Sen. Carolyn Comitta

Maddy summarySB 883 prevents Pennsylvania licensing boards from disqualifying or disciplining healthcare professionals who provide reproductive health care services, including pregnancy-related care, contraception, or abortion services. It specifically protects licensed providers (like doctors, nurses, or clinics) from penalties based on their provision of such services, or from disciplinary actions imposed in other states for the same services if they would have been lawful in Pennsylvania. The law amends state licensing statutes to prohibit these disciplinary actions, ensuring that licensed professionals cannot face licensure consequences for offering reproductive health care consistent with Pennsylvania standards. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 880 amends Pennsylvania's public assistance laws to improve security for recipients' benefit access devices (like EBT cards). It requires recipients to report stolen devices immediately and mandates new security measures, including replacing magnetic-strip cards with chip technology, adding transaction alerts via text/email, and creating a mobile app feature to lock/unlock cards. The bill also establishes streamlined reporting procedures for theft and targets outreach to educate recipients on preventing fraud. These changes directly affect public assistance recipients who use electronic benefit cards to access food, cash, or other support. The law aims to reduce financial harm from card theft and skimming during normal transactions.

Maddy summarySB 876 establishes Pennsylvania's Home Preservation Grant Program, which provides funding to local governments (counties, cities, townships) to rehabilitate existing owner-occupied housing. The program requires grants to address habitability, improve energy/water efficiency, or increase accessibility for units owned by households earning no more than 120% of the area median income. Grants cannot exceed $50,000 per unit and may cover up to 10% of funds for administrative costs. Local governments must apply with detailed plans showing how funds will meet these requirements, with applications reviewed by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Maddy summarySB 879 makes it unlawful in Pennsylvania to release helium-filled balloons (non-biodegradable or non-photodegradable) that could harm wildlife, livestock, or pets, directly affecting event organizers, businesses, and individuals who release such balloons. Exceptions include educational/research releases by institutions, hot air balloons recovered after launch, religious ceremonies with permits, and biodegradable balloons. Violators face a $5 civil penalty per balloon paid into the Game Fund, and the state must post notices online and install weather-resistant signs at state park/forest entrances. The law aims to protect wildlife from balloon hazards while allowing specific permitted uses.

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 874 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to change how incarcerated individuals are counted for redistricting. It requires that people in state or federal prisons (or juvenile facilities) be counted at their last known address in Pennsylvania - not at the facility location - when creating state legislative, congressional, and local district maps based on the federal census. The bill mandates that correctional and juvenile facilities collect and share data (including last known address, demographic details, and facility location) with redistricting bodies by June 1 each year ending in "1." This directly affects how Pennsylvania redraws voting districts, ensuring prison populations are not artificially inflated in the communities where facilities are located.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to establish a dental benefit package for medical assistance recipients aged 21 and older by 2025-2026. It mandates that the dental coverage must maintain all existing services provided before 2011 and cannot remove any current benefits, though it may add new coverages. The department must seek federal approval via a waiver or State plan amendment to implement this dental coverage. The bill also requires the department to publish notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin detailing the benefit package, which will remain in effect until updated by regulation.

Maddy summarySB 856, the Electronic Waste Recycling Modernization Act, creates a statewide system for recycling household electronics like computers, monitors, TVs, and printers. It requires manufacturers to pay an "eco-fee" on new device sales, which funds collection, transportation, and recycling through a state-managed clearinghouse. The bill sets minimum collection site requirements for communities, mandates manufacturer stewardship plans, and establishes an advisory committee to oversee implementation. Penalties apply for failing to meet recycling obligations or environmental standards. This directly affects electronics manufacturers, local governments handling collection, and consumers through the added fee on new devices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Pennsylvania public schools (including school districts, charter schools, and cyber charters) to develop written comprehensive school counseling plans. Each plan must ensure 80% of a school counselor's time is spent on direct student services (like individual counseling, classroom instruction) or indirect services (like parent consultations), with annual reviews and grade-level planning. The plans must address academic, career, and social-emotional needs for all students, including those with special needs, and align with state guidance. School counselors must hold valid Pennsylvania certification to implement these requirements.

Maddy summarySB 506 establishes Pennsylvania's Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program within the Human Services Code. It provides qualified child care providers (like certified centers, family homes, or children's institutions with active subsidy agreements) with annual lump-sum payments to fund retention bonuses ($1,000 max per staff member) and recruitment bonuses ($1,000 max per new hire) for staff who directly supervise children. The program requires providers to apply within 45 days of posting, prohibits using funds to replace existing wages, and mandates annual reporting to the legislature on payments, locations, and applications. Providers must use funds strictly for staff bonuses within the fiscal year and maintain records for audits.