Sen. Tina Tartaglione

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to standardize rules for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are secondary living spaces on single-family lots. It requires municipalities to allow at least one ADU per lot and sets a maximum size of 1,250 square feet or the size of the main home, whichever is smaller. The legislation restricts local governments from imposing certain barriers, such as requiring owner occupancy, mandating specific exterior designs, or charging additional fees for parking and impact. Additionally, the bill defines key terms like "gross floor area" and ensures that having an ADU does not reclassify a property as multifamily housing.

Maddy summarySB 1257, known as the Small Necessities Leave Act, requires Pennsylvania employers to provide eligible employees with up to 24 hours of paid leave per year to attend to specific family needs. Eligible employees, defined as those working at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months, can use this time to participate in their children's school activities or accompany children and elderly relatives to medical and dental appointments. The bill mandates that employers cannot retaliate against workers for using this leave and allows for the use of accrued vacation or sick time if preferred. Additionally, the legislation assigns duties to the Department of Labor and Industry to ensure compliance with these new requirements.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 259 formally designates April 2026 as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. This resolution aims to increase public awareness about the challenges faced by the state's over 200,000 residents with limb loss or difference, including barriers to accessing prosthetic care and physical activity. The document highlights the importance of mobility resources for health and independence but does not create any new laws or funding. It serves as a symbolic gesture to encourage community support and recognition for individuals affected by these conditions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates April 2026 as National Fair Housing Month in Pennsylvania. The measure serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of fair housing principles without altering existing laws or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a 10% sales and use tax on online subscriptions to sexually explicit commercial content in Pennsylvania. It defines taxable content as digital images or videos depicting sexual acts intended for sexual arousal, while excluding material with serious literary, artistic, or educational value. The tax would be collected by vendors at the time of purchase and would require online platforms to register with the state even if they do not have a physical presence in Pennsylvania. The revenue generated would go to the state's General Fund as nonmotor vehicle tax revenue, and the law would take effect on July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Safe Workplace Act, establishes legal protections against abusive work environments in Pennsylvania by defining and prohibiting abusive conduct such as sabotage, unreasonable workloads, excessive monitoring, and persistent verbal abuse. It applies to all employees and employers, including independent contractors who meet specific criteria, and covers actions by supervisors, coworkers, or the employer itself. The law prohibits retaliation against employees who report abuse and holds both employers and individual employees liable for violations, requiring employers to take reasonable preventive and responsive measures to maintain safe workplaces.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution encourages the Department of Community and Economic Development to partner with private businesses and tourism groups to establish a "Pennsylvania Sweet and Salty Trail." The trail would promote tourism highlighting the state's confectionery, snack food, food manufacturing, and agricultural industries, which support thousands of jobs and generate significant economic activity. The resolution is non-binding and focuses on raising awareness of these industries' contributions, not creating new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of Blakely Street, State Route 6011, and Pennsylvania Route 347 in Dunmore Borough as the Staff Sergeant Steven R. Tudor Memorial Highway. The legislation officially names this roadway to honor Staff Sergeant Tudor, a native of the area who served 18 years in the U.S. Army and died in service during a deployment. The Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain signs displaying the new memorial name for traffic traveling in both directions. The changes become effective 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's existing Dog Law to create a new Lost and Found Dog Registry managed by the state Department of Agriculture. The registry will collect information about dogs reported as lost or found by residents or visitors to the Commonwealth, accessible through a 24-hour phone line and a free public website. Dog owners or individuals who find dogs can submit reports without fees, and the department will compile and share this information online to help reunite lost pets with their owners. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill establishes a statewide paid parental leave program requiring employers to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child within the first year. Eligible employees must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months and completed 1,250 hours of service in the previous year, and they will receive their full pre-leave pay rate during the leave period. The Department of Labor and Industry will administer the program, enforce compliance through complaints and penalties, and maintain a Paid Parental Leave Account to fund the initiative. Additionally, the bill creates a Small Business Grant Program to assist smaller employers with the costs of providing paid parental leave, and requires employers to notify employees about their rights and post information about the program in the workplace.