Sen. Amanda Cappelletti

Maddy summarySB 492 requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to include suicide prevention resources on student identification cards. Specifically, physical student IDs must display "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" prominently, while digital IDs must include this information alongside other crisis resources like the National Sexual Assault Hotline or campus health contacts. Institutions must annually update all contact information on IDs to ensure accuracy and replace outdated numbers within 30 days. Schools without physical or digital IDs must distribute this information through other means. The bill directly affects all Pennsylvania higher education institutions and their students by embedding critical crisis resources into routine student identification.

Maddy summarySB 212 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code by redefining "serious provocation" in Title 18. It explicitly states that a victim's actual or perceived gender identity, sexual orientation, or unwanted romantic/sexual advances (including past relationships) cannot be considered serious provocation. This change affects defendants in violent crime cases who might claim "serious provocation" as a defense. The bill removes specific LGBTQ+-related scenarios from being used to justify violent acts under this legal defense.

Maddy summarySB 493 prohibits cash bail for pretrial release in Pennsylvania, meaning courts cannot require defendants to pay money to be released before trial. Instead, judges may only order detention if the prosecution proves a felony defendant poses an immediate danger to others and no non-monetary conditions (like electronic monitoring) can ensure public safety. The bill also requires counties to collect and publish annual data on pretrial detention by race, gender, and ethnicity, and prevents probation revocation solely due to unpaid electronic monitoring fees. These changes directly affect defendants facing pretrial detention decisions and county courts managing release conditions.

Maddy summarySB 54 establishes a new process for individuals wrongfully convicted in Pennsylvania to seek financial compensation. To qualify, claimants must prove actual innocence through overturned convictions, pardons, or acquittals after retrial, and have served time for the crime. The bill creates a petition process in Commonwealth Court (without requiring attorneys) and specifies eligibility criteria (e.g., excluding accomplices or those who committed perjury) and compensation amounts based on time served. It also modifies immunity laws to ensure wrongful conviction claims aren't blocked by government defenses.

Maddy summarySB 611 amends Pennsylvania's Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act by updating the definition of "hazardous substance" to explicitly include specific perfluorinated chemicals (like PFOA and PFOS) and their equivalents. This change directly affects entities responsible for cleaning up contaminated sites, as these newly listed chemicals will now trigger the Act's cleanup requirements. The bill also clarifies that petroleum, natural gas, and certain coal combustion wastes remain excluded from the definition. This definition update ensures consistent application of cleanup standards for these chemicals under the Act.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution designates March 2025 as "Disabilities Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It encourages all Pennsylvanians to learn about challenges faced by people with disabilities and fosters greater public awareness of their experiences. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize systemic inequities and honor disability rights progress.

Maddy summaryThis commemorative resolution (SR 54) honors public defenders in Pennsylvania by designating March 18, 2025, as "Public Defender Day." It recognizes the 62nd anniversary of the *Gideon v. Wainwright* Supreme Court decision (1963), which established the right to counsel for indigent defendants. The resolution highlights the critical role of public defenders in ensuring fair trials and addresses Pennsylvania's low ranking in indigent defense funding (45th nationally). As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to acknowledge public defenders' work.

Maddy summarySB 395 establishes a licensing system for plumbers and plumbing contractors in Pennsylvania, requiring them to obtain and maintain licenses from the newly created State Board of Plumbing Contractors. The law sets specific qualifications for different license types (apprentice, journeyman, master), mandates continuing education, and creates fees, fines, and penalties for violations. It directly affects licensed plumbing professionals by governing their qualifications, renewal requirements, and enforcement, while ensuring only licensed individuals perform plumbing work requiring permits. The bill also establishes a dedicated Plumbing Contractors Licensure Account to manage fees and penalties, with no changes to existing local permitting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 52), not a law. It designates April 14-18, 2025, as "Local Government Week" and April 16, 2025, as "Local Government Day" in Pennsylvania. The resolution recognizes the role of Pennsylvania's local governments - including counties, cities, townships, boroughs, school districts, and authorities - in providing essential services like roads, public safety, education, and utilities to over 12 million residents. It has no binding effect or policy changes; it solely serves to honor local officials and staff.

Maddy summarySB 477 prohibits Pennsylvania birth certificates from listing a child's sex after its effective date, directly affecting newborns and parents during birth registration. The law requires that standard birth certificates filed under the Vital Statistics Law no longer include sex designation, though it exempts records submitted under federal requirements. This change applies to all birth registrations processed after the bill's 60-day effective date. The amendment modifies the 1953 Vital Statistics Law to remove sex as a required field on state-issued birth certificates.