Sen. Art Haywood

Maddy summarySB 497, the Radon Remediation Act, requires schools, landlords, and home sellers in Pennsylvania to test for radon gas (a radioactive gas linked to lung cancer) in specific buildings and take action if dangerous levels exceed 4 picocuries per liter. Schools must test all buildings by June 2027 (or within 19 months of remodeling/occupancy), notify parents of results, and prevent student access if unsafe levels are found until remediation is complete. Landlords must test rental units before leasing and home sellers must test before selling residential properties, providing written results to tenants or buyers. The law mandates follow-up testing every five years and requires entities to certify compliance with state regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to clarify eligibility rules. It adds a 30-day benefit exclusion for claimants unemployed due to labor disputes (excluding lockouts), and clarifies that workers who leave jobs due to company union requirements, unfair labor conditions, or military spouse relocation needs remain eligible. The law also defines "suitable employment" as work requiring comparable skills and paying at least 80% of prior wages. These changes directly affect workers filing for unemployment benefits and employers processing claims. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summarySB 112, the Consumer Data Privacy Act, establishes new rules for how businesses handle personal data in Pennsylvania. It requires businesses (like online services or retailers meeting revenue or data volume thresholds) to get clear, affirmative consent from Pennsylvania residents before collecting or selling their data, bans deceptive "dark patterns" that trick users into sharing information, and prohibits selling data for targeted advertising without consent. The law defines personal data broadly to include location and biometric information (but excludes de-identified data or publicly available information) and imposes penalties for violations. It directly affects Pennsylvania consumers by giving them more control over their data and businesses that process their information.

Maddy summarySB 212 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code by redefining "serious provocation" in Title 18. It explicitly states that a victim's actual or perceived gender identity, sexual orientation, or unwanted romantic/sexual advances (including past relationships) cannot be considered serious provocation. This change affects defendants in violent crime cases who might claim "serious provocation" as a defense. The bill removes specific LGBTQ+-related scenarios from being used to justify violent acts under this legal defense.

Maddy summarySB 493 prohibits cash bail for pretrial release in Pennsylvania, meaning courts cannot require defendants to pay money to be released before trial. Instead, judges may only order detention if the prosecution proves a felony defendant poses an immediate danger to others and no non-monetary conditions (like electronic monitoring) can ensure public safety. The bill also requires counties to collect and publish annual data on pretrial detention by race, gender, and ethnicity, and prevents probation revocation solely due to unpaid electronic monitoring fees. These changes directly affect defendants facing pretrial detention decisions and county courts managing release conditions.

Maddy summarySB 611 amends Pennsylvania's Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act by updating the definition of "hazardous substance" to explicitly include specific perfluorinated chemicals (like PFOA and PFOS) and their equivalents. This change directly affects entities responsible for cleaning up contaminated sites, as these newly listed chemicals will now trigger the Act's cleanup requirements. The bill also clarifies that petroleum, natural gas, and certain coal combustion wastes remain excluded from the definition. This definition update ensures consistent application of cleanup standards for these chemicals under the Act.

Maddy summarySB 488 allows 16- and 17-year-olds in Pennsylvania to preregister to vote, directly affecting young residents who will turn 18 before the next election. The bill requires the SURE voter registration system to track preregistrants and automatically activate their registration on their 18th birthday. It updates voter registration forms and materials to include clear information about preregistration eligibility and standard voting requirements. The law also specifies that commissions must cancel registrations for deceased individuals reported by the Department of Health within 60 days of death.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution designates March 2025 as "Disabilities Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It encourages all Pennsylvanians to learn about challenges faced by people with disabilities and fosters greater public awareness of their experiences. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it serves as a symbolic gesture to recognize systemic inequities and honor disability rights progress.

Maddy summaryThis commemorative resolution (SR 54) honors public defenders in Pennsylvania by designating March 18, 2025, as "Public Defender Day." It recognizes the 62nd anniversary of the *Gideon v. Wainwright* Supreme Court decision (1963), which established the right to counsel for indigent defendants. The resolution highlights the critical role of public defenders in ensuring fair trials and addresses Pennsylvania's low ranking in indigent defense funding (45th nationally). As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to acknowledge public defenders' work.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (SR 52), not a law. It designates April 14-18, 2025, as "Local Government Week" and April 16, 2025, as "Local Government Day" in Pennsylvania. The resolution recognizes the role of Pennsylvania's local governments - including counties, cities, townships, boroughs, school districts, and authorities - in providing essential services like roads, public safety, education, and utilities to over 12 million residents. It has no binding effect or policy changes; it solely serves to honor local officials and staff.