Sen. Amanda Cappelletti

Maddy summarySB 819 prevents Pennsylvania government from blocking parents, legal custodians, or guardians from obtaining or providing medically accurate health information or evidence-based medical services to minors. It defines "medically accurate" as supported by current medical research or major health organizations, and "evidence-based" as care aligned with medical guidelines. The law explicitly states that such actions do not constitute child abuse under state law. It applies broadly to all minors, protecting parents who act based on medical evidence and the child’s specific circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 200 prohibits the possession, sale, or transfer of assault weapons and large capacity magazines in Pennsylvania, requiring current owners to either obtain a certificate from the Pennsylvania State Police within 180 days or surrender the weapons. To get a certificate, owners must pass background checks, provide weapon details, and meet secure storage requirements (e.g., locked containers or devices preventing discharge). The bill also establishes a Firearms and Ammunition Buyback Program and a related fund, though specific implementation details are not provided in the text. This directly affects individuals who currently own prohibited firearms, imposing new legal obligations for possession or surrender.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SR 115) designates June 2025 as "Dairy Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the dairy industry's economic significance - supporting over 47,000 jobs and contributing $11.8 billion annually - to raise awareness of the industry's value and hardships while encouraging the purchase of Pennsylvania-produced dairy products. The resolution has no binding policy impact and serves purely as a ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summarySB 150 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to expand anti-discrimination protections by adding "sexual orientation," "gender identity or expression," and "use of guide or support animals" (due to blindness, deafness, or disability) to the list of protected categories. It updates the law to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations by employers, housing providers, and public spaces based on these newly covered characteristics. The bill also clarifies that religious organizations are generally exempt from certain provisions but must comply when discrimination relates to "race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or non-job related handicap or disability." This amendment broadens the 1955 law's scope to align with evolving anti-discrimination standards.

Maddy summarySB 745 amends Pennsylvania's Manufactured Home Community Rights Act to strengthen tenant protections and clarify rent increase rules for manufactured home residents. The bill requires community owners to allow resident associations and group meetings, mandates 180 days' notice for rent/fee increases (up from 60 days), and caps annual increases based on the regional consumer price index (max 4% or 2% if CPI is low). It also creates a process for owners to seek temporary 2% surcharges for extraordinary operating costs, requiring detailed financial disclosures and resident input before implementation. These changes directly affect manufactured home residents and community owners across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 813 establishes Pennsylvania's HUB Zone Business Procurement Program to increase state contracting with businesses in designated underutilized areas. It requires state agencies to set contract-specific goals ensuring 20% HUB zone business participation on contracts between $100,000-$750,000 and 25% on larger contracts, with waivers available if agencies demonstrate "good faith efforts" to find qualified businesses. The program mandates agencies to compile verified business lists, monitor compliance monthly, and review utilization schedules. This directly affects Pennsylvania state purchasing agencies and for-profit businesses headquartered in designated HUB zones meeting federal certification criteria.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 29, 2025, as "College and Career Savings Day" in Pennsylvania to raise public awareness about the state's existing 529 College and Career Savings Program. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents who use the program, which currently serves over 314,000 families by offering tax-advantaged savings for education expenses. The resolution does not create new policy or change program rules - it simply recognizes the program's purpose of helping families save for college, vocational training, or other qualified educational costs through tax benefits and fee reductions.

Maddy summarySB 798 creates a new misdemeanor offense for knowingly possessing a firearm or dangerous weapon in a municipal building when a local ordinance bans such items. It directly affects individuals entering municipal buildings (like town halls or courthouses) and requires municipalities to post clear notices and provide free, no-cost firearm check facilities within 30 days of adopting a ban. The bill specifies penalties: third-degree misdemeanors for basic possession, first-degree for possession with criminal intent, and summary offenses for certain licensed carriers who fail to check firearms. Exceptions include law enforcement, municipal officials, veterans groups on ceremonial duty, and attorneys with authorized exhibits.

Maddy summarySB 788 prohibits solitary confinement in Pennsylvania prisons and jails by banning the practice of confining inmates alone for 20+ hours daily with severely restricted activity. It directly affects all inmates in state and county correctional facilities, including juvenile facilities and those held under federal contracts. The bill requires prisons to use alternatives like limiting visits, restricting commissary privileges, or assigning additional unpaid work - each capped at 14 days - instead of solitary confinement. These alternatives must be used for disciplinary purposes, with no more than 14 days of any single penalty. The law would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 787 establishes new rules for solitary confinement in Pennsylvania prisons and detention facilities. It defines solitary confinement as confinement alone for 20+ hours daily and prohibits its use for vulnerable populations - including youth, the elderly, pregnant individuals, LGBTQ+ people, and those with mental health or developmental disabilities - without specific medical evaluation. The bill limits solitary confinement to 15 consecutive days or 20 days in a 60-day period, requires a hearing within 72 hours of placement, and mandates daily clinical evaluations to identify vulnerable inmates who must be removed immediately. Facilities must also provide basic necessities, daily outside time, and prohibit 24-hour cell lighting without medical justification.