Sen. Wayne Langerholc

Maddy summarySB 849 prohibits water suppliers in Pennsylvania from adding fluoride or fluoride-containing substances to public water systems. It requires any supplier currently fluoridating to stop within 30 days of the law's effective date, bans local governments from mandating or allowing fluoridation, and mandates detailed reports to the Department of Environmental Resources within 90 days. Suppliers who fail to comply face daily penalties treated as separate violations under existing law. The bill directly affects all public water systems and their operators across the state, with the law taking effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 836 designates Bridge Key 8430 on Pennsylvania Route 160 over the North Branch Little Conemaugh River in Wilmore, Cambria County, as the Potchak Brothers Memorial Bridge. The bill commemorates six brothers - Stephen, John, Michael, Frank, Charles, and Peter Potchak - who served in World War II with the U.S. Army and Navy. This ceremonial designation changes the bridge’s official name to honor their military service and local ties, with no policy or regulatory impact. The bill is purely memorial, affecting public signage and historical recognition in Wilmore.

Maddy summarySB 450 amends Pennsylvania's Local Option Small Games of Chance Act to modernize regulations for electronic pull-tabs and tavern games. It defines "electronic pull-tab" as games played on personal devices (like phones) connected to licensed locations via secure routers, with specific rules on payment (only bank transfers, no cash) and gameplay. The bill removes previous $2,000 individual prize limits and $35,000 weekly aggregate limits for most games, while adding new raffle rules allowing volunteer fire/ambulance groups to award up to $150,000 annually per raffle under special permits. This directly affects licensed clubs, taverns, and nonprofit organizations running small-scale gambling events, updating their operational rules and prize structures. The changes aim to clarify digital game rules while maintaining exclusions for slot machines and video poker under separate state gambling oversight.

Maddy summarySB 307 establishes Pennsylvania's Purple Alert System to notify the public about missing persons with intellectual disabilities who are at risk of harm. The Pennsylvania State Police will operate the system, activating it when law enforcement determines a missing person has an intellectual disability (defined as significantly subaverage intellectual functioning with limitations in daily living skills like communication or self-care), is at risk due to health conditions, and sufficient location details are available. The bill also extends existing immunity protections to people assisting those identified in Purple Alert notifications, similar to the Amber Alert System. This policy directly affects individuals with intellectual disabilities who go missing and law enforcement agencies that can trigger the alerts.

Maddy summarySB 824 updates Pennsylvania's vehicle code to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. It requires vehicles parked near on-street pedestrian plazas or bike lanes to position wheels within 12 inches of the buffer zone between the lane and parking, with exceptions for school buses. The bill also mandates that cyclists use designated bike paths when marked by traffic signs, unless unsafe. Violations carry fines of $15 for general parking, $50-$200 for disability spot misuse, and $100-$300 for ignoring bike path requirements. Local governments can establish additional parking rules for these areas.

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.

Maddy summarySB 175 makes it a crime to knowingly report false emergencies (like crimes or medical crises) to police, fire departments, 911 operators, or emergency medical services. It directly affects individuals who make such false reports, requiring them to pay the full costs of the emergency response - including officer/firefighter overtime, equipment, and supplies - through court-ordered restitution. For juveniles, parents or guardians may be ordered to pay a portion of these costs if the juvenile cannot afford it, with payment plans or hardship adjustments available. The law applies to false reports originating in Pennsylvania or targeting Pennsylvania agencies, and it expands the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute cross-county or multi-state violations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May 29, 2025, as "College and Career Savings Day" in Pennsylvania to raise public awareness about the state's existing 529 College and Career Savings Program. It directly affects Pennsylvania residents who use the program, which currently serves over 314,000 families by offering tax-advantaged savings for education expenses. The resolution does not create new policy or change program rules - it simply recognizes the program's purpose of helping families save for college, vocational training, or other qualified educational costs through tax benefits and fee reductions.

Maddy summarySB 758, the "Mechanical Insulation Act," prevents Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission from rejecting energy efficiency plans submitted by electric distribution companies solely because they include mechanical insulation. The bill requires that such insulation be proven cost-effective using a specific "total resource cost test" approved by the Commission. This directly affects electric companies developing energy conservation plans and the Commission's review process. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 741 creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for the unauthorized use of electronic tracking devices. It makes it illegal to install or place an electronic tracking device on another person or their property without their consent to track their location or movement. The bill includes exceptions for situations like parents tracking their minor children, legal guardians tracking incapacitated persons, and law enforcement in official duties or with court orders. Businesses are also exempt when tracking fleet vehicles or if they have obtained informed consent, and penalties range from a second-degree to a first-degree misdemeanor.