Sen. Tim Kearney

Maddy summarySB 276, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, requires Pennsylvania employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with pregnancy-related limitations (like modified schedules, extra breaks, or equipment adjustments) unless it causes significant cost or disruption to the business. It prohibits employers from refusing such accommodations, forcing leave when alternatives exist, or retaliating against workers who request them. The law applies to all employers in Pennsylvania and makes it illegal to deny employment or change work terms based on pregnancy-related needs. Employees can file complaints with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission if their rights are violated, with enforcement mirroring existing anti-discrimination procedures.

Maddy summarySB 265 prohibits credit card payments for gambling-related services in Pennsylvania. It bans operators of fantasy contests, iLottery, interactive gaming, and sports wagering from accepting credit cards to fund accounts, make deposits, or place wagers. The bill directly affects licensed gambling operators by requiring them to use alternative payment methods for all transactions. Key provisions include adding specific restrictions to existing statutes (Sections 326, 503, 13B23, and 13C11) to enforce the credit card ban. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 266 strengthens Pennsylvania's gaming regulations by requiring licensed casinos and online gaming operators to enforce voluntary self-exclusion programs. It prohibits direct marketing (including email, texts, and social media) to self-excluded individuals, mandates real-time updates to exclusion lists every 48 hours, and bans access to rewards, credit, winnings, and promotional benefits for excluded persons. Violations could result in fines up to $1.2 million for gaming entities, with misdemeanor or felony penalties for repeated offenses. The bill directly affects gaming businesses and supports individuals seeking to avoid gambling activities through formal self-exclusion.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in Pennsylvania to cover infertility treatments without out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles or copays). It applies to individuals, spouses, and dependents seeking fertility care, including treatments like IVF, egg/sperm freezing, embryo transfers, and surrogacy costs. The law prohibits excluding coverage for infertility based on preexisting conditions, prior treatments, or arbitrary limits on the number of attempts. It specifically mandates coverage for 22 defined infertility services, including medical procedures and fertility preservation for those undergoing cancer treatment.

Maddy summarySB 268 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to establish rules for calculating health insurance cost-sharing. It requires insurers and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to include all out-of-pocket payments made by insured individuals (or others on their behalf) when determining cost-sharing amounts like deductibles or copays. The law applies to health insurance policies issued, renewed, or entered into after its effective date, but excludes dental, vision, workers' compensation, and similar coverage types. This change directly affects health insurers, PBMs, and policyholders by standardizing how cost-sharing is calculated under health plans.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SB 262 creates a legal process for courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a significant risk of harming themselves or others with a firearm. Family members, household members, or law enforcement can petition a court if they reasonably believe a person has firearms and is at risk of violence, requiring specific evidence like recent threats or acts. The court must hold a hearing within 14 days, and if it finds the risk is "more likely than not," it issues a one-year order requiring the person to surrender all firearms. The bill prohibits fees or bonds for petitioners and mandates law enforcement to enforce firearm surrender, with clear procedures for service, notice, and reporting.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 2025 as "Career and Technical Education Month" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes the importance of career and technical education programs for students and the workforce, without creating new laws or altering existing policies. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about these programs, which serve over 68,000 students statewide and connect them to in-demand careers.

Maddy summarySB 251 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's Constitution, creating a two-year window for victims of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits against the Commonwealth. It directly affects individuals who experienced abuse as children and were previously barred by expired statutes of limitations, damage caps, or government immunity. The amendment overrides these legal barriers, allowing such cases to be filed within two years of the amendment's effective date, without being blocked by standard time limits or immunity protections. This change applies only to childhood sexual abuse claims arising before the amendment takes effect.

Maddy summarySB 210 creates a new offense for interfering with public transit operators (like bus drivers or conductors) while they are performing their duties. It prohibits actions that cause serious injury or death to operators (felony first degree), lesser injury (felony third degree), or create fear of harm. The law applies to any public transit vehicle, including buses, trains, and streetcars, and covers both direct harm to operators and harm to passengers caused by the interference. Penalties range from serious felony charges for severe cases to lesser felonies for less severe violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania state and county correctional facilities to provide free voice communication services (like phone calls) to all inmates. It mandates that facilities maintain at least the same level of access as on January 1, 2024, and ensure at least one operable phone device for every ten inmates in housing units or recreational areas. The bill prohibits charging inmates for communications, using services to replace in-person visits, or collecting fees from callers. It also appropriates $16.5 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year (70% to the state, 30% to counties based on inmate population) to cover these costs.