Sen. Pat Stefano

Maddy summarySB 931 prohibits businesses operating in Pennsylvania from using names, domain names, or branding that falsely suggest affiliation with state or local government (like mimicking a city agency or using government symbols). It directly affects corporations, nonprofits, and other entities conducting business in the state that might confuse the public about government ties. The law imposes penalties of up to seven years in prison or a $15,000 fine for violations, though entities can avoid penalties by including a clear, prominent disclaimer stating they are not affiliated with government. The bill aims to prevent deceptive practices that mislead consumers about an organization's official connections.

Maddy summarySB 930 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to strengthen school safety and security systems. It establishes a School Safety and Security Committee, requires schools to appoint coordinators for safety planning, and mandates annual training for staff on topics like cyber safety, active shooter drills, and mental health awareness. The bill creates a grant program funding mental health services and cyber security measures (e.g., preventing data breaches), with funds restricted to these purposes. Schools must report safety meeting attendance and security personnel details annually, starting in 2026, to their boards of directors. These changes directly affect public school districts, charter schools, and their administrators.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 130) condemns the antisemitic firebombing attack that occurred on June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, during a Run for Their Lives demonstration supporting Jewish hostages. It calls on Pennsylvania (referred to as "the Commonwealth") to address the rising trend of antisemitism, citing statistics showing Jewish people face 67% of religious hate crimes in the U.S. and a 344% increase in antisemitic incidents over five years. The resolution expresses solidarity with the Jewish community, thanks law enforcement for responding to hate incidents, and urges action to combat antisemitism statewide. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally condemns the attack and advocates for community support.

Maddy summarySB 95 amends Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Act to create a 180-day provisional license for pharmacists moving from other states, allowing them to practice without demonstrating competency under Pennsylvania's requirements. It also permits emergency medical services providers to distribute naloxone dose packages for opioid overdose reversal under specific conditions, including a Department of Health standing order and voluntary distribution without liability. Additionally, the bill requires pharmacies to disclose prescription drug prices (brand vs. generic), cost-sharing amounts, and health insurance options upon customer request. These changes aim to improve pharmacist mobility, expand naloxone access, and increase price transparency for consumers.

Maddy summarySB 90 modifies Pennsylvania's fire service training rules by requiring Firefighter I training programs to offer two testing options: a single cumulative test at program end or module-based tests completed within the same accreditation period. It mandates annual reports tracking firefighter numbers (paid/volunteer), course participation, specific certifications held (like Firefighter I), course summaries, and fund usage. The bill directly affects all Pennsylvania firefighters in the certification system and fire training programs statewide. These changes standardize testing methods and increase transparency in fire service training management.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SB 649 (now Act No. 35 of 2025) creates a new criminal offense for "digital forgery," targeting individuals who create and distribute fake digital images or audio recordings of real people without consent, intending to defraud or cause harm. It defines a "forged digital likeness" as a computer-generated representation that materially changes a person's appearance, speech, or behavior to deceive others, with penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony for fraud schemes. The law explicitly excludes satire, political commentary, law enforcement activities, and technology providers from prosecution, and allows a defense if the creator clearly disclosed the content as fake. This law directly affects creators of deceptive digital content and aims to protect individuals from identity-based fraud or harm.

Maddy summarySB 739 creates new criminal offenses for manufacturing, distributing, selling, transferring, using, or possessing "illicit devices" for motor vehicles. These devices include physical keys adaptable to multiple vehicles or electronic tools that can unlock, start, or emulate vehicle key fobs. The law specifically targets devices that work across multiple vehicles, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors for first offenses to felonies for repeat violations. Legitimate businesses like dealers, locksmiths, rental agencies, manufacturers, and law enforcement are exempt from these restrictions when operating in their normal course of business.

Maddy summarySB 896 amends Pennsylvania's Crime Victims Act to expand how victims can prove a crime occurred for compensation claims, allowing medical records, protection orders (like those under 23 Pa.C.S. §61), or sexual violence orders (42 Pa.C.S. §62A) instead of requiring police reports. It requires hospitals, funeral homes, and crime scene cleaners to stop billing victims while claims are processed, with a 45-day window after a claim decision. The bill also increases the cap for crime scene cleanup costs from $500 to $1,500 and maintains a $35,000 total award limit. This directly affects victims filing claims and service providers waiting for payment under the compensation program.

Maddy summarySB 466 modifies Pennsylvania's fire and emergency medical services (EMS) grant programs and training requirements. It requires semiannual reports on grant recipients (including recipient names, amounts, and purposes) for federal disaster, homeland security, and public health funds, submitted to legislative leaders. The bill updates training standards to allow online/lecture/hands-on formats and integrates records into a certification system, while setting a 45-day application window and 60-day approval timeline for grants to fire and EMS companies. Crucially, it sets an expiration date of December 31, 2029, for the grant authority under these programs. The bill was enacted as Act No. 25 of 2025 on June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 411 creates a statewide stroke registry to track stroke care data across Pennsylvania hospitals. It requires comprehensive stroke centers, thrombectomy-capable centers, primary stroke centers, and acute stroke-ready hospitals to submit biannual data starting in 2026, aligned with national standards like those from the American Heart Association. The registry, managed by the Department of Health, will be publicly accessible online and include stroke care metrics while prohibiting personally identifiable information. This law directly affects stroke-care hospitals and the Department of Health, which will oversee data collection, storage, and public reporting to improve stroke care quality.