Sen. Tracy Pennycuick

Maddy summarySB 694 amends Pennsylvania law concerning fees for licenses to carry firearms. The bill establishes a waiver for these fees for certain applicants. Specifically, it waives the fees for individuals who are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces or who are honorably discharged veterans.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 661 establishes the Animal Cruelty Investigation Fund within the State Treasury. This fund is continuously appropriated to the Attorney General to support efforts against animal cruelty. The money will be used for training and equipping humane society police officers, developing investigation materials, and covering salaries and benefits for attorneys prosecuting animal cruelty cases. It also provides grants to animal shelters for investigations or other permissible expenses. The fund will be financed by a new $25 assessment imposed on individuals who violate animal cruelty laws.

Maddy summarySB 652 proposes to amend Pennsylvania's Crimes and Offenses law by changing the definition of "dwelling" within the general principles of justification. The bill expands the current definition, which includes a building, structure, or attached porch/deck/patio, to also encompass "the parcel of land to the property lines and any building or structure erected thereon." This change would broaden the legal scope of what constitutes a "dwelling" for individuals in self-defense or similar justification cases.

Maddy summarySB 645 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to mandate cursive handwriting instruction in elementary schools. The bill defines "cursive handwriting" and requires it to be taught in all elementary public and private schools. Specifically, students must receive instruction to ensure they can read and write cursive by the end of fifth grade. These new requirements also apply to charter schools and cyber charter schools.

Maddy summarySB 653 amends the state's Tax Reform Code concerning personal income tax. The bill allows employees to deduct certain education-related expenses from their taxable income. Specifically, expenses for higher education or career and technical education that are reimbursed by an employer can be deducted, but only if that reimbursement was reported as Federal taxable income. This change would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 87 commemorates September 2, 2025, as "V-J Day" in Pennsylvania, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. It encourages local governments and communities throughout the Commonwealth to conduct appropriate observances.

Maddy summarySR 86 is a resolution that recognizes May 8, 2025, as the 80th anniversary of "Victory in Europe Day" or "V-E Day" in Pennsylvania. It expresses the Senate's respect and appreciation for the men and women who served in the European theater during World War II and pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Maddy summarySB 638 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to require counties to forward contribution details from election expense reports to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. This change ensures that information about campaign contributions reported at the county level is automatically posted on the state's publicly accessible website. The bill directly affects candidates and political committees filing election expense reports, as they must now provide contribution details to counties, which then send the data to the state for public posting. This is a procedural transparency measure with no substantive change to election rules.

Maddy summarySB 634 creates a new hate crime offense in Pennsylvania law targeting attacks against law enforcement officers and first responders (firefighters and emergency medical personnel). It defines this as intentionally committing crimes like assault, property damage, or trespassing motivated by hatred toward someone's job in these roles. If the underlying crime is a misdemeanor, the hate crime charge raises it to a higher class (e.g., misdemeanor of the second degree), and courts must consider a sentencing enhancement. This bill directly affects individuals who commit such acts, increasing penalties for targeting public safety workers due to their employment.

Maddy summarySB 641 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to clarify the maximum size of the Pennsylvania State Police. It specifies that the total number of State Police officers and troopers (including those assigned to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Delaware River Bridge Commission, and gaming enforcement) cannot exceed 4,310 at any time. The bill removes a previous numerical cap that counted these assigned personnel toward the total limit, ensuring those officers are excluded from the 4,310 threshold. This change directly affects the State Police's staffing structure and reporting requirements under the Commonwealth's administrative code.