Sen. Art Haywood

Maddy summarySB 1152 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to explicitly prohibit housing and lending discrimination based on "source of income," which now includes all lawful income like wages, public assistance, child support, pensions, and housing subsidies. The bill adds this category to existing protected characteristics (such as race, religion, and disability) in Section 5(h), banning landlords and lenders from refusing housing, financing, or services - or imposing different terms - because of how a person receives their income. This directly affects housing providers, mortgage lenders, and real estate agents who must now avoid discriminatory practices tied to income sources. The change updates the law to cover modern housing access issues, such as discrimination against tenants using housing vouchers or public benefits.

Maddy summarySB 1139, the Police and Community Safety Act, prohibits Pennsylvania state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources (including funds, facilities, or personnel) to assist federal immigration enforcement. It bans officers from inquiring about an individual's immigration status except when required by federal law (such as for gun purchases under 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(5)) and prevents agencies from detaining individuals for immigration purposes. The bill aims to build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement to improve public safety, directly affecting all local police departments, sheriff's offices, and school security in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 210 designates January 23, 2026, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to honor women and birthing people who die from pregnancy or childbirth complications. The resolution highlights Pennsylvania data showing Black women and birthing people experience a maternal mortality rate of 186 deaths per 100,000 live births - over twice the state average - reflecting racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. This symbolic designation aims to raise public awareness about maternal mortality and support ongoing efforts to address this public health issue, as referenced in the 2025 Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Report.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania Senate resolution (SR 207) urges the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan Restore Trust in Congress Act (H.R. 5106). The resolution calls for prohibiting members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks. It aims to address public concerns about potential conflicts of interest when lawmakers use nonpublic policy information for personal financial gain through stock trades. The resolution emphasizes restoring trust in government by requiring federal lawmakers to prioritize public service over personal financial benefit.

Maddy summarySB 1140 amends Pennsylvania’s National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline Notification Act to expand training requirements for businesses directly involved in lodging or short-term rentals. It requires hotels, motels, and similar public lodging establishments (offering >10 rooms) to provide human trafficking awareness training to all employees and third-party contractors managing staff who access guest areas. Short-term rental operators and platforms listing such rentals must also implement training for their workers. The bill mandates training completion within 90 days of hire or the law’s effective date, with valid training lasting two years, while allowing prior training to count if completed within the past year.

Maddy summarySB 1148 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to strengthen housing accommodations for renters with disabilities. It requires landlords to permit reasonable modifications to rental units at the tenant's expense (with restoration requirements), grant accommodation requests within 10 days, and allow tenants to terminate leases without fees if accommodations are denied. The law applies to all rental agreements executed or renewed after the bill's effective date, protecting both current tenants who develop disabilities during their lease and new tenants with disabilities. Landlords cannot waive these rights through lease terms or charge fees for tenants exercising these protections.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 209) symbolically designates January 27, 2026, as "International Holocaust Remembrance Day" in Pennsylvania. It recognizes the UN-established date (January 27) commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and honors Holocaust victims, while affirming the importance of remembering the Holocaust to prevent future genocide and condemn intolerance. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding legal effect and does not impose new requirements or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes Pennsylvania's estate laws to allow electronic wills. It defines "will" to include digital documents and creates new rules for creating, signing, and revoking wills online. Key provisions require witnesses to observe the testator via video call (virtual "presence") and follow specific digital execution steps, while still permitting traditional paper wills. The law directly affects Pennsylvanians creating estate plans, making it easier to use digital tools without losing legal validity.

Maddy summarySB 1134 amends Pennsylvania law to require a 60-day public process before filling judicial vacancies (for Supreme Court, appellate, common pleas, or magisterial district judges). It mandates that after a vacancy occurs, the Governor must: (1) solicit applications for 30 days, (2) publish applicant materials (with personal details redacted) online for 30 days to allow public comment, and (3) submit a nominee to the Senate for confirmation. Senate confirmation requires two-thirds approval for higher courts and a simple majority for magisterial district judges. The bill does not change the appointment term length or the Governor’s final selection authority.

Maddy summarySB 1113 requires health care facilities, insurers, and Medicaid Advantage/CHIP managed care plans in Pennsylvania to disclose when artificial intelligence (AI) is used for clinical decision making or patient communications. Facilities must provide clear disclosures in writing, on their public website, and include disclaimers for AI-generated communications with instructions to contact a human provider. The bill exempts routine administrative tasks (like scheduling or billing) and communications reviewed by a human from these disclosure rules. It imposes duties on the Departments of Health, Insurance, and Human Services to enforce compliance and sets penalties for violations.