Sen. Amanda Cappelletti

Maddy summarySB 565 adds two new supplemental retirement annuities for eligible Pennsylvania state employees. Starting July 2025, retirees who retired before July 2, 2001 (and meet specific service criteria) receive a one-time percentage-based supplement (4.5% to 14% of their July 2025 payment, depending on retirement date). Starting July 2026, eligible retirees receive an annual inflation-adjusted supplement tied to the CPI-U index (capped between 1% and 7% of their monthly payment). The Commonwealth funds both supplements over 10 years, with school districts not liable for the costs. This directly affects current retirees, not new hires or active employees.

Maddy summaryThis resolution symbolically recognizes May 15, 2025, as "Senior Fraud Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania. It aims to raise public awareness about financial fraud targeting seniors, citing statistics showing Pennsylvania seniors over 60 lost an estimated $310 million to $2.7 billion in 2023. The resolution directs state agencies like the Department of Aging and Attorney General's office to promote fraud prevention education and resources for seniors and caregivers. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws but encourages community action and awareness efforts.

Maddy summarySB 562 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to change how benefits are calculated for workers at educational institutions between academic terms. It removes the requirement that individuals must have "reasonable assurance" of returning to work at the same institution during the next academic year to qualify for benefits. This directly affects teachers, staff, and other employees at schools or colleges who work between academic terms. The change applies to services performed on or after the bill's effective date, ensuring benefits are payable regardless of return assurances, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (SR 73) designates the week of April 14-20, 2025, as "National Osteopathic Medicine Week" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the contributions of doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), who provide patient-centered care focusing on the whole person, and highlights Pennsylvania's role as a national leader in osteopathic medicine (with 10,078 DOs and three osteopathic medical colleges). The resolution encourages Pennsylvanians to support public awareness of osteopathic medicine but does not create new laws, funding, or obligations.

Maddy summarySB 549 (Pennsylvania) limits public access to eviction court records to protect tenants. It creates "limited access eviction files" that cannot be shared online or with most individuals, except under specific conditions like when a case is less than seven years old with a final judgment for the landlord, or for parties directly involved in the case. Tenant screening services and consumer reporting agencies are barred from using these records in reports or considering them for rental decisions. The law automatically restricts access after seven years, when a judgment is satisfied (e.g., tenant pays rent or moves out), or if a court vacates a judgment. This directly affects tenants (by preventing old eviction history from impacting housing), landlords (requiring them to notify courts of satisfied judgments), and tenant screening companies (prohibiting use of these records).

Maddy summarySB 559 amends Pennsylvania law to restrict firearm and assault weapon possession by minors. It prohibits individuals under 18 from possessing standard firearms (with limited exceptions for supervised activities or hunting) and raises the age limit for assault weapons to under 21, barring possession without specific exemptions. The bill defines "assault weapon" to include firearms with features like detachable magazines, folding stocks, or specific grips, and lists exceptions for active-duty military personnel, peace officers, and weapon-carrying probation officers. Adults who knowingly provide firearms to minors in violation of these rules face felony charges, and illegally possessed firearms must be seized and forfeited upon conviction. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summarySB 542 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle laws to change how speeding offenses are handled. It specifies that drivers using speed timing devices (like radar) won't get license points for speeding less than 10 mph over the limit, except in school zones or work zones. The bill also clarifies rules for police using speed enforcement devices, requiring training for local officers and specific signage, while creating a 15-day license suspension for speeding 11+ mph over limits in active work zones. These changes directly affect drivers receiving speeding tickets and law enforcement agencies using speed timing technology.

Maddy summarySB 537 would require Pennsylvania's Medicaid program to reimburse providers for custom orthotics (like braces) and prosthetics (like artificial limbs) at rates no lower than the current Medicare fee schedule. This change directly affects Medicaid recipients needing these medical devices and the healthcare providers who supply them. The bill mandates that the state update its reimbursement rates quarterly to match Medicare's current rates for all applicable codes. This policy aligns Pennsylvania's Medicaid payments more closely with federal Medicare standards for these specific medical equipment items.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution recognizes April 2025 as "World HIE Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to promote public education about hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition affecting newborns due to oxygen deprivation during birth. It highlights the impact of HIE on infants and families, citing statistics on survival rates and potential developmental challenges. The resolution does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change existing policies - it serves solely as an official state acknowledgment to support awareness efforts led by organizations like Hope for HIE.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 66) symbolically recognizes April 7-13, 2025, as "Public Health Week" in Pennsylvania, aligning with the existing national observance. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect any individuals or groups. The resolution uses the week to highlight public health priorities like health equity, chronic disease prevention, and maternal health, as detailed in its preamble. It serves only as a formal acknowledgment by the Pennsylvania Senate, with no policy changes or legal requirements.