Sen. Tim Kearney

Maddy summarySB 549 (Pennsylvania) limits public access to eviction court records to protect tenants. It creates "limited access eviction files" that cannot be shared online or with most individuals, except under specific conditions like when a case is less than seven years old with a final judgment for the landlord, or for parties directly involved in the case. Tenant screening services and consumer reporting agencies are barred from using these records in reports or considering them for rental decisions. The law automatically restricts access after seven years, when a judgment is satisfied (e.g., tenant pays rent or moves out), or if a court vacates a judgment. This directly affects tenants (by preventing old eviction history from impacting housing), landlords (requiring them to notify courts of satisfied judgments), and tenant screening companies (prohibiting use of these records).

Maddy summarySB 559 amends Pennsylvania law to restrict firearm and assault weapon possession by minors. It prohibits individuals under 18 from possessing standard firearms (with limited exceptions for supervised activities or hunting) and raises the age limit for assault weapons to under 21, barring possession without specific exemptions. The bill defines "assault weapon" to include firearms with features like detachable magazines, folding stocks, or specific grips, and lists exceptions for active-duty military personnel, peace officers, and weapon-carrying probation officers. Adults who knowingly provide firearms to minors in violation of these rules face felony charges, and illegally possessed firearms must be seized and forfeited upon conviction. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summarySB 542 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle laws to change how speeding offenses are handled. It specifies that drivers using speed timing devices (like radar) won't get license points for speeding less than 10 mph over the limit, except in school zones or work zones. The bill also clarifies rules for police using speed enforcement devices, requiring training for local officers and specific signage, while creating a 15-day license suspension for speeding 11+ mph over limits in active work zones. These changes directly affect drivers receiving speeding tickets and law enforcement agencies using speed timing technology.

Maddy summarySB 558 would require public employers (like state and local government offices) to observe Election Day as a legal holiday, meaning they must close on election days. School districts and counties could also choose to observe Election Day as a holiday. Private employers must provide employees with at least two hours of unpaid leave for voting on Election Day, and face a $1,000 civil penalty for violating this requirement. The Department of State would enforce these rules, and the law would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 555 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to update the sworn statements (oaths) required for election workers. It revises the exact wording for judges of election, election inspectors, election clerks, and machine inspectors, adding specific language about ensuring registered voters can cast ballots. The changes clarify clerks' duties to "carefully and truly record votes" and direct eligibility questions to judges of election. This is a technical update to existing oath requirements, not a substantive policy change affecting election procedures or voter rights. The bill focuses solely on standardizing the language these officials must swear to uphold election integrity.

Maddy summarySB 538 requires the Joint State Government Commission to study driver income, traffic congestion, safety, and service access for ride-hailing companies (like Uber or Lyft) in Pennsylvania. The study will collect detailed data from companies on ride specifics, driver availability, and earnings, with a report due within 12 months. Based on this report, the Public Utility Commission may later establish minimum payments for drivers and minimum fare rates for rides, excluding taxes and fees. This bill directly affects ride-hailing companies, drivers, and passengers by potentially setting new compensation and pricing standards.

Maddy summarySB 539 requires drivers for ride-sharing services (like Uber or Lyft) operating in Pennsylvania to be state residents. It updates background checks to ensure drivers have held a valid license for at least one year, are at least 21, and have no more than three moving violations in the past three years. The bill also prohibits companies from hiring drivers whose limousine or taxi licenses were suspended in the last five years. This directly affects all transportation network company drivers providing rides within Pennsylvania, making residency a mandatory qualification under updated state statutes. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 486 amends Pennsylvania's procurement laws to add new reasons for barring state contractors from future contracts. It specifically prohibits state agencies from awarding contracts to businesses that violate wage laws (like the Wage Payment and Collection Law), misclassify employees as independent contractors (violating laws covering workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, taxes, or construction misclassification), or breach workers' compensation rules. This directly affects businesses seeking or holding state government contracts by expanding the grounds for debarment. The bill updates existing debarment rules to include these specific labor and wage violations, making them automatic disqualifiers for state contracting. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 211 allows Pennsylvania individual income tax filers to voluntarily contribute $1 or more to fire and emergency medical services grant programs by designating the amount on their state tax return. The contribution is deducted from any tax refund owed, not from tax revenue, and the Department of Revenue transfers the collected funds (minus administrative costs) to a restricted account for grants administered by the Office of State Fire Commissioner. This applies to all Pennsylvania taxpayers filing individual income tax returns, directly supporting fire companies and EMS providers through state grant programs. The bill takes effect for tax years ending after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 510 creates a $2 million grant program to help individuals navigate name changes while facing gender or sexual stereotype-based biases. It establishes the Compassionate Name Change Assistance Grant Fund in the State Treasury, providing competitive grants of $5,000-$100,000 to nonprofits or local governments that run support programs for transgender and nonbinary residents. Grants fund administrative costs of services offering legal, emotional, or social guidance during name change processes. The Department of Community and Economic Development will administer applications and evaluate program effectiveness every three years. This directly affects transgender and nonbinary Pennsylvanians seeking name changes and the organizations supporting them.