Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SR 115) designates June 2025 as "Dairy Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the dairy industry's economic significance - supporting over 47,000 jobs and contributing $11.8 billion annually - to raise awareness of the industry's value and hardships while encouraging the purchase of Pennsylvania-produced dairy products. The resolution has no binding policy impact and serves purely as a ceremonial acknowledgment.

Maddy summarySB 175 makes it a crime to knowingly report false emergencies (like crimes or medical crises) to police, fire departments, 911 operators, or emergency medical services. It directly affects individuals who make such false reports, requiring them to pay the full costs of the emergency response - including officer/firefighter overtime, equipment, and supplies - through court-ordered restitution. For juveniles, parents or guardians may be ordered to pay a portion of these costs if the juvenile cannot afford it, with payment plans or hardship adjustments available. The law applies to false reports originating in Pennsylvania or targeting Pennsylvania agencies, and it expands the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute cross-county or multi-state violations.

Maddy summarySB 810 amends Pennsylvania's Regulatory Review Act to strengthen oversight of state regulations, particularly those with significant economic impact. It defines "economically significant regulations" as those costing over $1 million annually to the state, local governments, or private sector, requiring agencies to submit detailed cost estimates (via the Independent Fiscal Office) and hold public hearings for such rules. The bill adds specific timelines for legislative committee review (up to 14 days for "final-form" regulations) and mandates that committees must formally disapprove or approve regulations within this window before agencies can implement them. This directly affects state agencies drafting regulations, legislative committees, and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, creating clearer procedures for reviewing high-cost rules.

Maddy summarySB 809 amends Pennsylvania's law to clarify that disabled veterans must have been honorably discharged "for service in any war or armed conflict" to qualify for the real estate tax exemption on their principal residence. This change directly affects veterans seeking the existing tax exemption for their primary home, including the land it sits on. The key provision updates the eligibility requirement in Section 8902(a)(1) of Title 51 to specify the discharge reason tied to military service in conflict. The bill does not create new benefits but refines the existing exemption's criteria. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 757 requires public employers in Pennsylvania to publicly post proposed collective bargaining agreements, including cost estimates, on their websites for at least two weeks before signing. It mandates that these agreements become public records accessible online within 48 hours of receipt. The law applies to most public employees (excluding elected officials, management staff, and police/fire unions under separate law) and makes agreements unenforceable if proper notice isn't provided. This aims to increase transparency around public sector pay, benefits, and working conditions.

Maddy summarySB 765 updates Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to allow current liquor license holders (like restaurants and retail stores) to sell malt or brewed beverages for off-premises consumption through connected business spaces. It permits using registers in adjacent areas within the same building (under 11,000 sq ft) if they meet specific rules: proper signage, staff training, age verification via scan devices for customers under 35, and prior notice to the Liquor Board. The bill also clarifies that wine expanded permit holders can sell wine in connected areas with similar requirements, including mandatory age checks and sales conducted through registered staff. These changes apply only to existing license holders expanding operations within physically connected spaces, not to new license types.

Maddy summarySB 761 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to adjust fiscal year start dates for school districts and update collective bargaining timelines. It allows first-class school districts to choose between a January 1 or August 1 fiscal year start (previously only January 1), and permits second-, third-, and fourth-class districts to switch from an August 1 to a January 1 start. The bill also revises deadlines for mediation and fact-finding panels in labor disputes, aligning them with school districts' fiscal year ends (July 31 or December 31 instead of June 30). These changes directly affect all Pennsylvania public school districts and their collective bargaining processes.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SR 112 is a resolution petitioning Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention focused solely on three specific amendments: imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting federal power and jurisdiction, and restricting terms for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution explicitly prohibits the convention from considering changes to the Bill of Rights and includes detailed instructions to ensure it stays within these boundaries. It also specifies that Pennsylvania's delegates will be chosen by the state legislature and bound to oppose any proposals outside the designated topics. This is a procedural request to Congress, not a law, and does not directly affect any residents or entities.

Maddy summarySB 741 creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for the unauthorized use of electronic tracking devices. It makes it illegal to install or place an electronic tracking device on another person or their property without their consent to track their location or movement. The bill includes exceptions for situations like parents tracking their minor children, legal guardians tracking incapacitated persons, and law enforcement in official duties or with court orders. Businesses are also exempt when tracking fleet vehicles or if they have obtained informed consent, and penalties range from a second-degree to a first-degree misdemeanor.

Maddy summarySB 227 amends the Public School Code of 1949, affecting school boards and directors across the Commonwealth. It permits school boards to appoint delegates, including board members, secretaries, and solicitors, to state conventions and allows for the reimbursement of their necessary expenses such as travel and registration fees. The bill also enables school districts to pay membership dues to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) using school funds. A key provision designates the PSBA as a "State-affiliated entity" under the Right-to-Know Law, subjecting it to public information access requirements.