Sen. Lisa Baker

Maddy summarySB 65 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle code to strengthen school bus safety rules. It increases penalties for drivers who fail to stop for school buses with flashing red lights (5 points and a 60-day license suspension) and adds a $250-$500 fine with a $35 surcharge for violations. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to include school bus safety education in driver license renewal notices and share materials with school districts. All surcharges from violations fund the School Bus Safety Grant Program to improve school bus safety measures.

Maddy summarySB 1060 amends Pennsylvania's Health Care Facilities Act to require licensed health care facilities to screen new patients for veteran status during admission. This applies directly to hospitals, clinics, and other facilities that admit new patients under the Act. The bill updates licensing requirements to mandate this screening as a standard part of patient intake, without altering existing benefits or eligibility processes. The provision aims to identify veterans for potential service-connected care options through the facility's existing systems.

Maddy summarySB 6 creates a statewide system to streamline permit processing for state agencies. It requires a digital tracking system for permit applications, establishes a third-party review process for delayed permit decisions, and mandates annual reports on permit timelines. The bill also creates two new state entities: the Pennsylvania Office of Transformation and Opportunity (to coordinate permit reforms) and the Economic Development Strategy Group (to develop growth plans). These provisions directly affect state agencies managing permits, businesses and individuals applying for permits, and the new offices tasked with implementing the changes. The bill passed final passage in October 2025 and now awaits further committee review.

Maddy summarySB 1068 removes existing regulations governing the state's CO2 Budget Trading Program, which is a system where businesses buy and sell allowances for carbon emissions. This change directly affects companies participating in the program by eliminating specific compliance rules they previously had to follow. The key provision is the outright abrogation (removal) of these regulations, streamlining the program's operational requirements without creating new rules. The bill passed final passage on October 22, 2025, and was referred to the Environmental & Natural Resource Protection committee for further consideration.

Maddy summarySR 179 designates the week of October 20-24, 2025, as "School Bus Safety Week" in Pennsylvania. This resolution is a symbolic gesture to promote public awareness of school bus safety, without creating new laws or requirements. It does not directly affect any specific group or mandate actions but encourages community focus on this issue during the designated week.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's State Lottery Law to protect the privacy of large lottery winners. It requires that personal information (name, address, and other details) for winners of $100,000 or more in prizes remain confidential and not part of public records. However, the winner's city/township/borough, county of residence, and prize amount must still be publicly disclosed. Winners may voluntarily waive this confidentiality by following procedures set by the Department of Revenue, and the department can create implementing regulations.

Maddy summarySB 1041 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to expand public assistance coverage for complex care assistant services. It directly affects individuals requiring long-term, specialized personal care due to disabilities or chronic conditions. The bill establishes a new provision requiring the state to provide medical assistance for these services under the public assistance program. This changes existing coverage by explicitly including complex care assistants, who help with daily living tasks like bathing, feeding, and medication management. The bill is currently pending in the Health & Human Services committee.

Maddy summarySB 800 amends Pennsylvania's fish and boating laws to clarify how fees collected from fishing and boating activities fund specific conservation efforts. It adds provisions allowing the Fish Fund to cover expenses related to boats/boating that benefit fish and fishing, and the Boat Fund to cover expenses related to fish/fishing that benefit boats/boating. The bill requires the Fish and Boat Commission to track and report all spending under these new provisions annually to legislative committees by January 31. These changes ensure transparency in fund usage while directing resources toward overlapping conservation priorities for both fish and boating infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 1038 requires healthcare providers and facilities to allow parents or legal guardians to be present during medical and dental examinations of minors. It directly affects parents of children under 18 and healthcare entities providing care to minors. The bill mandates that providers accommodate parental presence unless a minor specifically requests otherwise or a medical reason prevents it. It also imposes a duty on healthcare facilities to establish clear policies supporting this requirement.

Maddy summarySR 169 is a resolution passed by the legislature on October 6, 2025, condemning an antisemitic firebombing attack that occurred on June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, targeting peaceful demonstrators. It formally calls on the Commonwealth to take action against the rising threat of antisemitism. As a resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect individuals, but expresses the legislature's stance on the incident.