Sen. Tracy Pennycuick

Maddy summarySB 309 amends Pennsylvania's Construction Code Act to change how municipalities enforce building safety standards. It requires municipalities to use two or more non-affiliated third-party agencies for code enforcement after January 1, 2026 (replacing a current one-agency option that expires then), with contracts limited to three years and strict requirements for agency qualifications and public solicitation. The bill also mandates that permit applications inform applicants about third-party agency roles, complaint procedures, and department oversight, while requiring municipalities to maintain complaint records and file waiver requests if they cannot secure two agencies. These changes directly affect local governments and building permit applicants by restructuring enforcement oversight and accountability.

Maddy summarySB 374 creates a new Office of Information Technology within Pennsylvania's state government, led by a Chief Information Officer (CIO) appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation. The CIO, who becomes part of the Governor's Cabinet, will manage all state agency IT systems and establish security protocols for data handled by those agencies. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania state agencies operating under the Governor's authority, centralizing oversight of their technology infrastructure. The key change is replacing fragmented IT management with a single, accountable office responsible for both operations and cybersecurity across state agencies.

Maddy summarySB 326 updates Pennsylvania's Controlled Substance Act to automatically align the state's scheduling of substances with federal changes. It requires the state health secretary to add federally controlled substances to Pennsylvania's schedule within 30 days of federal action, unless objections are filed within that period. If objections are raised, the secretary must hold a hearing and issue a final order before scheduling takes effect. This affects the Pennsylvania Department of Health and regulated entities like pharmacies, healthcare providers, and businesses handling controlled substances.

Maddy summarySB 355 prohibits using computer programs to buy tickets for resale or circumvent online ticket sales limits, targeting scalpers who use bots. It directly affects ticket resellers using automated tools and protects venues, artists, and ticket platforms (defined as "operators" or "rights holders") from financial harm. The law allows these affected parties to sue violators for $500 per ticket sold illegally, plus legal fees. Key provisions ban automated ticket purchasing, bypassing sales restrictions, and disabling security systems on ticket sites. The bill amends Pennsylvania's consumer protection law to address deceptive ticket resale practices.

Maddy summarySB 354 changes how Pennsylvania charter schools receive state funding for special education students, effective the 2025-2026 school year. It replaces a previous formula with a new system that provides additional funding based on three cost categories: Category 1 (1.51x base funding), Category 2 (3.77x), and Category 3 (7.46x), determined by the actual cost of services documented by the charter school. Charter schools must submit cost documentation to the state and school districts, and must return overpayments if costs are lower than received. This directly affects charter schools serving special education students and the school districts that fund them. The bill also clarifies which state education laws apply to charter schools.

Maddy summarySB 343 expands protections for public transportation workers by adding them to the list of protected individuals under Pennsylvania's aggravated assault law. The bill amends Section 2702 of the Crimes and Offenses statute to specifically include "an employee of an agency, company or other entity engaged in public transportation" as a person shielded from assault while performing job duties. Assaults against these workers during employment now qualify as a first-degree felony under the revised statute, raising the penalty level. This change directly affects public transit employees (like bus drivers or train staff) and ensures their safety is prioritized through stricter criminal penalties.

Maddy summarySB 235 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to streamline the approval process for city revitalization zones. Starting in 2026, the Department of Community and Economic Development must approve two new revitalization zones each calendar year. This directly affects cities seeking to establish these zones, which typically offer tax incentives to encourage development in designated areas. The bill adds a specific annual approval requirement to the existing tax code, effective 60 days after enactment. It does not change tax rates or create new financial obligations but establishes a predictable timeline for zone expansions.

Maddy summarySB 339 amends Pennsylvania's Agricultural Area Security Law to adjust requirements for purchasing agricultural conservation easements on farmland. It lowers the minimum contiguous acreage needed for eligibility from 50 to 25 or 35 acres (with exceptions for small tracts of at least 10 acres with unique crops or adjacent to preserved land) and limits state funding for smaller easements to 50% of the purchase price per acre. The bill also directs 10% of realty transfer tax revenue into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund and allows subdividing land under an easement under specific conditions (e.g., creating tracts under 10 acres adjacent to preserved land) without roll-back tax. These changes aim to increase program flexibility for landowners while maintaining conservation goals.

Maddy summarySB 340 amends Pennsylvania's MCare Act to clarify requirements for medical malpractice lawsuits. It introduces a "Certificate of Merit" that must accompany initial complaints, requiring a written statement from a qualified expert confirming negligence and the standard of care. The bill tightens rules for medical experts testifying in these cases, mandating they hold an active Pennsylvania license, practice in the same specialty as the defendant, and be board-certified (unless waived by a court for specific reasons). This directly affects patients filing malpractice claims and medical professionals serving as expert witnesses. The changes aim to ensure only credible claims proceed, with the certificate needing to be filed within 60 days of a lawsuit's start.

Maddy summarySB 324 prohibits distributing unofficial mail-in ballot forms to Pennsylvania voters. It specifically targets documents that mimic official election materials (like ballot applications or ballots not issued by election officials) but includes exceptions for clear, informational materials that don't include return addresses, clearly label themselves as "unofficial," and avoid mimicking official stationery. Violating this law is a misdemeanor punishable by fines of $500 to $2,500. The bill directly affects individuals or groups distributing such materials, ensuring only official forms are used for mail-in voting.