Sen. Jarrett Coleman

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania Senate resolution (SR 116) urges Congress to support H.R. 2102, the Major Richard Star Act, which would eliminate a rule reducing retirement pay for medically retired service members. Currently, veterans with less than 20 years of service and a disability rating under 50% lose $1 in retirement pay for every $1 in disability benefits they receive. The resolution highlights that an estimated 50,000 veterans are affected by this offset, with average monthly reductions of about $1,900. It specifically calls for removing this restriction to allow medically retired service members to receive full retirement pay and VA disability benefits simultaneously.

Maddy summarySB 929 proposes a constitutional amendment to end school districts' authority to levy real property taxes after June 30, 2029. It directly affects Pennsylvania school districts, requiring the state to replace their lost property tax revenue through new state or local income, sales, or service taxes. The bill mandates that the General Assembly annually fund school districts at levels matching their pre-2029 property tax collections, depositing new tax revenue into a dedicated "Stabilization of Education Fund" exclusively for school support. It explicitly prohibits any future real property taxes and prevents diversion of funds from the stabilization account.

Maddy summarySB 897 amends Pennsylvania's electric utility laws to change how distribution companies ensure reliable power supply. It directly affects electric utilities and their customers by creating a new process for addressing "resource inadequacy" (when power supply falls below safety buffers). The bill allows utilities to petition the state commission to invest in new generation resources (like natural gas, nuclear, battery storage, or renewables) if a resource shortage is proven, requiring them to first issue requests for proposals and obtain commission approval within nine months. Utilities may then use long-term agreements or direct ownership to fund these projects, with costs passed to customers via nonbypassable surcharges.

Maddy summarySB 780 creates new rules for managing encampments in Pennsylvania. It defines an "unauthorized encampment" as a temporary structure housing three or more unrelated people on property without consent, where conditions like garbage, drug activity, or unsafe sanitation exist (an "indication of nuisance"). Property owners must remove such encampments within 30 days or face civil penalties up to $250 per day, while municipalities can enforce removal after a nuisance determination. This law directly affects property owners, local governments, and individuals living in encampments, focusing on public health and safety without creating new housing programs.

Maddy summarySB 892 amends Pennsylvania's Cosmetology Law to create clear definitions for specific beauty services and establish licensing exemptions. It defines "blow-dry styling," "braiding," "eyelash extension," "makeup application," and "threading" as distinct from traditional cosmetology, explicitly excluding activities like hair coloring or cutting. The bill exempts individuals offering only these defined services from cosmetology licensing requirements, and facilities providing exclusively these services are exempt from salon licensing. However, these exempt providers cannot combine these services with licensed cosmetology work in the same setting. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

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 summarySB 700 requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt research-backed reading curricula aligned with the science of reading, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates schools to use approved reading screeners to identify early literacy struggles, develop intervention plans for struggling students, and notify parents about their child’s reading progress. The bill creates a state list of approved curricula and screeners, overseen by a 20-member Reading Leadership Council including teachers and specialists, and requires schools to report adoption and screening data. Schools must also provide free, required professional development for educators on evidence-based reading instruction and intervention methods. This directly affects all K-3 public school students, their teachers, and parents through updated curriculum, screening, and intervention requirements.

Maddy summarySB 869 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to clarify and strengthen public access to government records. It updates the definition of "record" to explicitly include electronic communications sent to less than a quorum of governing bodies and requires agencies to register open-records officers with the Office of Open Records within 30 days of appointment, mandating they complete annual training. The bill also sets a minimum two-year retention period for all agency records (excluding spam/junk communications) and requires written confirmation from departing staff that records were handed over, with a civil penalty of up to $1,500 for willful failure to retain records. These changes directly affect state and local agencies, their open-records officers, and the public seeking government information.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits government-owned electronic devices (including those used by schools and local agencies) from having software or technology that blocks the creation, maintenance, or preservation of required records. It directly affects state and local government entities, school districts, and their digital systems. The law requires that all government devices must retain records as legally mandated, with limited exceptions for law enforcement security needs. It amends Pennsylvania’s state government code to add these record-preservation rules, effective 60 days after enactment. The bill does not create new record-keeping requirements but ensures existing legal obligations are met through device configuration.

Maddy summarySB 751 gradually reduces Pennsylvania's inheritance tax rates for transfers to certain family members, including parents, grandparents, children, and spouses. It lowers the tax rate step-by-step over time, starting at 4.5% for deaths before July 1, 2026, and decreasing to 0% for deaths on or after July 1, 2035. This directly affects Pennsylvania residents inheriting property from immediate family members as defined in the tax code. The bill modifies Section 2116(a)(1) of the 1971 Tax Reform Code to establish these phased rate reductions.