Sen. Cris Dush

Maddy summarySB 401 creates a $1,000 tax credit for Pennsylvania employers who hire, have an employee enlist, or have an employee reenlist in the Pennsylvania National Guard. The credit applies against taxes under Articles III or IV of the Tax Reform Code and can be carried over for up to three years if not fully used in the first year. The total annual credit amount is capped at $5 million, with unused credits allocated proportionally if the cap is exceeded. This credit applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025, and requires employers to claim it in their first eligible tax year.

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.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 17-23, 2025, as "THON Week" in Pennsylvania to honor Penn State student volunteers involved in the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. It recognizes their work supporting pediatric cancer research and patient care through the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. The resolution does not create new laws or alter funding; it is a ceremonial acknowledgment of the event's mission and impact. THON, a student-run philanthropy, has raised over $236 million since 1977 for childhood cancer support.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new limits on damages in lawsuits against Pennsylvania state and local governments. For state government cases, it caps non-death/disfigurement damages at $250,000 per plaintiff or $1 million total, with higher caps ($1 million per plaintiff or $2 million total) for permanent dismemberment or death. For local governments, it sets a $500,000 total cap (except for higher caps in dismemberment/death cases). It also restricts pain and suffering claims to cases where medical/dental expenses exceed $10,000 for permanent injuries. The changes apply to all claims arising on or after the effective date (60 days after enactment).

Maddy summarySB 359 amends Pennsylvania's State Highway Law to require the state to maintain all state highways within boroughs and incorporated towns (including smaller municipalities), funding these improvements from the Commonwealth. It specifically adds a new requirement for the state to construct and maintain drainage systems under roads in towns with populations of 2,500 or fewer, based on the latest federal census. The bill mandates these maintenance and drainage obligations at state expense, applying to both rural highways and those within smaller incorporated communities. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

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 337 amends Pennsylvania's sales tax code to exclude certain firearm safety devices from taxation. Specifically, it removes sales and use tax from items like gun safes, trigger locks, cable locks, and other devices that require a key or combination to operate a firearm. This change directly affects retailers and manufacturers selling these safety devices, as they will no longer collect state sales tax on these items. The bill adds a new exclusion under the Tax Reform Code, making these devices tax-exempt at the point of sale. The policy change is purely a tax code adjustment with no new restrictions on firearm ownership or use.

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.