Sen. Tracy Pennycuick

Maddy summarySB 534 amends Pennsylvania's Military Affairs statutes to increase the monthly pension amounts for specific groups of veterans. This bill raises the pension for eligible blind veterans from $150 to $180 per month. Similarly, it increases the monthly pension for eligible amputee and paralyzed veterans from $150 to $180. The Adjutant General is responsible for determining the eligibility of applicants for these benefits.

Maddy summarySB 727 aims to expand fixed broadband internet services to areas of Pennsylvania that currently lack or have limited access, directly affecting residents and businesses in these "unserved" and "underserved" areas. The bill requires state agencies to inventory state-owned properties and structures for their potential use in broadband infrastructure. It permits state agencies to lease or license these assets to qualified broadband providers, with the generated revenue funding a new "Broadband Services Restricted Account" to support further deployment. The Department of General Services will develop guidelines for providers and site agreements, setting a 90-day approval timeline for such agreements.

Maddy summarySB 722 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to modify how "net profits" are calculated for personal income tax purposes. The bill updates the rules for deducting start-up expenditures and introduces new provisions for combining net profits and losses from different businesses. It establishes specific netting rules for "small businesses" and "non-small businesses," allowing small businesses to carry over net losses for up to twenty years. This legislation directly affects individuals who report income or losses from their business or professional activities, particularly those operating small businesses, for state personal income tax. These changes will apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 726 amends Pennsylvania's open meetings law for the General Assembly. This bill requires the State Senate and House of Representatives to record and post all public committee meetings and hearings where bills are considered or testimony is taken. These recordings must be made available on the General Assembly's publicly accessible website. Additionally, when technically feasible, these meetings must be live-streamed online, increasing public access to legislative proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's child protective services laws, affecting how county agencies and the state Department of Human Services investigate child abuse and neglect. It grants the Department of Human Services new authority to assist or take over investigations from county agencies if cases are not handled promptly or if assistance is requested. The bill also allows county agencies to contract with private agencies to receive and assess reports of children needing general protective services and to provide those services. These contracted private agencies would be held to the same standards as county personnel and would receive similar legal immunity.

Maddy summarySR 104 is a resolution that recognizes May 2025 as "National Mammography Month" in Pennsylvania. It encourages residents, especially those in high-risk groups, to schedule mammography appointments to promote early detection of breast cancer.

Maddy summarySB 417 amends Pennsylvania's military affairs laws to expand the use and revenue generation capabilities of Fort Indiantown Gap. It authorizes the Adjutant General to lease portions of the Fort's land to private businesses that benefit the local community and military families, with generated revenue directed to a new fund. The bill also broadens the Fort's purpose to include emergency response training and quality-of-life programs for service members, veterans, and their families. A new restricted fund, the Service Members, Veterans and their Families Fund, is established to receive these revenues and donations, supporting these initiatives.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 716 amends Pennsylvania's Mental Health Procedures Act, primarily to update terminology and expand the scope of mental health services. The bill explicitly includes "substance use disorder" as a mental illness, making it eligible for treatment under the act. It also clarifies that assisted outpatient treatment services can encompass substance use disorder treatments, especially when co-occurring with a primary mental illness diagnosis. Additionally, the bill updates outdated language for conditions such as intellectual disability, alcohol use disorder, and age-related cognitive decline.

Maddy summarySB 717 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to adjust sales and use tax exclusions for consumers. The bill updates an existing sales tax exclusion for personal computers, tablets, and related devices with a sales price of up to $1,500 by setting an annual tax-free period from the first to the third Saturday in August. It also creates a new sales tax exclusion for various school supplies, art supplies, and instructional materials, provided each item costs $50 or less. These exclusions apply to individual purchasers for nonbusiness use during the specified August timeframe, effectively establishing an annual sales tax holiday for these items.

Maddy summarySB 400 amends the Pennsylvania Election Code to permit "unenrolled electors" to vote in primary elections. An unenrolled elector is defined as a registered voter who has not selected a political party affiliation. The bill establishes a procedure where these electors can choose which political party's primary ballot they wish to cast at the polling place, without affecting their unenrolled status for future elections. It also directs state and county election officials to provide guidance, update voter registration materials, and modify election systems to facilitate this change.