Sen. Scott Hutchinson

Maddy summarySB 36 designates a 0.5-mile stretch of Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia (from West Lehigh Avenue to West Somerset Street) as the "Leo Rosenblum Memorial Highway." The bill commemorates Leo Rosenblum, a Holocaust survivor and founder of Leo's Men's and Boy's Apparel, which operated at that location for over 70 years. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will install and maintain directional signs for the highway. This is a ceremonial designation with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or businesses beyond the road name.

Maddy summarySB 134 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Pennsylvania's annual state spending. It would require total state spending (excluding federal funds) to stay near the previous year's level, adjusted for either personal income growth or inflation plus population change. Exceptions allowing higher spending include emergencies (approved by a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers) or other cases with advance gubernatorial request and a two-thirds legislative vote. This amendment directly affects all state budget decisions and would require voter approval after legislative passage.

Maddy summarySB 25 amends Pennsylvania's Professional Nursing Law to update regulations for certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs). It clarifies definitions, including "Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Certified Nurse Practitioner" (APRN-CNP), and specifies their scope of practice, including prescribing authority for certain medications. The bill requires CRNPs to collaborate with physicians through written agreements and immediate communication protocols, while transferring oversight of CRNP licensing from the State Board of Medicine to the State Board of Nursing. These changes directly affect nurse practitioners, the State Board of Nursing, and physicians working with CRNPs in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law to clarify definitions and strengthen protections for buyers and lessees of defective new vehicles, including motorcycles. It establishes specific time and mileage limits for when manufacturers must repair issues that significantly affect a vehicle's use, value, or safety, and mandates refunds or replacements if these repairs fail after a reasonable number of attempts. The legislation also introduces a presumption that a reasonable number of repair attempts have occurred for motorcycles if manufacturer-sourced parts are used, while excluding off-road vehicles and dual-sport motorcycles from coverage. Additionally, the law sets a maximum deduction of 10 cents per mile or 10% of the purchase price when calculating refunds for the consumer's use of the vehicle before the defect was reported.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's city classification system by establishing four new classes based on population size, ranging from first class cities with over one million residents to third class cities with fewer than 250,000. It replaces the old 1895 law and requires that a city's classification only change after two consecutive federal censuses show a sustained population shift, preventing changes due to temporary fluctuations. For cities with home rule or optional charters, any change in classification requires a vote by the city's electors to amend their charter. The new rules take effect on January 1 following the next municipal election that occurs at least 180 days after the Governor certifies the change.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill modifies the state's tax code to improve how corporations and other entities can resolve tax disputes with the Department of Revenue. It establishes a formal settlement conference process where neutral officers, who must be experienced attorneys or accountants, facilitate negotiations between taxpayers and the state to reach voluntary agreements. The legislation also allows the tax board to extend deadlines for filing appeals under certain conditions and mandates that these settlement discussions remain private and confidential. By creating specific procedures for compromise settlements and requiring timely reporting to the General Assembly, the bill aims to streamline the administrative review of tax issues.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill officially establishes Vietnam War Veterans Day as a state observance to be held annually on March 29. The legislation directs the Governor to issue a yearly proclamation encouraging public schools and educational institutions to hold events that honor the service and sacrifices of Vietnam veterans, while explicitly stating that participation in these events cannot be mandatory. By adding this designation to the state statutes, the bill ensures that the contributions of those who served during the Vietnam Conflict are formally recognized within Pennsylvania, aligning the state with the existing federal observance.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the membership of Pennsylvania's State Planning Board by increasing the number of appointed members and adding representatives from the state legislature. It establishes a board composed of fifteen members appointed by the Governor, two members appointed by the Senate President pro tempore, two members appointed by the House Speaker, and eight ex officio members who serve by virtue of their current state offices. The legislation also sets the term length for Governor-appointed members at four years and specifies that fourteen members must be present to conduct official business.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's boating safety laws to clarify who needs to take a safety course and how the state manages that education. It specifically exempts people operating small motorboats of 25 horsepower or less, provided they are not personal watercraft. The legislation also directs the state commission to coordinate a statewide training program, issue safety certificates to those who pass the course, and set reasonable fees for the classes. These changes aim to make boating education more accessible while maintaining safety standards for operators.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to change Holocaust, genocide, and human rights education from optional to mandatory for Pennsylvania public schools. It requires school districts to integrate this instruction into social studies and language arts courses by the 2025-2026 school year, with the Department of Education providing curriculum guidelines and teacher training. The legislation also mandates a study to assess current teaching practices and establishes a rule requiring all schools to offer the instruction if fewer than ninety percent currently do so.