Sen. Doug Mastriano

Maddy summarySB 126 requires Pennsylvania universities that host or support antisemitic events to lose state funding for the 2025-2026 school year. If a university received funding before such an event, it must refund the state. The law defines antisemitism broadly to include acts like denying the Holocaust, comparing Israeli policy to Nazis, or spreading conspiracy theories about Jewish people, with the State Board of Education handling violations through 30-day hearings. This applies to all Pennsylvania universities receiving state funding under the Public School Code.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax freeze program for Pennsylvania seniors. It allows residents aged 65+ who have lived in Pennsylvania for at least five years to freeze their property taxes at the "base year" amount if they meet income requirements ($65,000 annual household income or taxes exceeding 10% of income). The freeze applies only to primary residences and must be renewed annually with proof of continued eligibility. Local governments implement the program, and the state department tracks participation and savings through annual reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt certain veterans and their surviving spouses from Pennsylvania property taxes on their primary residences. It applies to veterans who served honorably and have specific service-connected disabilities (such as blindness, paralysis, amputation, or a 100% VA-rated disability), as well as surviving spouses of veterans killed in action or with service-connected deaths. The exemption requires the State Veterans' Commission to verify the applicant’s financial need and does not consider disability compensation when determining eligibility. The amendment must be approved by the General Assembly and voters before taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law to clarify definitions and strengthen protections for buyers and lessees of defective new vehicles, including motorcycles. It establishes specific time and mileage limits for when manufacturers must repair issues that significantly affect a vehicle's use, value, or safety, and mandates refunds or replacements if these repairs fail after a reasonable number of attempts. The legislation also introduces a presumption that a reasonable number of repair attempts have occurred for motorcycles if manufacturer-sourced parts are used, while excluding off-road vehicles and dual-sport motorcycles from coverage. Additionally, the law sets a maximum deduction of 10 cents per mile or 10% of the purchase price when calculating refunds for the consumer's use of the vehicle before the defect was reported.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and achievements of the late Henry George Hager III, a former Pennsylvania state senator and Senate leader. It formally expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and friends following his passing. The document outlines his career highlights, including his service as a district attorney, his tenure as Senate President pro tempore, and his leadership roles at the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Funeral Director Law to clarify the rules for how licensed individuals and partnerships can operate their businesses. It maintains the requirement that only one license is issued per person but allows multiple licensed directors to run a joint business at a single location, provided they use their own names or the name of a predecessor establishment with their names clearly displayed. The legislation also outlines specific procedures for continuing a funeral practice after a licensee dies, allowing the estate or surviving spouse to operate under supervision for up to three years or indefinitely if unmarried, while ensuring a full-time licensed director oversees the work. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for business conduct within the existing regulatory framework for funeral services.

Maddy summaryThis law updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to broaden the definition of "school district" to include various types of schools, such as charter schools and cyber charters. It specifically changes how schools handle tick-borne disease testing results by requiring them to provide original reports to parents while prohibiting the creation of copies or inclusion of these results in student medical records. Additionally, the bill allows schools to record disease types in a separate, anonymous log to track health trends on school property without linking the data to individual students.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill officially establishes Vietnam War Veterans Day as a state observance to be held annually on March 29. The legislation directs the Governor to issue a yearly proclamation encouraging public schools and educational institutions to hold events that honor the service and sacrifices of Vietnam veterans, while explicitly stating that participation in these events cannot be mandatory. By adding this designation to the state statutes, the bill ensures that the contributions of those who served during the Vietnam Conflict are formally recognized within Pennsylvania, aligning the state with the existing federal observance.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors all Pennsylvania veterans who have served during both war and peace on Veterans Day, November 11, 2024. It encourages local communities across the state to participate in ceremonies recognizing the nearly 800,000 current residents who have served in the armed forces. The bill does not change any laws or policies but serves as a formal expression of gratitude from the Senate.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania vehicle laws to allow the Department of Transportation to replace registration plates that are too worn or damaged to be read from a reasonable distance. Under the new rules, owners of standard plates must pay for a replacement, while those with special veteran or military service plates receive a free replacement with the same design. The legislation also ensures that personal plates with unique numbers keep their original numbers unless the owner chooses otherwise. These changes apply to a wide range of special plates honoring military service, veterans, and their families, and the law takes effect 60 days after passage.