Sen. Marty Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws regarding child protective services to clarify how county agencies and the state department handle investigations and support for children. It allows the state department to step in and assist with investigations if a county agency is delayed or requests help, while also permitting counties to hire private agencies to perform these tasks. The legislation sets new requirements for staffing ratios and ensures that private contractors meet the same standards as public employees when assessing cases and providing services. Additionally, it expands the ability of county agencies to purchase services from various public or private providers to better support families in need.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Public Utility Credit Act, which requires public utilities in Pennsylvania to report customer payment history to major credit agencies like Experian and Equifax. The law defines public utilities broadly to include providers of electricity, gas, water, transportation services, and telecommunications, while explicitly excluding certain entities like nonprofit cooperatives and internal building systems. To protect consumer privacy, the bill mandates that all customers have the option to opt in or opt out of having their utility payments reported to credit bureaus, with specific notification timelines for both new and existing accounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to clarify rules for lease agreements and introduce a rent reporting program for larger residential properties. It maintains the requirement that leases lasting more than three years must be in writing, while allowing shorter leases to be created orally or in writing. Additionally, the bill establishes an opt-in system where landlords with fifteen or more units can share a tenant's on-time rent payment history with consumer reporting agencies like credit bureaus. Participation in this reporting program requires the tenant's affirmative consent, and landlords must provide written notice and a signed receipt to eligible tenants when entering into new leases.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania vehicle laws to clarify rules for car modifications and safety equipment. It specifically allows vehicle owners to remove and reinstall doors while requiring that any modified vehicle still have side mirrors attached for visibility. Additionally, the law mandates that vehicles with removed doors must be inspected with those doors reattached to ensure they meet safety standards. The legislation also expands seat belt requirements to include passengers in the back seats of certain vehicles used for specific unlawful activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new paid family and medical leave program in Pennsylvania, allowing eligible employees to take time off work with wage replacement for specific personal and family reasons. The program is administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, which will manage the Family and Medical Leave Fund financed by employer contributions, while also offering an option for employers to use private insurance plans instead. Eligible workers can receive benefits for various needs, including caring for a sick family member, bonding with a new child, or addressing violence against vulnerable adults, with protections ensuring their jobs remain secure during leave. The legislation includes provisions for self-employed individuals to opt into the program, sets rules for benefit amounts and duration, and creates an advisory board to oversee the initiative.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill updates the legal definition of an abandoned vehicle and establishes a new reporting process for private property owners. It clarifies that vehicles left on private property without consent for more than 24 hours are considered abandoned, while also setting specific timeframes for vehicles on salvage yards and wholesale auctions. Under the new rules, property owners and authorized dealers must file a report with local police before removing or processing these vehicles to legally clear titles and sell them. The legislation also outlines how wholesale auctions can handle unclaimed vehicles, including limits on storage fees and procedures for issuing branded titles to indicate the vehicle's history.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Stand with Israel Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state retirement funds and the State Treasurer from boycotting or divesting from Israel. It also bars state funding for any higher education institution that engages in such boycotts or divestment actions. The law defines these actions as financial penalties against the Israeli government or its commercial activities and applies to direct and indirect investments, while exempting certain individual employee savings plans. Compliance with the law must still follow existing fiduciary duties and prudent investing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge on Pennsylvania Route 72 in Swatara Township as the Senator David J. Arnold, Jr., Memorial Bridge to honor his service. The legislation officially names the structure after the late state senator, who previously served as Lebanon County's district attorney and later as a state senator. To implement this change, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain signs displaying the new name for drivers traveling in both directions. The act will become effective 60 days after being signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes minor wording changes to a Pennsylvania statute that governs electric utility planning and energy conservation programs. Specifically, it adds the word "solely" to a section and removes the word "not" from another, which alters how the law defines the scope of utility plans. These adjustments affect public utilities and the state agencies that oversee their energy efficiency initiatives. The changes do not introduce new policies or programs but instead refine existing legal language regarding how utilities must structure their conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Pennsylvania-Ireland Trade Commission to facilitate business and trade activities between Pennsylvania and Ireland. It establishes a dedicated funding account within the state's General Fund to cover the commission's administrative costs and authorizes the Secretary of Business and Industry to oversee its operations. The commission will be led by the Secretary or their designee, along with six members appointed by the Governor representing various sectors. Additionally, the legislation updates the official name of the department responsible for the commission from Commerce to Business and Industry.