Sen. Nick Miller

Maddy summarySB 358 creates Pennsylvania's Green Alert System, a new program to help locate missing veterans at risk due to service-connected health issues. The system requires the Pennsylvania State Police, in consultation with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to activate alerts when law enforcement confirms a missing veteran has physical or mental health conditions (like PTSD, TBI, or substance use disorders) related to military service. It expands existing immunity protections to cover people assisting during Green Alert notifications, similar to current Amber Alert and MEPAS rules. This directly affects veterans with military-related health risks, law enforcement agencies requesting alerts, and the public receiving notifications.

Maddy summarySB 348 requires firearm owners or lawful possessors in Pennsylvania to report a lost or stolen firearm to local police within 24 hours, providing specific details like the serial number, model, and caliber. Police must then forward this information to the Pennsylvania State Police, who will share it with all law enforcement agencies to aid in locating the firearm. Violating this reporting requirement is a minor offense punishable by a fine of up to $500. The bill directly affects individuals who own or legally possess firearms, creating a new administrative duty to report losses or thefts.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 24) urges the U.S. Congress to pass two specific laws: a food labeling modernization act and an allergen disclosure law for medications. It seeks to require clearer front-of-package labels on food showing gluten sources (including barley, oats, and rye, not just wheat) and to mandate that medication labels identify ingredients derived from major food allergens like gluten. The resolution directly addresses people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance - impacting an estimated 7% of the U.S. population - who face serious health risks from unlabeled gluten exposure. Current federal labeling only requires wheat identification, leaving other gluten sources unmarked and putting sensitive consumers at risk. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but calls on Congress to act.

Maddy summarySB 301 requires Pennsylvania pharmacies to disclose specific pricing information to consumers upon request for prescription medications. This includes the current retail price for brand-name and generic drugs, the consumer's cost-sharing amount under their insurance, and details about subsidized health coverage through Pennsylvania's health insurance exchange. Pharmacies must keep records of this information, post clear notices about the disclosure right, and present details in simple terms. Failure to comply results in a $500 fine per violation. The law applies to all retail pharmacies and directly affects consumers making prescription purchasing decisions.

Maddy summarySB 264 extends the maximum duration for tax breaks on qualifying properties in economically depressed areas from 10 to 20 years under Pennsylvania's Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act. It directly affects businesses seeking tax exemptions for deteriorated industrial, commercial, or new construction in designated depressed communities. The key change modifies Section 5(b)(1) to allow local taxing authorities to provide longer tax exemption schedules, while maintaining existing eligibility criteria. This applies to new exemption applications submitted after the law's effective date, which takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 266 strengthens Pennsylvania's gaming regulations by requiring licensed casinos and online gaming operators to enforce voluntary self-exclusion programs. It prohibits direct marketing (including email, texts, and social media) to self-excluded individuals, mandates real-time updates to exclusion lists every 48 hours, and bans access to rewards, credit, winnings, and promotional benefits for excluded persons. Violations could result in fines up to $1.2 million for gaming entities, with misdemeanor or felony penalties for repeated offenses. The bill directly affects gaming businesses and supports individuals seeking to avoid gambling activities through formal self-exclusion.

Maddy summarySB 269 amends Pennsylvania's 1965 Newborn Child Testing Act to add Duchenne muscular dystrophy to the list of conditions screened for in newborns. The bill requires healthcare providers to administer screening tests for this condition as part of the existing newborn screening program. This directly affects newborns in Pennsylvania and the healthcare facilities that conduct these screenings, aiming to identify the condition early to prevent disability or death. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 9-15, 2025, as "Cardiac Rehabilitation Week" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes cardiac rehabilitation efforts and the work of professionals in preventing and treating heart disease, which is a leading cause of death in the state. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation's role in promoting heart health awareness.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in Pennsylvania to cover infertility treatments without out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles or copays). It applies to individuals, spouses, and dependents seeking fertility care, including treatments like IVF, egg/sperm freezing, embryo transfers, and surrogacy costs. The law prohibits excluding coverage for infertility based on preexisting conditions, prior treatments, or arbitrary limits on the number of attempts. It specifically mandates coverage for 22 defined infertility services, including medical procedures and fertility preservation for those undergoing cancer treatment.

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.