Sen. Pat Stefano

Maddy summarySB 362 creates new criminal penalties for using counterfeit payment cards that mimic public assistance benefits (like food stamps or cash aid). It classifies offenses as second-degree felonies for $1,000+ in fraud (third-degree for less), requires offenders to pay full restitution, and permanently bans convicted individuals from receiving cash assistance. The bill directly affects people who commit fraud using fake cards tied to assistance programs and strengthens state enforcement against such fraud. Key provisions include clear penalty tiers based on the amount defrauded and a four-year statute of limitations for prosecution.

Maddy summarySB 9 requires public schools and colleges in Pennsylvania to explicitly label athletic teams as "male," "female," or "coed" based on students' sex assigned at birth. It prohibits male students from participating on teams designated for females, directly affecting student-athletes and school athletic programs. The bill creates legal causes of action allowing students to sue institutions for denying athletic opportunities or causing harm due to violations, and protects schools from penalties for maintaining sex-segregated teams. It also permits schools to sue entities that unfairly target them for enforcing these designations, with all claims needing to be filed within two years of the harm.

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 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 summarySB 911 establishes a new "Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Program" within Pennsylvania's law enforcement framework. It requires the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to implement this program, focusing on improving the clearance rates of violent crimes through updated investigative techniques. The bill directly affects state agencies, particularly the Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which must develop and manage the program's implementation. Key provisions mandate the Commission to adopt specific methods for using technology in violent crime investigations, aiming to enhance investigative efficiency and outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 743 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to require the Department of Labor and Industry to submit an annual report by March 1st evaluating the unemployment fund's financial health. The report must include specific, detailed unemployment statistics - such as the percentage of long-term unemployed individuals, job losers, discouraged workers, and marginally attached workers relative to the civilian labor force. This requirement applies directly to the state department, which must also post the report online. The bill does not change benefit eligibility or funding but adds standardized data collection for transparency and program oversight. (This is a procedural reporting change, not a substantive policy shift.)

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 summarySB 1400 modifies Pennsylvania's sentencing laws for murder to establish a mandatory life imprisonment term for second-degree murder involving unborn children or law enforcement officers. For other second-degree murder cases, the bill sets a standard minimum sentence of 35 years but allows for a reduced minimum of 10 years if the defendant proves they were not the primary actor, did not cause the death, and did not use a deadly weapon. The legislation also creates a specific pathway for courts to impose life imprisonment without parole for second-degree murder if the crime involved a child under 13, rape, a prior violent conviction, or serious injury to another victim. Additionally, the bill updates definitions for motivational boot camps and expands the role of victims in parole hearings for those sentenced to life for second-degree murder.

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.