Sen. Jarrett Coleman

Maddy summarySB 494 amends Pennsylvania's statutory sexual assault law by raising the age threshold from 16 to 18 years. It makes it a felony for an adult who is 11 or more years older than an 18-year-old to engage in sexual intercourse with them, unless they are married. The bill establishes two felony levels: a second-degree felony for those 4-7 years older, and a first-degree felony for those 11+ years older. This change directly affects individuals in age-gap relationships with 18-year-olds where the age difference meets the specified thresholds.

Maddy summarySB 462 establishes Pennsylvania's Office of Government Efficiency within the existing Regulatory Review Commission. This office will review state regulations and statutes to identify those that are unreasonable, unduly burdensome, redundant, or wasteful, and recommend modifications, revisions, or repeals to the General Assembly or relevant agencies. It requires the office to create a public website for receiving suggestions and reports on inefficient practices, and to submit annual reports to the legislature and governor. The office will operate for five years before being abolished, with its director appointed without political consideration.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 49) symbolically recognizes March 21, 2025, as "World Down Syndrome Day" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or policies but formally acknowledges the contributions of individuals with Down syndrome and their families within the Commonwealth. The resolution highlights the global significance of Down syndrome awareness and the achievements of people living with the condition, as outlined in the resolution's preamble. It has no direct impact on legislation, funding, or services for affected individuals.

Maddy summarySB 439 updates Pennsylvania's Apprenticeship and Training Act by establishing new supervisor-to-apprentice ratios based on occupational hazard levels determined using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics fatality data. High-hazard jobs (9+ fatalities per 100,000 workers) require no more than three supervisors per apprentice, medium-hazard (2-9 fatalities) allows two supervisors, and low-hazard (≤2 fatalities) requires one supervisor. The bill mandates annual reviews of hazard classifications by the Department of Labor and Industry, with changes taking effect July 1 each year after public notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This directly affects all apprenticeship programs in Pennsylvania, particularly those in industries like construction or manufacturing, by standardizing supervision requirements for safety and training consistency.

Maddy summarySB 313 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to strengthen requirements for electronic voting systems. It mandates pre-election logic and accuracy testing of voting equipment to ensure votes are tabulated correctly, including verifying contest orders, ballot printing, and scanner functionality. The bill also requires county election boards to preprint emergency paper ballots equal to at least 20% of registered voters per election district if electronic systems fail. These provisions directly affect county election boards and polling places, with penalties for falsifying documentation related to testing.

Maddy summarySB 303 allows hunters to use small drones (under 55 pounds) to recover harvested game or wildlife, but only with a special permit and under strict rules. To qualify, users must obtain a $5 permit for personal use or $100 for commercial recovery, hold a remote pilot certificate, and carry liability insurance. The permit permits drone use *only* for recovering already-harvested animals (not for locating live game), requires a 24-hour waiting period after drone observation, and prohibits using drones while carrying firearms. This directly affects hunters and drone operators who want to recover game more efficiently while complying with Pennsylvania's hunting regulations.

Maddy summarySB 238 repeals the realty transfer tax provisions from Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code, removing a specific tax applied to property transfers. It eliminates Article XI-C, which previously defined terms like "family farm business," "living trust," and "real estate" for tax purposes. This change means property transfers in Pennsylvania will no longer be subject to the realty transfer tax framework that existed under the 1971 Code. The bill does not create new tax rules but removes the existing structure governing this tax.

Maddy summarySB 243 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to update rules for disposing of Commonwealth-owned surplus land. It clarifies that "surplus property" excludes state parks, forests, and lands held by specific agencies like the Fish and Boat Commission. The bill requires annual surveys to identify surplus land and mandates a formal disposal plan considering factors like agricultural use, cost savings, local government needs, and fair market value. All sales must follow public notice, competitive bidding, and require the sale price to reflect fair market value or equivalent long-term benefits to the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes retirement options for Pennsylvania state employees, particularly affecting new Senators starting after December 1, 2026. It allows eligible employees to choose between mandatory pension system membership or optional participation in a separate retirement plan, with Senators required to make this election within 30 days of taking office. Employees who elect "solely participant" status in the plan (instead of pension membership) cannot later switch back, and missing the 30-day deadline forfeits pension credit for their Senate service. The bill also clarifies automatic plan participation for certain employees and rules for retirees returning to state work.

Maddy summarySB 249, nicknamed "Tara's Law," amends Pennsylvania's Crime Victims Act to require state and local law enforcement agencies to make a reasonable effort to contact surviving family members of murder victims or intervenors (those who helped during a crime) before publicly releasing the victim's identity. The bill creates an exception allowing immediate public release if needed for an ongoing murder investigation. This change directly affects law enforcement agencies' protocols when handling sensitive victim information. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.