Sen. Pat Stefano

Maddy summarySB 850 amends Pennsylvania's Childhood Blood Lead Test Act to require all children under 72 months to receive at least one blood lead test by age 2 (or by 72 months if never tested), and mandates confirmatory testing if initial results indicate elevated lead levels. It directly affects children under 72 months and pregnant women, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs (like copays or deductibles) for covered blood lead tests. The bill updates testing requirements to be mandatory (replacing "encourage" with "require") and clarifies that health insurance must cover these tests without cost-sharing. These changes aim to improve early detection of lead exposure, a preventable health risk linked to developmental issues in young children.

Maddy summarySB 345 amends Pennsylvania's Recorder of Deeds Fee Law to increase the fee for recording deeds and mortgages from $15 to $16 per document, with annual adjustments based on inflation using the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Consumer Price Index. County governments must set this fee via resolution, and the collected funds must be deposited into a county demolition fund exclusively for demolishing blighted properties within that county. The bill directly affects property owners who pay the recording fee and county governments that manage the demolition fund. It establishes a clear mechanism for fee adjustments tied to inflation, ensuring the fee keeps pace with cost-of-living changes. The policy change focuses on funding property demolition through a standardized, inflation-adjusted fee structure.

Maddy summarySB 689 amends Pennsylvania's Milk Marketing Law to establish a new "board-established premium" fee on Class 1 fluid milk, directly affecting dairy producers and milk dealers through pricing changes. The bill allows the Pennsylvania Milk Board to set these premiums based on cost of production, price received, and return on equity, with a requirement for legislative review by the Agriculture Committees. If committees fail to disapprove within 30 days (or six session days), the premium is deemed approved. The law also modifies how premiums are collected (via the Department of Revenue), distributed, and exempt from standard administrative review processes, while updating cooperative marketing rules.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 129) honors the late Pennsylvania State Representative Matthew R. Gergely and expresses condolences to his family following his death. It formally recognizes his life, career in McKeesport (including roles as City Administrator and Chief Revenue Officer), and service as a state representative for the 35th district. The resolution, adopted on June 23, 2025, directs the Senate to convey these condolences to his wife, children, and other surviving family members. It does not create any new policy or affect any laws.

Maddy summarySB 700 requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt research-backed reading curricula aligned with the science of reading, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates schools to use approved reading screeners to identify early literacy struggles, develop intervention plans for struggling students, and notify parents about their child’s reading progress. The bill creates a state list of approved curricula and screeners, overseen by a 20-member Reading Leadership Council including teachers and specialists, and requires schools to report adoption and screening data. Schools must also provide free, required professional development for educators on evidence-based reading instruction and intervention methods. This directly affects all K-3 public school students, their teachers, and parents through updated curriculum, screening, and intervention requirements.

Maddy summarySB 869 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to clarify and strengthen public access to government records. It updates the definition of "record" to explicitly include electronic communications sent to less than a quorum of governing bodies and requires agencies to register open-records officers with the Office of Open Records within 30 days of appointment, mandating they complete annual training. The bill also sets a minimum two-year retention period for all agency records (excluding spam/junk communications) and requires written confirmation from departing staff that records were handed over, with a civil penalty of up to $1,500 for willful failure to retain records. These changes directly affect state and local agencies, their open-records officers, and the public seeking government information.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits government-owned electronic devices (including those used by schools and local agencies) from having software or technology that blocks the creation, maintenance, or preservation of required records. It directly affects state and local government entities, school districts, and their digital systems. The law requires that all government devices must retain records as legally mandated, with limited exceptions for law enforcement security needs. It amends Pennsylvania’s state government code to add these record-preservation rules, effective 60 days after enactment. The bill does not create new record-keeping requirements but ensures existing legal obligations are met through device configuration.

Maddy summarySB 863 designates a specific segment of Interstate 180 (from the Lycoming-Northumberland County line to the U.S. Route 15/220 interchange in Lycoming County) as the "Kenneth C. Larson, Jr., Memorial Highway." The bill honors Kenneth C. Larson Jr., a former PennDOT engineer and infrastructure advocate who contributed to regional transportation projects, by requiring the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to install directional signs naming the highway. This is a procedural naming resolution with no policy changes or direct impacts beyond highway signage.

Maddy summarySB 864 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle financial responsibility law to clarify proof requirements for avoiding penalties. It requires vehicle owners or insurers to provide proof of insurance coverage within 10 days of a violation to prevent registration or license penalties. Additionally, insurers must notify the state department within 10 days when issuing new policies specifically intended to meet financial responsibility requirements. The bill directly affects drivers and auto insurers by streamlining verification processes. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySR 126 is a Pennsylvania Senate resolution supporting a constitutional amendment to permit states and Congress to regulate money spent in elections. It aims to protect free speech, political participation, and federalism by enabling reasonable spending rules to prevent excessive influence from dominating elections. The resolution urges Congress to propose this amendment for ratification by states.