Sen. Pat Stefano

Maddy summarySB 243 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to update rules for disposing of Commonwealth-owned surplus land. It clarifies that "surplus property" excludes state parks, forests, and lands held by specific agencies like the Fish and Boat Commission. The bill requires annual surveys to identify surplus land and mandates a formal disposal plan considering factors like agricultural use, cost savings, local government needs, and fair market value. All sales must follow public notice, competitive bidding, and require the sale price to reflect fair market value or equivalent long-term benefits to the Commonwealth.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes retirement options for Pennsylvania state employees, particularly affecting new Senators starting after December 1, 2026. It allows eligible employees to choose between mandatory pension system membership or optional participation in a separate retirement plan, with Senators required to make this election within 30 days of taking office. Employees who elect "solely participant" status in the plan (instead of pension membership) cannot later switch back, and missing the 30-day deadline forfeits pension credit for their Senate service. The bill also clarifies automatic plan participation for certain employees and rules for retirees returning to state work.

Maddy summarySB 252 exempts seniors aged 65+ who qualify for 100% tax forgiveness under existing rules from filing Pennsylvania personal income tax returns. It directly affects older taxpayers who already meet the criteria for full tax forgiveness under current law. The bill adds provisions to the Tax Reform Code stating these eligible seniors (and couples where both spouses are 65+) won’t need to file annual returns for qualifying years. The changes apply to taxable years starting after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 244 amends Pennsylvania's firearm licensing law to restrict access to the state's Firearms License Validation System. It requires that only Pennsylvania law enforcement officers acting within their official duties may check license validity, and prohibits sharing this information with law enforcement from states without a reciprocity agreement. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and out-of-state officials seeking to verify firearm licenses. It creates a new procedural mechanism to limit cross-state information sharing regarding license status, taking effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 242, the "Right-to-Bear-Arms Protection Act," prohibits Pennsylvania state officials from enforcing any federal law or regulation that attempts to register, restrict, ban, or regulate firearms, magazines, or firearm accessories within the state. It directly affects Pennsylvania state actors (like law enforcement and government employees) by requiring them to disregard such federal actions and imposing penalties if they comply. Key provisions include declaring federal firearm-related actions unenforceable in Pennsylvania after December 31, 2020, and subjecting state officials who enforce these federal actions to civil lawsuits, job termination, and a 10-year ban from state employment. The bill aims to protect residents' Second Amendment rights under Pennsylvania and federal constitutions by preventing state officials from facilitating federal gun control measures.

Maddy summarySB 210 creates a new offense for interfering with public transit operators (like bus drivers or conductors) while they are performing their duties. It prohibits actions that cause serious injury or death to operators (felony first degree), lesser injury (felony third degree), or create fear of harm. The law applies to any public transit vehicle, including buses, trains, and streetcars, and covers both direct harm to operators and harm to passengers caused by the interference. Penalties range from serious felony charges for severe cases to lesser felonies for less severe violations.

Maddy summarySB 186 repeals Pennsylvania's CO2 Budget Trading Program regulations (specifically 25 Pa. Code Chapter 145 Subchapter E). This bill directly affects entities previously subject to the program's requirements, such as businesses participating in carbon emissions trading. The key provision is the immediate abrogation of all regulatory provisions under the referenced code section, eliminating the state's CO2 trading framework. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summarySB 233, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, prohibits the sale and distribution of unsafe kratom products and bans sales to anyone under 21. It defines unsafe products as those containing harmful additives, controlled substances, excessive solvents, synthetic compounds, or lacking proper labeling, while requiring clear ingredient disclosure. Retailers cannot sell kratom to minors, and processors must comply with safety standards. The Department of Health enforces these rules, imposing fines up to $5,000 for violations, with penalties increasing for repeat offenses.

Maddy summarySB 234 amends Pennsylvania's domestic relations law to clarify procedures for emergency protection orders in domestic violence cases. It specifies that emergency orders issued by local courts expire no later than 10 business days (or when a court hearing occurs, per local rules), requiring courts to schedule hearings promptly and enter orders into a statewide registry. The bill mandates that hearing officers provide victims with clear instructions on next steps, including how to seek a permanent order, report violations, access free legal aid, and connect with domestic violence support services. This directly affects domestic violence victims, local courts, and hearing officers handling emergency protection cases. The changes aim to streamline safety protections while ensuring victims receive timely, actionable guidance.

Maddy summarySB 149 modifies Pennsylvania's vehicle inspection rules by creating a 5-year exemption from emission inspections for the newest model year vehicles (e.g., vehicles manufactured within the last 5 years). It requires a one-time exemption certificate to be affixed to qualifying vehicles and mandates the Department of Transportation to notify inspection stations about these exemptions. The bill also exempts vehicles manufactured without gas caps from requiring a gas cap test and adds visual anti-tampering inspections for emissions control components on the five most recent model year vehicles during annual safety checks. This directly affects new vehicle owners, inspection stations, and the state's emissions compliance process. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.