Maddy summarySB 364 would establish Atlantic Standard Time as Pennsylvania's permanent legal time zone, eliminating the current practice of changing clocks for daylight saving time. The bill amends an 1887 law to remove the provision allowing daylight saving time (which currently shifts clocks forward in spring and back in fall), making Atlantic Standard Time the sole standard for all government operations, contracts, and public business year-round. This change directly affects all Pennsylvanians, businesses, and municipal governments by ending the twice-yearly clock adjustments. The bill requires the governor to request federal approval to align with the Atlantic time zone if neighboring states do the same, but its core policy change is a permanent shift to Atlantic Standard Time without daylight saving time.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 242, the "Right-to-Bear-Arms Protection Act," prohibits Pennsylvania state officials from enforcing any federal law or regulation that attempts to register, restrict, ban, or regulate firearms, magazines, or firearm accessories within the state. It directly affects Pennsylvania state actors (like law enforcement and government employees) by requiring them to disregard such federal actions and imposing penalties if they comply. Key provisions include declaring federal firearm-related actions unenforceable in Pennsylvania after December 31, 2020, and subjecting state officials who enforce these federal actions to civil lawsuits, job termination, and a 10-year ban from state employment. The bill aims to protect residents' Second Amendment rights under Pennsylvania and federal constitutions by preventing state officials from facilitating federal gun control measures.
Maddy summarySB 186 repeals Pennsylvania's CO2 Budget Trading Program regulations (specifically 25 Pa. Code Chapter 145 Subchapter E). This bill directly affects entities previously subject to the program's requirements, such as businesses participating in carbon emissions trading. The key provision is the immediate abrogation of all regulatory provisions under the referenced code section, eliminating the state's CO2 trading framework. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summarySB 187 establishes Pennsylvania's Independent Energy Office as a nonpartisan state agency to develop comprehensive energy plans covering all energy sources (coal, natural gas, renewables, efficiency, etc.). The office must analyze energy policies, produce annual reports for the legislature, and track energy data, directly affecting how the state oversees energy development and services for businesses, communities, and homeowners. It requires a legislative committee to appoint a politically neutral director by May 2025, with $1.25 million annually allocated from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund starting July 2025 to fund operations. The bill mandates that state agencies provide the office with energy data upon request while ensuring public access to its records under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.
Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes Pennsylvania's Emergency Management Agency by updating who serves on its governing council and clarifying the director's role. It specifies that the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council will include the Governor, cabinet secretaries, legislative leaders, and nonvoting representatives from local governments, business, and labor. The bill also requires the Governor to appoint a State Director (with Senate approval) who will serve as the primary coordinator for disaster response efforts under federal declarations. This is a procedural change to agency structure, not a policy shift affecting public services or funding.
Maddy summarySB 85 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to standardize the monthly distribution of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for recipients. It requires county assistance offices to implement a uniform 20-day distribution schedule within one year, using the first letter of a recipient's last name to determine their specific benefit date. This ensures consistency across all counties, preventing changes to distribution dates if a recipient moves within Pennsylvania. The bill also allows for a temporary tiered schedule to avoid hardships during the transition to the new system.
Maddy summarySB 79 extends the time limit for prosecutors to file criminal charges for certain serious offenses in Pennsylvania from the standard timeframe to five years after the crime occurs. It directly affects prosecutors and defendants in cases involving specific major crimes, such as attempted murder, drug delivery resulting in death, aggravated assault, robbery, insurance fraud, and other listed offenses. The bill amends Pennsylvania's statute of limitations by adding these offenses to the "major offenses" category requiring prosecution within five years. This change applies to all offenses listed in the bill, including violent crimes, property crimes, and financial fraud, and takes effect 60 days after enactment.
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 resolution honors the life and achievements of the late Henry George Hager III, a former Pennsylvania state senator and Senate leader. It formally expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and friends following his passing. The document outlines his career highlights, including his service as a district attorney, his tenure as Senate President pro tempore, and his leadership roles at the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's oil and gas laws to change how fees from unconventional gas wells are distributed to municipalities. It establishes that local governments with zoning rules that unreasonably restrict or ban future gas drilling will not receive these revenue shares. Additionally, if a municipality's zoning laws are challenged in court, the money owed to that area is held in a special account until the legal dispute is resolved. The law defines unreasonable restrictions as any local rules that conflict with or are stricter than the state's existing development standards. These changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.