Sen. Tim Kearney

Maddy summarySB 370 requires Pennsylvania law enforcement to electronically record (with audio) all custodial interrogations related to "crimes of violence" (serious offenses that would be violent if committed by an adult). Exceptions include immediate danger, a person refusing to be recorded, equipment failure, or interrogations conducted by another jurisdiction. If recording isn't done, officers must write a report explaining why and summarizing the interrogation. This directly affects police departments, officers conducting interrogations, and individuals questioned about violent crimes in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 363 creates Pennsylvania's Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, which will help eligible residents facing water or wastewater service disconnection due to unpaid bills. The program, to be established by the Department of Human Services by July 1, 2026, provides grants to cover overdue water/wastewater bills or restore terminated services for low-income households that own/rent homes, are responsible for utility payments, and meet income guidelines. Water and wastewater providers can apply for grants on behalf of qualifying customers, with funds restricted to preventing disconnection, paying arrears, or restoring service. The program requires annual public reporting to the Governor and legislative committees on program participation and spending.

Maddy summarySB 360 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections to collect detailed data on solitary confinement use in state prisons, including duration, reasons for placement, and impacts on vulnerable inmates such as youth, elderly individuals, pregnant people, and LGBTQ+ inmates. The bill mandates annual public reports to the Governor and legislature containing aggregated statistics (like recidivism rates and self-harm incidents) without personally identifiable information. These reports and prison policies governing solitary confinement must be posted on the department's public website. The bill directly affects all state prison inmates, with specific tracking requirements for vulnerable populations.

Maddy summarySB 320 bans for-profit companies (including corporations, private equity firms, and investment banks) from owning or managing hospitals and health systems in Pennsylvania. It would prevent new for-profit ownership but allows existing for-profit hospitals and health systems to continue operating as they are. The law defines "for-profit entity" broadly and exempts current owners as of the law's effective date. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment, with no new for-profit acquisitions permitted after that date. This directly affects current and future hospital ownership structures in the state.

Maddy summarySB 351 mandates that health insurance policies in Pennsylvania providing pregnancy-related benefits must cover infertility treatment expenses, including IVF, embryo transfer, and artificial insemination. It applies to policies delivered, issued, or renewed in the state, requiring coverage for diagnosis and treatment while allowing limited restrictions like waiting periods (aligned with medical guidelines) or copayments not exceeding those for pregnancy benefits. The bill explicitly excludes coverage for infertility resulting from elective sterilization reversal and allows religious organizations to opt out of covering these procedures. This policy change directly affects insured individuals seeking fertility care and insurers offering pregnancy-related coverage in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 312 requires electricity customers who don’t sign a new contract with their current supplier before their existing agreement ends to automatically switch back to their local utility company (the default service provider) and pay the default rate. This directly affects residential and business electricity customers who fail to proactively choose a new supplier. The bill mandates that utility companies implement this automatic transition within 60 days of the law taking effect, as directed by the state utility commission. It clarifies the process for customers whose contracts expire without renewal, without changing electricity rates or creating new programs.

Maddy summarySB 321, the Mandatory Severance for Mass Layoffs Act, requires employers with 50+ employees to provide severance pay and advance notice when shutting down a facility, transferring operations, or laying off 50+ workers within 30 days. It mandates 90 days' notice (or federal requirements if longer) to employees, the state labor department, and local officials before such events. Severance pay equals one week of average pay per full year of employment, with an additional four weeks if notice is shorter than required. This applies to most full-time employees but excludes managers, temporary workers, and part-timers working under 20 hours weekly.

Maddy summarySB 354 changes how Pennsylvania charter schools receive state funding for special education students, effective the 2025-2026 school year. It replaces a previous formula with a new system that provides additional funding based on three cost categories: Category 1 (1.51x base funding), Category 2 (3.77x), and Category 3 (7.46x), determined by the actual cost of services documented by the charter school. Charter schools must submit cost documentation to the state and school districts, and must return overpayments if costs are lower than received. This directly affects charter schools serving special education students and the school districts that fund them. The bill also clarifies which state education laws apply to charter schools.

Maddy summarySB 346 establishes workplace health and safety standards specifically for public employees in Pennsylvania, including state, county, city, school, and local government workers. It creates the Pennsylvania Occupational Safety and Health Review Board to handle disputes, requires employers to provide hazard-free workplaces, and authorizes workplace inspections. The bill extends protections similar to federal OSHA standards (which currently cover private-sector workers) to public employees who are not already covered by federal rules. Key provisions include employer duties to eliminate recognized hazards, requirements for written hazard disclosures, and penalties for violations.

Maddy summarySB 338 requires water and wastewater utilities in Pennsylvania to hold a ratepayer vote before selling systems valued at $1 million or more, with the commission blocking approval if a majority disapproves. It creates a "water ratepayer bill of rights" mandating annual reports showing acquisition costs, rate changes, and subsidies for former municipal customers, plus annual water source notifications. The bill directly affects residential ratepayers and water utilities, requiring transparency about privatization impacts and service changes. Key provisions include mandatory public voting on utility sales, detailed annual reporting on acquisition costs, and requirements for notifying customers about water sources and land access rights.