Sen. Wayne Langerholc

Maddy summarySB 423 creates $1 annual fishing and hunting licenses for volunteer firefighters, volunteer special fire police officers, and volunteer emergency medical service technicians in Pennsylvania. It requires applicants to provide documentation proving 12 months of active, good-standing service in one of these roles. The bill amends existing statutes to establish these specific license exemptions, replacing standard fees with a flat $1 cost for qualifying residents. This directly affects volunteers in these emergency response roles who would otherwise pay higher standard license fees.

Maddy summarySB 386 expands Pennsylvania's restrictions on foreign entities acquiring agricultural land, prohibiting entities from "countries of concern" (including China, Russia, Iran, and others) and foreign political parties from purchasing more than 100 acres of farmland, except through inheritance or as security for debt. It requires title companies to verify compliance, imposes $1,000 penalties for willful failures, and authorizes the Attorney General to investigate violations and seize illegally acquired land. Forfeited land must be sold at auction, with proceeds first covering sale costs and investigation expenses, then paying lienholders, and finally funding the state General Fund. The law defines "agricultural land" as land used for farming crops, livestock, or related products, excluding mineral rights or non-agricultural zoning.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 17-23, 2025, as "THON Week" in Pennsylvania to honor Penn State student volunteers involved in the IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. It recognizes their work supporting pediatric cancer research and patient care through the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. The resolution does not create new laws or alter funding; it is a ceremonial acknowledgment of the event's mission and impact. THON, a student-run philanthropy, has raised over $236 million since 1977 for childhood cancer support.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new limits on damages in lawsuits against Pennsylvania state and local governments. For state government cases, it caps non-death/disfigurement damages at $250,000 per plaintiff or $1 million total, with higher caps ($1 million per plaintiff or $2 million total) for permanent dismemberment or death. For local governments, it sets a $500,000 total cap (except for higher caps in dismemberment/death cases). It also restricts pain and suffering claims to cases where medical/dental expenses exceed $10,000 for permanent injuries. The changes apply to all claims arising on or after the effective date (60 days after enactment).

Maddy summarySB 329 requires Pennsylvania healthcare professionals (including physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners) to complete at least two hours of continuing education on Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses as part of their license renewal. The law mandates that this education cover current research, symptom recognition, diagnostic options, treatment approaches, and prevention strategies, based on evidence from major health organizations. Licensing boards must establish the content within 18 months and seek input from experts, including university researchers. The bill directly affects all licensed healthcare providers in Pennsylvania who must renew their credentials.

Maddy summarySB 359 amends Pennsylvania's State Highway Law to require the state to maintain all state highways within boroughs and incorporated towns (including smaller municipalities), funding these improvements from the Commonwealth. It specifically adds a new requirement for the state to construct and maintain drainage systems under roads in towns with populations of 2,500 or fewer, based on the latest federal census. The bill mandates these maintenance and drainage obligations at state expense, applying to both rural highways and those within smaller incorporated communities. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 337 amends Pennsylvania's sales tax code to exclude certain firearm safety devices from taxation. Specifically, it removes sales and use tax from items like gun safes, trigger locks, cable locks, and other devices that require a key or combination to operate a firearm. This change directly affects retailers and manufacturers selling these safety devices, as they will no longer collect state sales tax on these items. The bill adds a new exclusion under the Tax Reform Code, making these devices tax-exempt at the point of sale. The policy change is purely a tax code adjustment with no new restrictions on firearm ownership or use.

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 239 creates a formal process for Pennsylvania school entities (like districts, charter schools, and intermediate units) to request waivers from certain state education requirements. School boards must submit applications detailing which rules they seek to waive, the reasons, and supporting data; the Department of Education must approve or deny these within 30 days. The bill explicitly prohibits waivers for anti-discrimination laws, academic standards, student safety rules, and specific sections of the Public School Code (listed in Section 1(i)). This allows schools flexibility to improve programs or operations without changing core educational mandates or federal compliance requirements.

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.