Sen. Lisa Baker

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally recognizes May 2026 as "National Mammography Month" in Pennsylvania. The bill does not change laws or allocate funding; it serves as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness about breast cancer screening. The text highlights statistics on mammogram access and the importance of early detection, then encourages Pennsylvania residents, especially those in high-risk groups, to schedule appointments for screening.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates April 2026 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania to raise awareness about child safety. The measure does not alter any laws or create new programs but serves as a symbolic gesture to highlight the importance of preventing abuse. It acknowledges the ongoing efforts of parents, educators, and community members to protect children while calling for continued progress in this area.

Maddy summaryThis resolution officially designates April 15, 2026, as "Purple Up! For Military Kids Day" and the entire month of April 2026 as the "Month of the Military Child" within Pennsylvania. The measure aims to honor the over 37,000 children in the state who have at least one parent serving in the military, National Guard, or reserves by encouraging public support and awareness. The primary mechanism is a symbolic declaration that invites residents to wear purple on the specified date to show solidarity with military families. This action does not alter laws or allocate funding but serves to recognize the unique challenges faced by these children and promote community engagement.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates the week of April 19 through 25, 2026, as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week" in Pennsylvania. The measure directly affects the state Senate by formally recognizing this observance period to honor crime victims and survivors. It includes a statement reaffirming the Senate's commitment to protecting victims' rights and supporting victim services throughout the year. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the importance of victim support.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to exclude tips from taxable personal income. It directly affects employees who receive tips, such as restaurant and hospitality workers, by removing these earnings from their taxable income calculations. The legislation defines tips as voluntary customer payments and explicitly excludes employer-mandated fees or service charges from this exclusion. The Department of Revenue will create regulations to implement the change and prevent fraud or misclassification of wages as tips. The law takes effect 60 days after passage and applies to the next fiscal year following that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Professional Psychologists Practice Act to update definitions and expand the powers of the State Board of Psychology. It primarily affects licensed psychologists by clarifying what constitutes the practice of psychology and establishing new categories for those who hold prescription certificates. Key provisions include defining collaborative relationships between prescribing psychologists and primary care providers, setting standards for prescribing controlled substances, and outlining procedures for license suspension or revocation. The legislation also clarifies definitions for terms like "prescription certificate" and "controlled substance" to ensure consistent regulatory oversight.

Maddy summarySB 100 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code concerning inheritance tax deductions. It increases the family exemption that can be deducted from the value of transferred property to a maximum of $100,000, if claimed by a family member. The bill also expands the list of deductible expenses to include bequests for religious services and funds placed in trust for the care and preservation of burial lots. These changes will apply to the value of property transferred after June 30, 2024, affecting estates subject to inheritance tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Veterans' Trust Fund in Pennsylvania by adding fees collected from paid veterans' claims assistance providers and directs those funds to support grants for veterans' service officer programs. It establishes new registration and disclosure requirements for individuals and organizations that charge fees to help veterans with benefits claims, requiring them to register annually and provide clear written information about their services and compensation to veterans before working with them. The law exempts government employees, accredited representatives from recognized veterans' organizations, and nonprofit groups from these requirements while maintaining existing protections for free assistance sources.

Maddy summarySB 782 allows Pennsylvania state retirees (annuitants) to work part-time as certified instructors in specific roles - such as police training, emergency medical services, or fire instruction - without losing their retirement annuity. The bill clarifies that service in these positions does not count toward additional retirement benefits, contributions, or creditable service under the state retirement system. This directly affects retirees employed in these approved educational roles at state institutions, schools, or agencies like the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy.

Maddy summarySB 802 creates a voluntary "communication impairment designation" for Pennsylvania drivers with conditions affecting communication (e.g., autism, aphasia). Drivers submit a medical professional's sworn statement, confirm voluntary disclosure, and provide emergency contact info to add a visible "i" symbol to their license. Law enforcement can access the designation and emergency contacts during traffic stops via secure networks, but specific medical details remain private and are not public records. The designation can be added, updated, or removed without fees (except standard license renewal costs), with penalties for fraudulent applications or misuse to avoid lawful orders.