Sen. Judy Ward

Maddy summaryPennsylvania SB 1445 establishes the Learning Investment Tax Credit Program, which provides a refundable tax credit of $8,000 per child for qualified education expenses. The program is available to parents or legal guardians with annual incomes up to 300% of the area median gross income who have school-age children not enrolled in public schools. Eligible expenses include private school tuition, textbooks, tutoring, educational software, and standardized test fees. The total amount of credits awarded is capped at $300 million per fiscal year, with a mechanism to increase this cap by 25% if the previous year's usage reaches 90% of the limit.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Resolution 359 designates September 2026 as "Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month" to highlight the elevated suicide rates among military veterans in the state. The resolution cites specific statistics, noting that nearly 250 Pennsylvania veterans die by suicide annually and that female veterans face a significantly higher risk than their male counterparts. It acknowledges contributing factors such as post-traumatic stress disorder, unemployment, and difficulties reintegrating into civilian life. Additionally, the bill expresses support for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and its ongoing initiatives to provide resources and education on suicide prevention for veterans and their families.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Bill 1439 tightens oversight of the state's health insurance exchange by requiring insurers to provide documentary proof of residency and legal status for every enrollee. The bill mandates that the exchange authority respond to insurer requests to cancel policies within one business day and make a final decision within five business days. Additionally, it requires the creation of an Office of Fraud Prevention within 180 days to investigate complaints, standardize reporting forms, and ensure staff receive annual anti-fraud training. The exchange authority must also submit an annual report to state legislators detailing fraud statistics, financial impacts, and implemented procedures.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Bill 1440 requires ambulances and Quick Response System vehicles to display a visible QR code in the patient care area. This code must link to a digital resource containing emergency airway management protocols for laryngectomy patients, visual guides for identifying stomas, and contact information for regional medical support. Emergency medical services agencies are responsible for keeping these codes functional and accessible without requiring login credentials. The state department of health must establish specific standards for the content, placement, and training related to these codes within 180 days of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania Senate Resolution designates September 28, 2026, as "Green Star Veterans and Families Day" to honor veterans who died by suicide in connection with their military service. The bill formally recognizes the Green Star Service Banner as a symbol of remembrance for these individuals. It aims to acknowledge the resilience of the families left behind and raise public awareness about the mental health challenges and suicide crisis affecting veterans.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Resolution 356 designates the week of August 17 through 23, 2026, as "Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week." The resolution cites rising statistics on online child exploitation, including sextortion and the use of artificial intelligence for abuse, to highlight the need for greater vigilance. It encourages educational programming and public awareness efforts aimed at protecting minors from these digital threats as students prepare to return to school.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Bill 1429 amends state election and vehicle laws to require county election boards to actively maintain voter registration rolls by removing individuals who are deceased, non-citizens, or have moved out of the jurisdiction. The bill mandates that these removals be based on authoritative sources such as death certificates, Social Security Administration records, and data from the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, while requiring officials to send notice to voters before canceling their registration to allow for corrections. It also establishes a new annual certification process where county boards must report on their list maintenance activities to the Secretary of the Commonwealth and imposes criminal penalties for intentional failures to perform these official duties. Additionally, the legislation requires the Department of Transportation to share driver license address change data with election officials and mandates a four-year review by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to assess the effectiveness of these new procedures.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Bill 1426 designates the Interstate 81 and State Route 4007 interchange, known as Exit 119 in Schuylkill County, as the PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira, Jr. Memorial Interchange. The bill honors Trooper Pahira, who died in July 2026 after being struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection at that specific location. It directs the state Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs displaying the new name at the interchange.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Bill 1422 amends state agriculture laws to prohibit the commercial sale of cell-cultured protein, which is defined as food made from animal cells or DNA grown outside the living animal. The bill adds a specific legal definition for this product and explicitly bans its manufacturing, selling, delivery, or offering for sale within the state. These restrictions apply to all producers and vendors of such products, effectively removing them from the Pennsylvania market. The law is set to take effect 60 days after it is signed.

Maddy summarySB 1353 amends Pennsylvania's Board of Vehicles Act to clarify how the state defines market areas for vehicle dealers and to exempt specific types of vehicle dealers from certain regulations. The bill establishes a 20-mile radius around existing dealers as the standard market area, but reduces this to 10 miles for new dealers and 5 miles for new dealers in major cities. Additionally, the law explicitly excludes dealers of manufactured housing, recreational vehicles, and trailers from these new definitions and related restrictions on establishing or relocating dealerships.