Sen. Tina Tartaglione

Maddy summarySB 123 amends Pennsylvania's protection from abuse laws to allow courts to require electronic monitoring devices for defendants who pose a substantial risk of violating protection orders or committing crimes against victims. The bill defines an "electronic monitoring device" as a GPS-enabled wearable (wrist or ankle) that continuously tracks location within 100 miles, allows police to access data indefinitely, and cannot be removed without specialized tools or alerting police. Courts may order this monitoring for the full duration of a protection order, requiring defendants to stay at specific distances from victims and locations, with removal only permitted for "good cause" and after notifying the victim. This directly affects domestic violence victims seeking protection and defendants found to present significant safety risks.

Maddy summarySB 39 creates a new misdemeanor offense for knowingly possessing a firearm or dangerous weapon in a public recreation area (like a city park or public pool), with penalties ranging from a third-degree misdemeanor (for simple possession) to a first-degree misdemeanor (if intended for criminal use). It specifically excludes law enforcement officers, Pennsylvania Game Commission instructors, and veterans groups during ceremonial duties from this rule. The bill defines "dangerous weapon" to include items like knives with automatic blades or explosives, and clarifies that private recreation areas (e.g., privately owned parks) are not affected by this law. This bill directly impacts individuals entering public recreational spaces with weapons, while maintaining existing rights for private property owners.

Maddy summarySB 43 amends Pennsylvania's firearms laws by adding a clear definition for "frame or receiver" in Title 18. This definition covers both completed firearm parts housing critical components (like the hammer or firing pin) and partially manufactured parts intended to become such components. The bill directly affects firearm manufacturers, sellers, and law enforcement by clarifying what constitutes a firearm part under state law. It does not change existing restrictions but provides specific terminology for enforcement and legal interpretation.

Maddy summarySB 122 amends Pennsylvania's firearms law by removing an exception that previously limited certain firearm restrictions to short-barreled pistols, shotguns, rifles, or firearms under specific length measurements. This change means the general rules governing firearm sales and transfers now apply uniformly to all firearms, regardless of size. The bill also eliminates conflicting regulations in the Pennsylvania Code (37 Pa. Code) that contradicted this updated definition. The law, set to take effect in 60 days, directly affects firearm sellers, buyers, and law enforcement across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 119 amends Pennsylvania's banking laws to establish requirements for community reinvestment by banks and nonbank financial entities operating in the state. It mandates banks to report loan data, maintain public files with performance evaluations, and display community reinvestment notices in branches, while requiring nonbank entities to follow similar standards. The law aligns Pennsylvania's rules with federal community reinvestment principles (like the CRA), directing the Department of Banking to assess banks' efforts to meet credit needs in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. This directly affects all banks and qualifying nonbank entities conducting business in Pennsylvania under state oversight.

Maddy summarySB 42 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code to explicitly include 3-D printed firearms in all definitions of "firearm" across multiple sections, affecting anyone possessing, manufacturing, or selling such weapons. Key provisions require 3-D printed firearms to comply with standard firearm regulations, including prohibiting their creation without a federal manufacturing license (Section 11). The bill also updates definitions for offenses like assault on law enforcement, discharge of firearms in occupied structures, and paramilitary training to encompass 3-D printed weapons. It directly impacts firearm creators, sellers, and possessors by extending existing licensing, registration, and sales surcharge requirements to 3-D printed firearms.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 37) amends Pennsylvania law to prohibit individuals convicted of specific violent or dangerous crimes from possessing firearms. It directly affects people convicted of offenses like murder, aggravated assault, robbery, sexual assault, stalking, or certain types of kidnapping. The key mechanism adds over 50 existing criminal offenses - such as assault involving a firearm, robbery, or child sexual abuse - to a list where a conviction triggers an automatic firearm possession ban. The change clarifies that if someone is convicted of any of these listed crimes, they cannot legally own or carry a firearm.

Maddy summarySB 121 establishes the Center for Gun Violence Research in Pennsylvania to conduct nonpartisan, academic research on gun violence causes, prevention, and impacts. The center, to be operated by a state-selected university, will analyze data on gun-related deaths, costs, and prevention strategies, and provide evidence-based findings to policymakers. It requires state agencies to share relevant data and mandates biennial reports to the Governor and General Assembly. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania residents by funding research to address a public health crisis highlighted by the state’s high gun violence death rates and the lack of federal research funding since the 1996 Dickey Amendment.

Maddy summarySB 24 establishes Pennsylvania's Office of New Americans within the Department of Community and Economic Development to support immigrant integration. The office will serve as a central resource for state agencies, immigrants, and organizations by answering inquiries, coordinating policies, analyzing demographic trends, and developing strategies to attract and retain immigrants. It also creates an Advisory Committee with 11 voting members representing state agencies, immigrant-serving organizations, businesses, education, healthcare, and language services to guide the office’s work. The bill directly affects immigrants seeking to integrate into Pennsylvania’s economy and communities, as well as state agencies responsible for licensing, education, and economic development. The Office of New Americans will begin operations upon the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summarySB 28 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require the state Department of Education to develop and share age-appropriate resources for integrating Black history into school curricula. It directs the department to create these materials within three months of the law's effective date and post them online for all schools to use. The bill applies to every public school district, charter school, private school, and other school entities in Pennsylvania, but does not mandate specific curriculum changes - only that schools can access the state-provided resources. Schools may also use other approved materials to teach the history of the Black experience as part of required or elective courses.