Sen. Dawn Keefer

Maddy summarySB 625 amends the Public School Code of 1949 regarding admission fees for school-sponsored activities. This bill requires public school entities, nonpublic schools, and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to accept cash as a form of payment for admission fees. While cash must be accepted, other payment methods may also be offered. The bill allows these entities to refuse cash payments in denominations that significantly exceed the admission fee.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Administrative Code of 1929, which governs the organization and duties of state government departments, boards, and commissions. It restructures administrative oversight within the Department of Environmental Protection by removing the Environmental Quality Board from a list of departmental administrative bodies and detailing the composition of the Citizens Advisory Council. Additionally, the bill updates the listing of various other administrative boards and commissions across several state agencies and includes new provisions related to seasonal farm labor under the Department of Agriculture. These changes primarily affect the internal structure and operational frameworks of state government.

Maddy summarySB 657 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to update regulations concerning home- and community-based services. It requires the Department of Human Services to develop regulations that maximize the types of settings available and prioritize individual choice for people receiving residential, day programming, or vocational services through waivers. The bill specifies that these regulations cannot impose requirements beyond federal law or exclude settings based on factors like location or size, unless federal law mandates it. The department must amend existing inconsistent rules and regulations within 180 days to comply with these new directives.

Maddy summarySB 729 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971 to modify sales and use tax filing requirements. The bill establishes an expiration date of October 1, 2025, for a provision allowing certain businesses to make estimated tax payments. This affects businesses with an annual sales tax liability between $25,000 and $100,000. These businesses can continue calculating their monthly estimated payments based on either 50% of the prior year's liability or 50% of the current month's liability until that date.

Maddy summarySB 305 amends Pennsylvania's procurement law regarding the debarment or suspension of contractors from future government contracts. The bill expands the grounds for debarment to include unsatisfactory performance that occurred in *any state*, not just Pennsylvania. It allows state agencies to consider a contractor's demonstrated history of poor performance on contracts with federal, Commonwealth, or *other state* government agencies or public owners. This means a contractor's past performance across various jurisdictions can now be a factor in Pennsylvania's contract award decisions.

Maddy summarySR 70 is a resolution by the Senate to honor the life of Officer Andrew William Duarte, who died in the line of duty, and to extend condolences to his family.

Maddy summarySB 695 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to change how businesses file sales and use tax returns. Starting January 1, 2026, it modifies filing frequencies for businesses based on their previous year's tax liability. Businesses with $1,200 or less in fourth-quarter tax liability will file annually, while those with liability between $1,200 and $25,000 will file quarterly. Existing monthly and advance payment schedules for businesses with higher tax liabilities will continue to apply.

Maddy summarySR 97 is a resolution that formally recognizes the week of May 11 through 17, 2025, as "National Police Week" and designates May 5, 2025, as "Police Officers' Memorial Day" in Pennsylvania. This resolution honors the memory of police officers who have died in the line of duty within the Commonwealth.

Maddy summarySB 687 amends Pennsylvania's procurement laws to update how public construction projects are managed by government agencies and State-related institutions. The bill establishes a new framework, Chapter 32, which defines and mandates the use of specific "project delivery methods," such as design-build or construction management at-risk, for public building projects costing over $4,000. It repeals and replaces the older "Separations Act" of 1913, consolidating the rules for public construction procurement. This aims to standardize and modernize the options available for project delivery in the Commonwealth.

Maddy summarySB 556 prohibits Pennsylvania government entities from creating or maintaining firearm ownership registries and bans payment processors from classifying gun retailers differently than general merchandise stores. It directly affects local governments, law enforcement, banks, and firearm sellers by preventing registry systems and requiring uniform payment classifications for gun retailers. The bill imposes penalties including third-degree felonies for registry violations and $2,500 administrative fines for payment classification violations. It does not change firearm ownership laws but targets administrative and financial practices related to gun sales. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary committee.