Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 17-23, 2025, as "THON Week" in Pennsylvania to honor Penn State student volunteers involved in the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. It recognizes their work supporting pediatric cancer research and patient care through the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. The resolution does not create new laws or alter funding; it is a ceremonial acknowledgment of the event's mission and impact. THON, a student-run philanthropy, has raised over $236 million since 1977 for childhood cancer support.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new limits on damages in lawsuits against Pennsylvania state and local governments. For state government cases, it caps non-death/disfigurement damages at $250,000 per plaintiff or $1 million total, with higher caps ($1 million per plaintiff or $2 million total) for permanent dismemberment or death. For local governments, it sets a $500,000 total cap (except for higher caps in dismemberment/death cases). It also restricts pain and suffering claims to cases where medical/dental expenses exceed $10,000 for permanent injuries. The changes apply to all claims arising on or after the effective date (60 days after enactment).

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 28) urges Pennsylvania's Governor to offer the Pennsylvania National Guard's services to Texas for Operation Lone Star, a border security effort. It directly affects Pennsylvania's National Guard and Texas' border operations, requesting deployment to assist with border security. The resolution cites Pennsylvania's interest in addressing border-related impacts like fentanyl trafficking and costs ($1.6 billion burden to taxpayers), and references the Guard's past experience in border operations. As a resolution, it does not mandate deployment but formally requests the Governor to volunteer the Guard's support and transmits the request to federal and Texas officials.

Maddy summarySB 374 creates a new Office of Information Technology within Pennsylvania's state government, led by a Chief Information Officer (CIO) appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation. The CIO, who becomes part of the Governor's Cabinet, will manage all state agency IT systems and establish security protocols for data handled by those agencies. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania state agencies operating under the Governor's authority, centralizing oversight of their technology infrastructure. The key change is replacing fragmented IT management with a single, accountable office responsible for both operations and cybersecurity across state agencies.

Maddy summarySB 314 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to report the death of any registered voter aged 18 or older to local election commissions within seven days of learning of the death. Election commissions must then cancel that voter's registration and update their records. The law aims to improve the accuracy of voter rolls by ensuring deceased individuals are removed promptly. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 353 designates March 13 as K9 Veterans Day in Pennsylvania, recognizing military working dogs' service. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging Pennsylvanians to observe this day, commemorating the date the U.S. military began actively recruiting canine forces in 1942. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents through the Governor's official observance. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment, with no additional funding or program requirements.

Maddy summarySB 261 requires individuals applying for Pennsylvania's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) who live with children under 18 and have an absent parent to cooperate with child support services to establish paternity and support orders. This applies to both identified parents and "putative" parents (those presumed to be parents). The bill specifies that inability to comply with these requirements - determined by child support services or a court - cannot make someone ineligible for SNAP benefits. The law amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to align with federal SNAP regulations regarding child support coordination.

Maddy summarySB 260 adds a new exemption category for caregivers from Pennsylvania jury duty. It allows caregivers who request excusal, do not work outside the home, and live with a child under seven or a person with a permanent disability requiring active care during court hours (and lack affordable or available alternative care) to be excused permanently or for a limited period. Courts must require a notarized affidavit confirming these conditions, and caregivers excused for a limited time will be reassigned to the next jury array after their period ends. This bill directly affects caregivers meeting these specific criteria, modifying existing jury duty exemptions under Title 42.

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 summaryThis bill changes retirement options for Pennsylvania state employees, particularly affecting new Senators starting after December 1, 2026. It allows eligible employees to choose between mandatory pension system membership or optional participation in a separate retirement plan, with Senators required to make this election within 30 days of taking office. Employees who elect "solely participant" status in the plan (instead of pension membership) cannot later switch back, and missing the 30-day deadline forfeits pension credit for their Senate service. The bill also clarifies automatic plan participation for certain employees and rules for retirees returning to state work.