Sen. Judy Ward

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania State Capitol to install a bronze monument of the Braille Flag in the East Wing to honor veterans and their families. The Department of General Services is tasked with coordinating with The Moose organization to select a site and oversee the monument's installation. The monument will feature the Pledge of Allegiance written in braille, recognizing the legacy of blind veterans and those who served with lasting disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's parole board membership rules by clarifying how board vacancies are handled when a member's term expires. It requires the Governor to nominate a replacement within six months of a term ending, even if the current member stays on the board temporarily. The changes apply to all current and future Pennsylvania Parole Board members and will take effect 60 days after passage. The legislation focuses on administrative procedures for board composition rather than altering parole eligibility or release standards.

Maddy summarySB 599 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to clarify procedures for absentee and mail-in voting. It updates rules for how voters can obtain and return ballots, allowing county boards to provide absentee ballots to designated representatives or deputies (via judges) if voters cannot visit offices themselves. The bill also specifies that completed absentee ballots must be returned to the county board's primary office at the county seat. These changes directly affect voters using absentee or mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania elections, streamlining their voting process while maintaining security protocols.

Maddy summarySB 857 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to require county approval before the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Game Commission, or Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission can purchase, trade, or accept gifts of land. It directly affects these three state agencies and local governments by mandating that county governing bodies must approve land acquisitions and providing 30 days' notice to affected municipalities and residents for public comment. The key provisions establish new procedural requirements for land transactions, aiming to improve coordination and reduce fiscal burdens on local governments. The bill is pending legislative action as of June 2025.

Maddy summaryThe bill SB 1061 amends Pennsylvania's military affairs statutes to address accreditation requirements for the State Veterans' Commission and the Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs. It directly affects state veterans' agencies and their personnel by establishing or modifying accreditation standards. The bill's key provision focuses on "further providing for accreditation," though the specific accreditation process or standards are not detailed in the provided context. This amendment would impact how veterans' services are structured and certified within the state's military affairs framework. The bill is currently in the referral stage with the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to use a "design build best value" method for selecting contractors on highway and bridge projects. Instead of choosing a winner solely based on the lowest price, this process allows the commission to evaluate proposals based on a combination of technical merit, innovation, schedule, and cost. The legislation sets specific rules for how these projects are advertised and selected, including limits on the number of such procurements allowed per year and requirements for public notice. It also defines the terms used in the process, such as "alternative technical concepts," which permit bidders to suggest improvements to the original project requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's laws on arson to clarify and strengthen penalties for setting fires that endanger people. It directly affects individuals who intentionally start fires or explosions, particularly those who put firefighters, police officers, or other emergency responders at risk. The key provision reorganizes existing rules to ensure that causing bodily injury to anyone, including first responders, or setting a fire while someone is inside a building results in a first-degree felony. Additionally, the bill maintains that if a fire caused by these actions leads to death, the offender can be charged with second-degree murder, or first-degree murder if the intent was to kill. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's arson laws to clarify what it means for a first responder to be "actively engaged in fighting the fire." It directly affects firefighters and other emergency personnel by expanding the definition of their duties to include a wider range of actions, such as traffic control and station standby, that support fire suppression efforts. The legislation explicitly excludes fundraising activities from this definition to ensure only operational responses are covered. These changes aim to provide clearer legal standards for determining liability in arson cases involving emergency services. The new provisions will become effective 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act by updating the legal definition of "awaiting testing" for sexual assault evidence. The change clarifies that evidence awaiting testing includes items collected by law enforcement that have not yet undergone DNA or forensic analysis and are part of an ongoing criminal investigation. This definition update directly affects how law enforcement agencies and the Department of Health classify and manage sexual assault evidence in the state. The amendment ensures consistency in terminology used across the existing evidence collection program without altering other operational procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Wholesale Prescription Drug Distributors License Act to update definitions and application requirements for drug manufacturers. It clarifies the definition of a "virtual manufacturer" as a company that manufactures and distributes drugs without taking physical possession of the products within the state. The bill requires license applicants to disclose their FDA approval status or intent to submit an application within 12 months, while explicitly stating that FDA approval cannot be made a condition for licensure. These changes affect pharmaceutical companies operating in Pennsylvania and streamline the licensing process for manufacturers at various stages of FDA approval.