Sen. Pat Stefano

Maddy summarySB 843, the "Do No Harm Act," prohibits healthcare providers in Pennsylvania from performing or prescribing certain medical procedures (including puberty blockers and hormones) on minors under 18 for the purpose of enabling them to live as a gender inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth. It specifically exempts procedures for congenital defects, medical emergencies, or ongoing treatments started before the law's effective date. The bill also bans insurers and government health programs from covering these procedures, imposes professional discipline and felony penalties for violations, and allows minors or their guardians to sue for damages within two years of reaching adulthood. It directly affects minors, healthcare providers, insurers, and government health programs.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates August 31, 2025, as "Overdose Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania. It requests the Governor to issue a proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the day through appropriate activities, and to order flags flown at half-staff. The resolution aims to raise awareness about drug overdoses, reduce stigma around substance use, and acknowledge the impact of overdose deaths on families and communities. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic recognition of the overdose crisis.

Maddy summarySB 376 bans the installation or use of TikTok (or any app developed by ByteDance Limited) on state-owned electronic devices and state wireless networks in Pennsylvania. It requires state employees to remove such applications from devices within three months of the law taking effect, with exceptions for law enforcement, security, or risk mitigation activities. The law directly affects state employees using devices paid for with state funds or accessing state networks. It specifically targets TikTok and any future apps by ByteDance, not other social media platforms.

Maddy summarySB 830 establishes Pennsylvania's Child-Care Workforce Commission within the Department of Human Services to collect and analyze data about the state's child-care workforce. The Commission will track workforce demographics (including education, pay, race, gender, and location), compile an annual public report, and maintain a dedicated website for transparency. This bill directly affects child-care centers, family child-care homes, group child-care homes, and their employees across Pennsylvania, requiring them to provide data for the Commission's analysis. The Commission's findings will inform recommendations to improve workforce conditions, with membership including providers, employees, educators, and parents representing diverse geographic and sector perspectives.

Maddy summarySB 682 renames Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Environmental Services while transferring all its responsibilities - including energy program oversight, fund administration, and personnel - from the Pennsylvania Energy Office. The bill ensures continuity by keeping existing licenses, contracts, and computer systems unchanged until routine upgrades, and allows the department to gradually update documents and signage over time. It specifically transfers the Energy Conservation and Assistance Fund, Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Fund, and all related duties to the renamed department. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 138 creates a standardized volunteer service credit program for firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS) volunteers, and HAZMAT team members in Pennsylvania. It requires local governments to establish programs measuring volunteer contributions - like emergency response calls, training hours, and administrative support - to determine eligibility for tax credits. Volunteers must be certified through a multi-step process involving their organization’s leadership and local government review. The bill also mandates detailed service logs and sets specific requirements for HAZMAT team members, such as maintaining certifications and attending four annual drills. This program directly affects municipal volunteers seeking tax credits for their service.

Maddy summarySB 794 requires Pennsylvania insurance companies to obtain a municipal certificate before paying fire insurance claims exceeding $18,000 for structures within participating municipalities. If a fire loss equals or exceeds 60% of a building's total insurance coverage, insurers must transfer $4,000 per $15,000 of the claim amount to the municipality's designated officer for rebuilding or repairs. Municipalities must adopt an ordinance authorizing this process, and policyholders must report annual spending details to the municipality within one year, with potential fund confiscation if reporting or timelines are missed. This bill directly affects insurers, property owners, and municipalities that adopt the required ordinance.

Maddy summarySB 814 exempts certain emergency preparedness items from Pennsylvania's sales tax during two specific 7-day periods in 2026 (March 2-9 and September 7-14). It directly affects individual consumers purchasing nonbusiness items like portable generators under $3,000, storm protection devices under $300, and emergency supplies (e.g., battery-powered lights, radios, fire extinguishers, or ice chests under $75). The bill defines "emergency preparedness items" precisely and specifies that tax exemption applies only to purchases made during the designated dates, even if delivery occurs later. This policy change provides temporary cost relief for residents preparing for potential emergencies.

Maddy summarySB 783 establishes "tourism improvement districts" (TIDs) in Pennsylvania counties, where participating hotels and tourism businesses pay special fees to fund local tourism activities. The bill creates "tourism improvement district management associations" (TIDMAs) to manage funds for marketing, events, destination improvements, and promotional programs that directly benefit these businesses. Counties must hold public hearings, collect fees (capped at 4% administrative cost), and ensure TID funding supplements existing tourism programs without reducing current county tourism spending. Businesses within a proposed TID can collectively object if 40% of total room inventory opposes the district, preventing its formation.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution (SR 115) designates June 2025 as "Dairy Month" in Pennsylvania. It symbolically recognizes the dairy industry's economic significance - supporting over 47,000 jobs and contributing $11.8 billion annually - to raise awareness of the industry's value and hardships while encouraging the purchase of Pennsylvania-produced dairy products. The resolution has no binding policy impact and serves purely as a ceremonial acknowledgment.