencies and school entities must adopt this model policy within 60 days or create a comparable policy meeting its minimum standards. Failure to comply risks loss of state funding, with annual training and biennial policy reviews mandated to ensure ongoing compliance.

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 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 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.

Maddy summarySB 75 amends Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to decriminalize minor marijuana offenses. It removes criminal penalties for possessing up to 30 grams of marijuana (or 8 grams of hashish) for personal use, distributing small amounts without intent to sell, or smoking small amounts in public spaces. Instead of misdemeanor charges, these violations now carry only minor fines: $25 for possession or non-sale distribution, and $100 for public smoking. The bill explicitly states these offenses will not trigger license suspensions under Pennsylvania law. This change directly affects individuals caught with small amounts of marijuana for personal use or non-commercial distribution.

Maddy summarySB 76 allows Pennsylvania medical marijuana patients aged 21 or older to grow up to six cannabis plants at home for personal use, provided they live in the state for at least 30 days. Patients must cultivate cannabis in a locked, enclosed space on residential property (with owner consent), purchase seeds only from licensed dispensaries, and keep plants out of public view. Selling or giving away home-grown cannabis, or exceeding the six-plant limit, results in penalties and loss of cultivation privileges. This amendment to Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act specifically affects qualifying medical patients and adds home cultivation as a permitted activity under existing program rules.

Maddy summarySB 86 would allow undocumented students who attended a Pennsylvania high school (public, nonpublic, charter, or cyber charter) for at least two years and graduated to pay in-state tuition at Pennsylvania's public colleges and universities, instead of higher out-of-state rates. It requires institutions to report these admissions to the state and ensures eligible students qualify for state financial aid through PHEAA without needing to provide Social Security numbers. The bill creates an alternative application process for financial aid that excludes Social Security number requirements for these students.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law to clarify definitions and strengthen protections for buyers and lessees of defective new vehicles, including motorcycles. It establishes specific time and mileage limits for when manufacturers must repair issues that significantly affect a vehicle's use, value, or safety, and mandates refunds or replacements if these repairs fail after a reasonable number of attempts. The legislation also introduces a presumption that a reasonable number of repair attempts have occurred for motorcycles if manufacturer-sourced parts are used, while excluding off-road vehicles and dual-sport motorcycles from coverage. Additionally, the law sets a maximum deduction of 10 cents per mile or 10% of the purchase price when calculating refunds for the consumer's use of the vehicle before the defect was reported.