Sen. Tim Kearney

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania Senate resolution (SR 206) designates the week of January 18-25, 2026, as "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Week" in the state. It is a commemorative resolution with no binding requirements, urging Pennsylvanians to reflect on Dr. King's legacy and commitment to equality during that week. The resolution does not create new laws or affect specific groups, as it solely serves to honor Dr. King's historical contributions.

Maddy summarySB 1117, the "Protecting Pennsylvania Police Act," prohibits the federal government from taking control of local law enforcement agencies' assets, personnel, or operations without formal authorization. It directly affects Pennsylvania's local police departments and sheriffs' offices by blocking federal executive orders, presidential actions, or congressional acts from commandeering their resources. The bill defines "commandeering" as seizing control without express authority and empowers the Attorney General or county district attorneys to enforce this prohibition through legal action. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summarySB 1126 requires most health insurance plans in Pennsylvania to cover at least two epinephrine delivery systems (such as EpiPens for severe allergic reactions) per year at a maximum annual cost of $35, regardless of the insured's deductible or other cost-sharing. This applies to individual and group health insurance policies, as well as certain nonprofit health plans. The Attorney General must investigate epinephrine drug pricing and submit a public report to the legislature within one year. The bill also allows plans to reduce cost-sharing below $35 and applies to high deductible and catastrophic health plans where permitted by federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers of disposable menstrual products (such as pads, tampons, and liners) sold in Pennsylvania to clearly list all ingredients on product packaging in order of predominance, using 10-point font visible on the box. It specifically mandates disclosure of certain fragrance allergens (like limonene or linalool) and requires online posting of ingredient information. Manufacturers face fines up to $1,000 per violation for noncompliance. The law directly affects product manufacturers, not consumers, by increasing transparency about product contents under Pennsylvania's cosmetic and drug regulations.

Maddy summarySB 1120 allows individuals or groups directly harmed by oil and gas violations to sue companies or the state agency (the Department of Environmental Protection) directly, instead of waiting for the state to act. It creates a "private right of action" under Pennsylvania's oil and gas laws, enabling people to file civil lawsuits to enforce compliance with regulations, permits, or standards. However, if the state is already actively suing a violator, individuals cannot file their own lawsuit but may join the state's case without posting bond. The bill affects residents, landowners, or environmental groups near oil/gas operations who suffer harm from noncompliance. It does not change existing legal rights or preempt emergency response rules for well control.

Maddy summarySB 1121 amends Pennsylvania's Solid Waste Management Act (1980) to clarify that citizens can join legal actions enforcing waste regulations without needing to post a bond. This change directly affects Pennsylvania residents concerned about violations of waste management laws, allowing them to participate in court cases without financial barriers. The bill modifies Section 615 of the Act to explicitly state that citizens with environmental concerns may intervene in enforcement proceedings under sections 604 or 605. It does not alter the types of cases citizens can pursue, only streamlining their ability to join existing legal actions.

Maddy summarySB 1125 requires Pennsylvania school entities (including districts, charter schools, and career schools) to guarantee all students, parents, guardians, and school staff access to school property regardless of immigration status, starting with the 2025-2026 school year. Schools must adopt written policies promoting inclusivity within 90 days, designating a school official to handle related matters, and publish these policies in all languages spoken by students at home at least 30 days before a public meeting. Policies must be approved by a public resolution with 45 days notice and reviewed at least quarterly, with updates made through the same public process. This law directly affects school operations, ensuring consistent access and procedural transparency for all school community members.

Maddy summarySB 975 requires boroughs and cities in Pennsylvania to complete, publish, and file annual financial reports by June 30 each year. It mandates that auditors publish concise financial summaries (showing assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses) in a local newspaper at least 10 days before the annual meeting, and submit full reports to the Department of Community and Economic Development. Municipal officials who fail to meet these deadlines face fines of $5 per day, with fines going to the state. The bill tightens existing reporting rules for local government financial transparency without changing tax policies or service provisions.

Maddy summarySB 871 amends Pennsylvania's Second Class Township Code to clarify bonding requirements for contractors. It requires successful bidders on township contracts to provide a bond, letter of credit, or other security within 20 days of contract award, set at 10% to 100% of the contract value. This applies to most contracts not already covered under Pennsylvania's Public Works Contractors' Bond Law of 1967. The bill directly affects second-class townships and contractors working with them, ensuring performance guarantees are secured promptly to protect public funds. Failure to provide the required security within 20 days voids the contract.

Maddy summarySB 1114 restructures Pennsylvania's electric utility industry to allow large commercial and industrial electricity consumers direct access to competitive electricity generation markets. It requires utilities to unbundle electricity rates and provide open access to their transmission and distribution systems, enabling new market participants like energy aggregators and brokers to sell electricity directly to customers. The bill creates a "competitive transition charge" applied to all customers' bills to recover utilities' past investments in generation that may not be recoverable in a competitive market. This change shifts the industry from regulated bundled service to a model where customers can choose electricity suppliers while maintaining grid reliability.