Sen. Cris Dush

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge on Pennsylvania Route 72 in Swatara Township as the Senator David J. Arnold, Jr., Memorial Bridge to honor his service. The legislation officially names the structure after the late state senator, who previously served as Lebanon County's district attorney and later as a state senator. To implement this change, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain signs displaying the new name for drivers traveling in both directions. The act will become effective 60 days after being signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to update rules for the rural jobs and investment tax credit program. It establishes two categories of investment authority based on when they were issued and sets specific spending limits of $50 million for each category. The legislation also defines what counts as a rural growth investment, clarifies how businesses can claim tax credits over several years, and adds stricter limits on how much a single rural business can receive to prevent concentration of funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania food safety laws to set stricter standards for water used in food establishments and bottled water production. It requires any business serving or selling water for drinking to use sources that meet state safe drinking water requirements or standards that are at least as strict. The law also mandates that bottled water products follow specific federal labeling and recall rules while removing any conflicting state regulations. These changes apply to all food establishments regardless of the size of the containers they use.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania laws to increase penalties for driving while a license is suspended or revoked due to alcohol or drug offenses. It allows judges to impose short jail sentences of up to 90 days for first-time offenders and raises fines, while also clarifying that these penalties do not prevent defendants from working or receiving probation. The legislation further mandates that individuals seeking a limited driving license must install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle and self-certify ownership of the cars they intend to operate. Additionally, it requires ignition interlock vendors to report any device violations to the state within a specific timeframe to ensure continued compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Pennsylvania counties to create public safety authorities specifically for emergency medical services and related support functions. Under the new rules, a county can establish up to two such authorities and must try to include municipal representatives in their governance, while existing emergency organizations can continue operating without restriction. Municipalities within the county can contract with these authorities to meet their legal obligations for providing emergency services, but the authorities generally cannot charge fees unless a municipality explicitly opts in through an ordinance. The legislation also requires the Department of Community and Economic Development to offer guidance and technical assistance to help counties set up and manage these new public safety entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes minor adjustments to Pennsylvania's vehicle laws, specifically targeting rules regarding racing on highways and the handling of impounded vehicles. It seeks to remove the word "intentional" from a specific provision, clarify language about controlled or uncontrolled substances, and change the authority responsible for certain vehicle matters from municipalities to counties. These changes aim to refine how traffic enforcement and penalties are applied without altering the fundamental structure of the state's vehicle code.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania school districts and other school entities to conduct a comprehensive building condition assessment every seven years to evaluate the safety and maintenance needs of their facilities. The law mandates that these reports include detailed data on structural and system components, estimated costs for operations and repairs, and plans for addressing hazards like asbestos or lead. Schools that complete these assessments will receive a 2% increase in state funding reimbursements, while those that fail to submit the required reports will be ineligible for certain state grants and funding. The legislation also establishes clear definitions for construction, maintenance, and operations costs to ensure consistent reporting across the state.

Maddy summarySB 1267 updates the fees charged to constables and deputy constables in Pennsylvania for various legal services. The bill directly affects these law enforcement officers, the courts that employ them, and the individuals or entities required to pay for their services. It increases the cost for specific actions, such as serving legal documents, transporting defendants, and providing courtroom security, while also adjusting compensation for holding defendants and fingerprinting. Additionally, the legislation clarifies how surcharges are applied in criminal and civil cases and establishes rules for reimbursing travel expenses based on IRS rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Clean Air Preservation Act, prohibits any form of weather modification, cloud seeding, or atmospheric pollution within Pennsylvania. It defines these activities broadly to include actions taken by humans, machines, or artificial intelligence that release harmful substances or agents into the air. The Pennsylvania State Police and county sheriffs are tasked with enforcing the law by issuing immediate cease-and-desist orders that carry the same legal weight as a court order. Violators face severe penalties, including fines of at least $500,000, imprisonment for a minimum of two years, and potential charges under existing air pollution laws. The legislation also requires authorities to notify federal agencies if any government or foreign-approved projects attempt to conduct such activities within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania state law to ensure that veterans' benefit payments are not counted as income when determining eligibility for various state-run programs. It defines "veterans' benefit payments" as compensation related to service-connected disabilities or benefits provided by state agencies, and it explicitly excludes these funds from income calculations for programs that require income verification. The legislation also extends this protection to unmarried surviving spouses of veterans for any compensation they receive based on the veteran's service. Additionally, the law prevents these payments from being considered as financial resources when assessing eligibility for specific human services programs.