Sen. Judy Ward

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 2025 as "Italian-American Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania. It is a ceremonial recognition, not a law with policy changes, intended to honor Italian-American contributions to the state. The resolution directly affects the Italian-American community in Pennsylvania by formally acknowledging their cultural heritage during that month. No specific provisions or mechanisms are created, as it is purely symbolic.

Maddy summarySR 173 designates October 2025 as "Down Syndrome Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania through a formal legislative resolution. This resolution does not create new laws or obligations but serves as a symbolic recognition to promote public awareness and support for individuals with Down syndrome. The resolution was referred to the Rules & Executive Nominations committee on October 15, 2025, as part of the legislative process.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates October 13, 2025, as "Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania. It serves as a symbolic recognition to honor individuals affected by metastatic breast cancer and raise public awareness within the state, without creating new laws or allocating funding.

Maddy summarySB 432 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to create new educational pathways for foster and adopted children attending state universities and colleges. The bill requires public higher education institutions to develop and implement specific support programs, including academic advising and financial aid coordination, for eligible students who were in foster care or adopted. It directly affects current and future foster youth and adopted children pursuing higher education within Pennsylvania's public university system. Key provisions establish standardized support mechanisms to improve access and retention for this population in state-funded institutions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 166) designates specific weeks in October 2025, January 2026, and April 2026 as "PIAA Officials Appreciation Weeks" in Pennsylvania. It directly honors officials of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), a nonprofit organization overseeing high school sports. The resolution is purely symbolic, recognizing PIAA officials' contributions without creating new laws or altering policies. As a procedural resolution, it does not impose obligations or change funding.

Maddy summarySB 377 requires Pennsylvania state agencies to purchase information technology devices (like computers or tablets) that meet specific security standards when entering new public works contracts. It mandates that these devices, services, and solutions must be configurable, secure, and maintainable according to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines or widely adopted industry security practices. The law applies only to contracts signed on or after its effective date (60 days after passage), affecting state agencies buying endpoint devices for public projects. This policy change directly impacts procurement decisions for IT hardware and services across Pennsylvania government operations.

Maddy summarySB 784 requires state departments in Pennsylvania to purchase only U.S.-made flags for public display, specifically mandating that flags of the United States or Pennsylvania must be both manufactured in the U.S. and constructed from U.S.-sourced materials. The bill also requires that these flags include an "Made in America" label on their identifying tag. This applies to all flags procured by the Department of General Services for public use after the law takes effect 60 days following passage. The legislation directly affects state procurement practices and ensures U.S. manufacturing standards for government-purchased flags.

Maddy summarySR 169 is a resolution passed by the legislature on October 6, 2025, condemning an antisemitic firebombing attack that occurred on June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, targeting peaceful demonstrators. It formally calls on the Commonwealth to take action against the rising threat of antisemitism. As a resolution, it does not create new laws or directly affect individuals, but expresses the legislature's stance on the incident.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania state agencies to review every program from scratch every five years, starting in 2026. Agencies must justify each program's existence, detail costs for minimum vs. current service levels, and assess impacts if discontinued, except for classroom teaching, curriculum, and direct student services in public schools. The Secretary of the Budget will oversee this process, mandating detailed plans from agencies to ensure transparency and accountability in spending. It aims to replace incremental budgeting with a system that evaluates all programs based on current needs rather than historical spending.

Maddy summarySB 1021 amends Pennsylvania sentencing guidelines to increase penalties for violent acts targeting immigration enforcement. It creates a sentencing enhancement for two specific scenarios: (1) crimes of violence committed to interfere with immigration enforcement activities, and (2) violent acts causing bodily injury to immigration enforcement personnel. The bill applies to existing offenses under Pennsylvania law that meet these criteria, adding an extra penalty layer within the state's sentencing guidelines. This change directly affects individuals convicted of such violent acts against immigration enforcement officers or personnel.