Sen. Jarrett Coleman

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania school districts and other school entities to conduct a comprehensive building condition assessment every seven years to evaluate the safety and maintenance needs of their facilities. The law mandates that these reports include detailed data on structural and system components, estimated costs for operations and repairs, and plans for addressing hazards like asbestos or lead. Schools that complete these assessments will receive a 2% increase in state funding reimbursements, while those that fail to submit the required reports will be ineligible for certain state grants and funding. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for construction, maintenance, and operations costs to ensure consistent reporting across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to allow the removal of citations issued to liquor store and restaurant owners for failing to follow COVID-19 safety rules. It specifically targets violations of health orders, quarantine guidelines, and other pandemic-related directives that occurred while the state's disaster emergency proclamation was active in 2020. Under the new provision, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board must erase these penalties and notify the affected businesses within 30 days of the bill's effective date, ensuring no fines are charged for these past infractions.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the realty transfer tax provisions within Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971, effectively eliminating the tax on the transfer of real estate titles. The legislation also includes minor editorial corrections to the existing tax code. By removing these specific tax requirements, the bill directly affects individuals and entities that previously paid fees when transferring ownership of land or property.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution directs the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to study how post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, and traumatic brain injury affect service members, veterans, and their families within the criminal justice system. The study specifically examines individuals involved in Veterans Treatment Courts and expands the scope to include those enrolled in these programs for up to 15 years. By mandating this comprehensive review, the bill aims to gather data on the unique challenges faced by this population rather than changing laws or sentencing guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to impose stricter rules on pharmacy benefit managers and the pharmacies that work with them. The legislation prohibits PBMs from forcing pharmacies to accept lower reimbursement rates to join their networks, banning retroactive money take-backs, and outlawing hidden fees or practices that steer patients toward specific pharmacies solely for cost savings. Additionally, it requires PBMs to respond to pharmacy network requests within 30 days, mandates quarterly reporting on drug rebates, and tasks a state department with regulating PBMs and ensuring pharmacies are reimbursed at least the cost of the drugs they dispense.

Maddy summarySB 858 amends the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to update the tax rules for mutual thrift institutions, which are financial cooperatives owned by their members. The bill changes the start date for a specific tax provision from 1984 to calendar year 2024 and adjusts the deadline for reporting and paying the tax from an immediate requirement to 120 days after the due date. These changes directly affect the financial institutions subject to the tax and the state agencies responsible for collecting it. By modifying these dates and timelines, the legislation alters when and how these institutions must calculate and remit their tax payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's Administrative Code to grant the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs temporary regulatory flexibility during an opioid epidemic. It allows the department to suspend specific rules that previously barred individuals with lived experience in addiction recovery or those in apprenticeship programs from becoming counselors, provided they receive supervisor approval and complete a training plan. Additionally, the legislation prevents the department from creating new credential requirements for staff positions within drug and alcohol treatment facilities while the epidemic is deemed to be occurring. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how Pennsylvania calculates taxes on shares held by banks and trust companies, specifically regarding the treatment of United States government debt. It establishes that new rules for determining taxable amounts apply only to shares held after December 31, 2024, and taxes due after March 14, 2025. The legislation also ensures that these changes do not affect tax calculations or refunds for periods before those dates, preserving the previous legal standards for earlier years.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Commonwealth Zero-Based Budgeting Act, requires Pennsylvania state agencies to justify every dollar of their spending rather than simply adjusting previous year's budgets. Under the new rules, the Secretary of the Budget must review all government programs at least once every five years, starting with about one-fifth of the budget annually beginning in 2024. Agencies must submit detailed plans explaining why each program exists, how much it costs to maintain current or minimum service levels, and the potential impact if the program were cut. While most departments are subject to this review, specific educational functions like class sizes, school curricula, and direct classroom services are exempt from the process. The law aims to ensure that public funds are allocated based on clear, defensible purposes rather than historical spending habits.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution directs several state agencies to study Pennsylvania's energy situation and create a plan for a comprehensive state energy strategy. The study will examine issues like electricity reliability, the risks of retiring power plants, and whether Pennsylvania should stay in or leave the regional power market known as PJM. Agencies are also asked to review current energy laws, look at new technologies like nuclear reactors and hydrogen, and consult with experts before submitting their findings to state leaders within one year.