Sen. Lindsey Williams

Maddy summarySB 434 repeals a specific section (§ 1704) of Pennsylvania's domestic relations law that previously declared marriage between same-sex couples void in the state and stated marriage must be between one man and one woman. The bill removes this legal provision but does not change current marriage laws or rights for same-sex couples in Pennsylvania. It directly affects the state's statutory code by eliminating an outdated policy statement about marriage. The bill is currently referred to the Judiciary committee for further consideration.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates April 2025 as "Community College Month" in Pennsylvania. It is a symbolic gesture recognizing community colleges' role in providing affordable higher education, workforce training, and access to students from diverse backgrounds. The resolution does not create new policies, funding, or direct impacts on individuals or institutions. It serves only to highlight community colleges' contributions through a designated month of recognition.

Maddy summarySB 412 repeals outdated provisions in Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code that regulated municipal restrictions on rodeo events. Specifically, it removes rules requiring cities to limit ticketed rodeo events to 12 days annually and defining "rodeo hosting entities" (e.g., nationally recognized producers with venues over 2,500 seats). This change affects municipalities that previously enforced such ordinances, eliminating their requirement to permit up to 12 rodeo days per year. The bill does not create new rules but removes existing ones governing rodeo operations.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SR 36), not a law with policy changes. It formally recognizes March 2025 as "National Social Work Month" in Pennsylvania. The resolution honors social workers for their roles in crisis response, mental health care, supporting students during the pandemic, and advocating for policies like minimum wage and social safety nets. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect specific groups - it simply urges Pennsylvanians to join in celebrating the profession.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 33) directs Pennsylvania's Joint State Government Commission to study water and wastewater system acquisitions since Act 12 of 2016, focusing on how rate changes affected customers before and after each acquisition. The study will collect specific data including pre- and post-acquisition rates, ownership changes, public input on rate hikes, community demographics, and system investments. The Commission must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Senate within 12 months, aiming to assess transparency and fairness for ratepayers without changing current laws.

Maddy summarySB 38 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to adopt the federal False Claims Act's framework, creating new provisions for holding entities accountable for submitting false claims to the state. It directly affects contractors, grantees, and healthcare providers receiving state funds who knowingly submit false information related to payments or property. Key mechanisms include triple damages for the Commonwealth, civil penalties, and "qui tam" lawsuits allowing private citizens to file claims on behalf of the state. The bill defines "false claims" broadly to cover any knowingly submitted false requests for money or property tied to state programs, with penalties applying to violations like concealing false information or failing to report errors.

Maddy summarySB 27 freezes the approval process for new cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. It prohibits the state education department from reviewing or acting on any new applications for these schools from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2038, regardless of when the application was submitted. This directly affects potential new cyber charter school operators and the department’s application review process. Existing cyber charter schools are not impacted by this moratorium.

Maddy summarySB 371, the Medical Debt Collection Protection Act, protects low-income patients from aggressive medical debt collection practices. It requires health care providers to screen patients for insurance and financial assistance *before* billing them for emergency or necessary care, and prohibits collectors from placing liens on primary homes or reporting debts to credit bureaus. The law also mandates a 30-day notice to patients before pursuing permissible actions like lawsuits or wage garnishment, including information about complaint procedures. It directly affects uninsured patients and those with household incomes under 300% of the federal poverty level (qualified patients), imposing new duties on the Attorney General and Department of Health for enforcement. The bill is currently pending in the Health & Human Services committee.

Maddy summarySB 387 modifies Pennsylvania sentencing for murder offenses. It sets a minimum 25-year prison term for adults convicted of second-degree murder, murder of an unborn child, or murder of a law enforcement officer. For minors under 18 convicted of these crimes, it establishes minimum terms: 20 years for those aged 15+ at the time of offense, and 15 years for those under 15. The bill also restricts parole eligibility, requiring the Board of Probation and Parole to wait at least 20 years for offenders aged 15+ and 15 years for younger minors before considering parole, prioritizing public safety and victim safety.

Maddy summarySB 361 requires public employers in Pennsylvania to provide employee representatives with specific public employee information, including names, contact details, job titles, and salary data. This applies to all public employees (excluding elected officials, management, and certain religious staff) and must be shared electronically every 120 days or within 21 days for new hires. Employee organizations may only use this information for representation purposes, such as collective bargaining, and cannot sell or share it otherwise. The bill aims to improve transparency in labor relations while giving employee groups access to necessary data for their roles.