Sen. Judy Ward

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors the life of Officer Kristen M. Yeager and offers condolences to her family following her death in the line of duty on May 29, 2026. The measure formally recognizes her service to the Berks County police departments, her educational background, and her personal life as a mother and wife. By adopting this resolution, the Pennsylvania Senate acknowledges her professional contributions and expresses official sympathy to her loved ones without altering any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's ABLE Act to help disabled veterans keep their real estate tax exemptions. It allows money deposited into an ABLE savings account to be ignored when calculating whether a veteran meets the financial need requirements for this tax break. The change ensures that contributions made to these special savings accounts do not count as annual income for eligibility purposes. This policy will apply to tax determinations made on or after January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a ten-year pilot program in Pennsylvania to provide grants for schools to install milk dispensary systems that serve whole milk without packaging. The Department of Agriculture, working with the Center for Dairy Excellence, will manage the program by reviewing applications and funding eligible public and nonpublic schools that participate in federal nutrition programs. Grant recipients must prioritize waste reduction, serve low-income students, source milk locally, and share data on their results. To ensure safety and compliance, the program requires all systems to meet state and federal food standards while schools report quarterly data on milk usage and waste reduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires oil and gas well operators in Pennsylvania to obtain a specific drilling permit before drilling wells that target the Utica shale formation or reach depths of 3,800 feet or more. The permit application process will follow existing state regulations for resource development, adding a new layer of administrative review for these specific deep-drilling projects. Directly affecting energy companies and land operators, the law mandates compliance with these permitting rules before any drilling begins in the designated geological horizons. The legislation takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summarySB 128 requires Pennsylvania public schools, charter schools, cyber charters, and other school entities to post online, on their public websites, details about their curriculum starting with the 2025-2026 school year. This includes links to textbooks used, course syllabi, written summaries of courses, and state academic standards for each course. Schools must update this information within 30 business days of any changes to their curriculum materials. The law explicitly states it does not override copyright or intellectual property rights held by curriculum creators.

Maddy summarySB 402 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow trained school staff to administer emergency anti-seizure medication to students with epilepsy during seizures when a nurse is unavailable. It directly affects students with epilepsy, their parents/guardians (who must request training), and school employees (who may voluntarily undergo training). Key provisions require parental consent for staff training, mandate that participation be voluntary, and connect to existing disability laws (IDEA/Section 504) by encouraging schools to explore 504 plans or individualized health plans for affected students. The bill specifies that only FDA-approved medications (like nasal sprays) may be used, and trained staff must follow department-approved guidelines.

Maddy summarySB 378 establishes new student data privacy rules for Pennsylvania's K-12 schools (excluding colleges). It requires schools to collect only essential student data (like grades or medical records), protect all data with safeguards, and obtain written parental consent for sharing non-essential information. The law defines key terms like "biometric identifiers" (e.g., fingerprints) and prohibits collecting sensitive data such as political views or religious information without authorization. The Department of Education gains enforcement powers to ensure compliance and impose penalties for violations. This directly affects public schools, charter schools, and cyber schools operating under Pennsylvania's education statutes.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates June 2, 2026, as "Cancer Action Day" in Pennsylvania to raise awareness about the state's cancer statistics and prevention efforts. The measure does not create new laws or change existing policies but instead serves as a symbolic gesture to honor those affected by the disease and acknowledge volunteers gathering at the state Capitol. By formally recognizing this date, the Senate aims to highlight the importance of early detection and access to quality healthcare without altering any legal procedures or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's commercial driver's license laws to align with federal standards, specifically regarding English proficiency and testing procedures. It requires that all CDL skills tests be conducted in English without the use of interpreters and mandates that applicants demonstrate English proficiency. The legislation also clarifies rules for nonresident drivers, allows for electronic transfer of skills test results from other states, and establishes penalties for submitting false information on CDL applications. Additionally, it defines specific terms related to immigration status and nondomiciled licenses to ensure consistency with federal regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to establish a direct billing system for nonnetwork emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. It requires insurers to directly reimburse these agencies for dispatched 911 services at a rate of 350% of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published rate, rather than billing patients directly. The legislation mandates that insurers pay these agencies within 45 days and prohibits them from forcing EMS agencies to sign contracts to receive this reimbursement. Additionally, the bill creates a public registry to track which EMS agencies are eligible for direct payment and restricts how these agencies can solicit donations related to billing practices.