Sen. Nick Miller

Maddy summarySB 895 requires drivers in Pennsylvania to carry a signed vehicle registration card (either physical or electronic) while operating a vehicle and to show it to police upon request. It directly affects all drivers who operate vehicles on public roads. The bill adds a provision mandating that registration cards be in the driver's possession or in the vehicle and specifies that electronic proof of registration (including financial responsibility) satisfies requirements. It also grants police officers immunity from liability if they accidentally view unrelated content or cause damage while checking electronic proof of registration in good faith. The changes take effect within 60 to 12 months, depending on the specific provision.

Maddy summarySB 205 creates two new funding streams for Pennsylvania highway maintenance: a $5 million annual appropriation from the Motor License Fund to counties starting in 2025, and a 55-mill tax on liquid fuels. Counties can use these funds specifically for constructing and maintaining bridges owned by municipalities within their counties. The bill directly affects local governments by providing dedicated resources for bridge infrastructure, a key need for many communities. It amends Pennsylvania’s vehicle code to redirect existing transportation revenue toward this purpose without changing overall tax rates.

Maddy summarySB 880 amends Pennsylvania's public assistance laws to improve security for recipients' benefit access devices (like EBT cards). It requires recipients to report stolen devices immediately and mandates new security measures, including replacing magnetic-strip cards with chip technology, adding transaction alerts via text/email, and creating a mobile app feature to lock/unlock cards. The bill also establishes streamlined reporting procedures for theft and targets outreach to educate recipients on preventing fraud. These changes directly affect public assistance recipients who use electronic benefit cards to access food, cash, or other support. The law aims to reduce financial harm from card theft and skimming during normal transactions.

Maddy summarySB 876 establishes Pennsylvania's Home Preservation Grant Program, which provides funding to local governments (counties, cities, townships) to rehabilitate existing owner-occupied housing. The program requires grants to address habitability, improve energy/water efficiency, or increase accessibility for units owned by households earning no more than 120% of the area median income. Grants cannot exceed $50,000 per unit and may cover up to 10% of funds for administrative costs. Local governments must apply with detailed plans showing how funds will meet these requirements, with applications reviewed by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Maddy summarySB 344 creates a new 2026 special payment for retired municipal police officers and firefighters who began receiving retirement benefits before January 1, 2021. Retirees will receive monthly payments ranging from $75 (5-10 years retired) to $300 (20+ years retired) based on their retirement duration as of January 1, 2026. Municipalities must initially pay these adjustments but will later receive reimbursement from the state, provided they submit required certification by April 1 each year. The bill updates an existing 1988 law to add this new payment tier while clarifying state reimbursement rules for past adjustments.

Maddy summarySB 345 amends Pennsylvania's Recorder of Deeds Fee Law to increase the fee for recording deeds and mortgages from $15 to $16 per document, with annual adjustments based on inflation using the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Consumer Price Index. County governments must set this fee via resolution, and the collected funds must be deposited into a county demolition fund exclusively for demolishing blighted properties within that county. The bill directly affects property owners who pay the recording fee and county governments that manage the demolition fund. It establishes a clear mechanism for fee adjustments tied to inflation, ensuring the fee keeps pace with cost-of-living changes. The policy change focuses on funding property demolition through a standardized, inflation-adjusted fee structure.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 129) honors the late Pennsylvania State Representative Matthew R. Gergely and expresses condolences to his family following his death. It formally recognizes his life, career in McKeesport (including roles as City Administrator and Chief Revenue Officer), and service as a state representative for the 35th district. The resolution, adopted on June 23, 2025, directs the Senate to convey these condolences to his wife, children, and other surviving family members. It does not create any new policy or affect any laws.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 23, 2025, as "Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes Dravet syndrome - a rare, severe form of epilepsy affecting infants and children - and aims to raise public awareness about the condition. The resolution urges Pennsylvanians to learn about Dravet syndrome and support affected families, though it has no legal effect or funding provisions. It directly affects individuals and families living with Dravet syndrome, which impacts approximately 1 in 15,700 people and requires intensive care. The resolution aligns with International Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day but is purely ceremonial.

Maddy summarySB 859 amends Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code to direct specific funding from the Motor License Fund for highway and safety projects under the Department of Transportation. It requires the Secretary of Transportation to allocate funds to two designated projects listed in the 2014 Highway Capital Budget Project Itemization Act: Project 339(12) and Project 339(22). This bill does not create new funding or tax changes but specifies how existing DOT budget resources must be used for these two named infrastructure projects. The change applies immediately upon enactment and affects only the allocation of current transportation appropriations.

Maddy summarySB 861 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle code to establish definitions and rules for electronic driver's licenses. It defines terms like "electronic driver's license" (an electronic version viewable on phones/tablets) and specifies that these electronic licenses are legally equivalent to physical licenses, except for certain sections on carrying licenses on demand. The bill allows the Department of Transportation to issue electronic licenses via smartphone apps or other devices, requires data to match physical licenses and update within 30 days, and permits third-party systems (like digital wallets) to host these licenses under confidentiality agreements. It directly affects drivers who choose to use electronic licenses instead of physical ones.