Sen. Pat Stefano

Maddy summarySB 183 requires food establishments that bottle water for human consumption to comply with federal food safety standards (21 CFR) instead of Pennsylvania’s state rules. It prohibits additional state labeling requirements beyond federal mandates and ensures bottled water products follow only federal recall procedures. The bill shifts enforcement authority for bottled water safety exclusively to federal agencies, overriding conflicting state regulations. This directly affects local water bottlers and beverage producers operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Environmental Hearing Board Act to clarify membership terms and reappointment procedures. It specifies that board members serve six-year terms (with one initial four-year term for new appointees) and requires the Governor to reappoint members with Senate majority consent after their term ends. The changes apply directly to current and future members of the Environmental Hearing Board, an independent agency that reviews environmental permits and disputes. The bill makes no changes to the board's duties or environmental regulations, only adjusting its internal staffing rules.

Maddy summarySB 159 amends Pennsylvania's Environmental Hearing Board Act to clarify definitions and limit the scope of board reviews for environmental permit appeals. It defines key terms like "record of decision" (the complete set of documents the department used when approving or denying a permit) and adds a rule that appeals to the Environmental Hearing Board must be limited to that record alone. This means applicants cannot present new evidence during appeals, and must prove the department made a mistake in its decision using only the existing record. The bill directly affects permit applicants, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Environmental Hearing Board by streamlining appeal procedures.

Maddy summarySB 158 amends Pennsylvania's Environmental Hearing Board Act to specify that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals of natural gas decisions made under federal regulations (15 U.S.C. Ch. 15B). This change applies to any person challenging a state environmental agency's decision on natural gas matters, such as pipeline permits or rate cases. The bill requires such appeals to be filed directly in the Third Circuit Court, following federal court procedures, rather than in state courts. This adjustment aligns Pennsylvania's process with federal law for these specific cases.

Maddy summarySB 174 requires oil and gas companies planning projects causing five or more acres of earth disturbance to obtain erosion and sediment control permits from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection or a conservation district before starting work. The bill sets strict timelines: standard permit reviews must be completed within 43 business days (or 14 days for applications signed by licensed professionals), with detailed reporting on application status required quarterly. It imposes a $500 administrative fee plus $100 per disturbed acre and mandates annual evaluations of the permitting process. The law excludes certain sensitive projects, like those in high-quality watersheds or floodplains, from the expedited review option. This directly affects large-scale oil and gas development operations across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 98 establishes rules for museums in Pennsylvania handling property loaned to them but not claimed by lenders for extended periods. It requires museums to maintain detailed records of loans (including lender contact info and property descriptions) and mandates lenders to update their contact details. If a lender hasn’t contacted a museum for 20 years (for indefinite loans) or five years after a fixed loan period ends, museums may terminate the loan and, after following specific notice procedures, claim title to the property. The law aims to resolve ownership disputes, reduce museum storage costs for unclaimed items, and ensure fair responsibility between museums and lenders.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Pennsylvania's Lieutenant Governor is elected. It would require voters to cast a single ballot for both Governor and Lieutenant Governor in the same election, with the Governor candidate selecting their Lieutenant Governor running mate before the election. The Lieutenant Governor would serve as Senate President with a tie-breaking vote (except on final bill passages). As a constitutional amendment, this change would need voter approval at the next general election following its passage by the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 141 amends Pennsylvania's education law to clarify the definition of "governmental entity" for school employee retirement purposes. It specifically excludes certain associations (authorized under the Public School Code of 1949 to collect membership dues from public schools) from being classified as "nonparticipating employers" under retirement rules. This change directly affects employees hired after the law's effective date by these excluded associations, ensuring they remain covered under the retirement system if the association maintains active participants. The bill makes a technical definition update with no new funding or program changes.

Maddy summarySB 85 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to standardize the monthly distribution of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for recipients. It requires county assistance offices to implement a uniform 20-day distribution schedule within one year, using the first letter of a recipient's last name to determine their specific benefit date. This ensures consistency across all counties, preventing changes to distribution dates if a recipient moves within Pennsylvania. The bill also allows for a temporary tiered schedule to avoid hardships during the transition to the new system.

Maddy summarySB 117 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to clarify who qualifies for historic preservation tax credits. It expands the definition of "qualified taxpayer" to explicitly include tax-exempt organizations (like 501(c)(3) nonprofits) that own historic properties, in addition to standard business entities. This change directly affects owners of historic structures seeking to claim existing tax credits under the code. The bill makes no new funding commitments but adjusts eligibility rules for current tax credit programs. It becomes effective 60 days after enactment.