Sen. Cris Dush

Maddy summarySB 832 is a ceremonial bill naming two specific roundabouts in Doylestown Township, Bucks County. It designates the western roundabout (at New Britain Road and South Easton Road) as the "Blue Star Family Tribute Roundabout" to honor families with members currently serving in the U.S. military, and the eastern roundabout (at New Britain Road and Sauerman Road) as the "Gold Star Family Tribute Roundabout" to memorialize families who lost loved ones in military service. The bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install signs displaying these names at both locations. This is a symbolic recognition with no new funding, regulations, or policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 83 increases allowable fees constables can charge for services in Pennsylvania, affecting both civil and criminal cases. Key changes include raising civil service fees (e.g., from $13 to $20 for serving documents) and criminal transport fees (e.g., from $17 to $25 per defendant), while maintaining exemptions for indigent defendants in criminal cases. The bill also specifies that counties must cover fees for indigent cases and clarifies reimbursement rates for travel expenses. These adjustments apply to all constables and deputy constables performing court-related duties under Pennsylvania law.

Maddy summarySB 181 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to clarify how leftover campaign funds must be handled when a candidate or political committee ends its financial activity. It requires that residual funds be either used for election-related expenses, returned proportionally to contributors, or donated to a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (with restrictions preventing donations to nonprofits connected to the candidate or their family). Candidates must submit a final report by January 31 each year. This directly affects candidates and political committees managing campaign finances. The bill provides specific rules for fund disposition without changing broader election procedures.

Maddy summarySB 831 modifies Pennsylvania's tax exemption for disabled veterans by expanding a property value reduction program. It provides tiered tax relief: veterans with a 10%+ service-connected disability (verified by the VA) receive $7,500 to $15,000 off their home's taxable value, depending on disability severity (10-29% to 70%+). This applies to veterans who own their primary residence solely, with a spouse, or as tenants by the entirety but do not qualify for the full exemption under existing law. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania veterans with military service-related disabilities who pay real estate taxes on their primary home.

Maddy summarySB 682 renames Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Environmental Services while transferring all its responsibilities - including energy program oversight, fund administration, and personnel - from the Pennsylvania Energy Office. The bill ensures continuity by keeping existing licenses, contracts, and computer systems unchanged until routine upgrades, and allows the department to gradually update documents and signage over time. It specifically transfers the Energy Conservation and Assistance Fund, Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Fund, and all related duties to the renamed department. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 308 establishes a financial incentive program for Pennsylvania National Guard members serving in medical or health specialty roles. It provides monthly stipends ranging from $500 to $1,000 based on the officer's required education level (e.g., $1,000 for physicians/residents, $500 for public health officers), paid for up to 48 months or the first 36 months of service. The program covers specific roles including physicians, physician assistants, behavioral health officers, public health officers, nurses, and chaplains who meet credentialing requirements. Eligibility requires being a "member in good standing" and meeting federal and state licensing standards for their specialty. The bill also includes provisions for adjusting stipend amounts, recouping payments if requirements aren't met, and administrative funding.

Maddy summarySB 91 amends Pennsylvania's law providing tuition waivers for children of public safety personnel who die in the line of duty. It updates definitions to include rescue squad and ambulance service members as firefighters and clarifies residency requirements for out-of-state police officers. The bill adjusts the retroactive date for the educational benefit to January 1, 2004, making it available for children of those killed since that date, and prohibits institutions from reimbursing tuition or fees paid between 2004 and the bill's effective date. The legislation repeals the previous retroactivity section and removes historical findings from the law.

Maddy summarySB 138 creates a standardized volunteer service credit program for firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS) volunteers, and HAZMAT team members in Pennsylvania. It requires local governments to establish programs measuring volunteer contributions - like emergency response calls, training hours, and administrative support - to determine eligibility for tax credits. Volunteers must be certified through a multi-step process involving their organization’s leadership and local government review. The bill also mandates detailed service logs and sets specific requirements for HAZMAT team members, such as maintaining certifications and attending four annual drills. This program directly affects municipal volunteers seeking tax credits for their service.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution establishes Pennsylvania's delegation to an Article V constitutional convention, specifically authorizing delegates to propose only one amendment: granting state legislatures the authority to countermand or rescind federal mandates that encroach on states' rights or personal liberties. It details the selection process for delegates, requires them to swear oaths to follow Pennsylvania's instructions, and prohibits voting on any alternative amendments. The resolution directly affects Pennsylvania's legislative delegation and sets strict parameters for their participation in the convention, which would require 34 states to apply before convening.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania resolution (SR 118) requests Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention specifically to propose an amendment granting state legislatures the authority to countermand or rescind federal mandates that violate states' rights or personal liberties. It directs Congress to convene this "Countermand Amendment Convention" within 60 days after 34 states have requested it. The resolution emphasizes that the convention would be strictly limited to this single amendment topic, as permitted under the Constitution's Article V process. This is a procedural request, not a law, seeking to initiate a constitutional amendment process focused on state-federal power balance.