Sen. Pat Stefano

Maddy summarySB 313 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to strengthen requirements for electronic voting systems. It mandates pre-election logic and accuracy testing of voting equipment to ensure votes are tabulated correctly, including verifying contest orders, ballot printing, and scanner functionality. The bill also requires county election boards to preprint emergency paper ballots equal to at least 20% of registered voters per election district if electronic systems fail. These provisions directly affect county election boards and polling places, with penalties for falsifying documentation related to testing.

Maddy summarySB 314 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to report the death of any registered voter aged 18 or older to local election commissions within seven days of learning of the death. Election commissions must then cancel that voter's registration and update their records. The law aims to improve the accuracy of voter rolls by ensuring deceased individuals are removed promptly. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 339 amends Pennsylvania's Agricultural Area Security Law to adjust requirements for purchasing agricultural conservation easements on farmland. It lowers the minimum contiguous acreage needed for eligibility from 50 to 25 or 35 acres (with exceptions for small tracts of at least 10 acres with unique crops or adjacent to preserved land) and limits state funding for smaller easements to 50% of the purchase price per acre. The bill also directs 10% of realty transfer tax revenue into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund and allows subdividing land under an easement under specific conditions (e.g., creating tracts under 10 acres adjacent to preserved land) without roll-back tax. These changes aim to increase program flexibility for landowners while maintaining conservation goals.

Maddy summarySB 324 prohibits distributing unofficial mail-in ballot forms to Pennsylvania voters. It specifically targets documents that mimic official election materials (like ballot applications or ballots not issued by election officials) but includes exceptions for clear, informational materials that don't include return addresses, clearly label themselves as "unofficial," and avoid mimicking official stationery. Violating this law is a misdemeanor punishable by fines of $500 to $2,500. The bill directly affects individuals or groups distributing such materials, ensuring only official forms are used for mail-in voting.

Maddy summarySB 353 designates March 13 as K9 Veterans Day in Pennsylvania, recognizing military working dogs' service. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging Pennsylvanians to observe this day, commemorating the date the U.S. military began actively recruiting canine forces in 1942. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents through the Governor's official observance. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment, with no additional funding or program requirements.

Maddy summarySB 278 amends Pennsylvania's Whistleblower Law by adding a new definition to clarify that state courts (including the Supreme Court, Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, courts of common pleas, and minor judiciary) are explicitly included as "public bodies" under the law. This change directly affects employees working within Pennsylvania's judicial branch who report violations of law, ensuring they receive the same whistleblower protections as employees in other state agencies. The bill does not create new protections or penalties but adjusts the law's scope to cover judicial branch employees by updating the definition of "public body." The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 267 amends Pennsylvania's Construction Code Act to add specific exemptions from standard building requirements. It directly affects homeowners, event organizers, and small contractors by exempting certain temporary structures (like fair booths under 1,600 sq ft for under 30 days), small decks attached to homes, accessory structures under 200 sq ft, and patio covers meeting 2009 IBC standards. The bill clarifies that these structures are not subject to the full construction code enforcement. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 261 requires individuals applying for Pennsylvania's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) who live with children under 18 and have an absent parent to cooperate with child support services to establish paternity and support orders. This applies to both identified parents and "putative" parents (those presumed to be parents). The bill specifies that inability to comply with these requirements - determined by child support services or a court - cannot make someone ineligible for SNAP benefits. The law amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to align with federal SNAP regulations regarding child support coordination.

Maddy summarySB 260 adds a new exemption category for caregivers from Pennsylvania jury duty. It allows caregivers who request excusal, do not work outside the home, and live with a child under seven or a person with a permanent disability requiring active care during court hours (and lack affordable or available alternative care) to be excused permanently or for a limited period. Courts must require a notarized affidavit confirming these conditions, and caregivers excused for a limited time will be reassigned to the next jury array after their period ends. This bill directly affects caregivers meeting these specific criteria, modifying existing jury duty exemptions under Title 42.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 2025 as "Career and Technical Education Month" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes the importance of career and technical education programs for students and the workforce, without creating new laws or altering existing policies. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about these programs, which serve over 68,000 students statewide and connect them to in-demand careers.