Sen. Art Haywood

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates June 15, 2026, as Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day in Pennsylvania to highlight the severity of the disease among children. The measure calls on residents to observe the day by raising awareness, supporting affected families, and advocating for increased research funding. It does not create new laws or change government operations but serves as a symbolic gesture to draw attention to the condition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates June 19, 2026, as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" within the state of Pennsylvania. The measure serves as a symbolic recognition of the historical significance of the date, which marks the day enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation in 1865. By passing this resolution, the Pennsylvania Senate acknowledges the legacy of African-American resilience and culture without altering any laws or government operations.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 1360, titled the "So Every BODY Can Move Act," requires health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover prostheses and custom orthotics for enrollees. The bill mandates that insurers provide these devices in a nondiscriminatory manner and allows patients to choose their own licensed providers for determination and prescription. Additionally, the legislation assigns duties to the Insurance Department and the Department of Human Services to oversee financial requirements, issue necessary notices, and enforce compliance with the new coverage rules.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates June 15, 2026, as "World Elder Abuse Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to highlight the issue of elder abuse. The measure does not change any laws or create new programs but serves as a formal recognition to draw attention to the rising number of abuse reports and the vulnerability of older adults. By acknowledging this specific date, the resolution aims to encourage the public and officials to focus on safeguarding the well-being of the state's aging population.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors the life of Officer Kristen M. Yeager and offers condolences to her family following her death in the line of duty on May 29, 2026. The measure formally recognizes her service to the Berks County police departments, her educational background, and her personal life as a mother and wife. By adopting this resolution, the Pennsylvania Senate acknowledges her professional contributions and expresses official sympathy to her loved ones without altering any laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to clarify rules for residential leases and introduce new rent reporting options. It maintains the existing requirement that leases lasting more than three years must be in writing, while confirming that shorter leases can be oral or written. Additionally, the bill mandates that landlords provide written notice to tenants about a building credit program where rent payments are reported to consumer agencies. This notice must be signed by the tenant at the start of the lease, regardless of whether the agreement is oral or written. The legislation also establishes a separate opt-in program allowing landlords to report on-time rent payments to consumer reporting agencies to help tenants build credit.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Crime Victims Act to clarify how "out-of-pocket loss" is defined for reimbursement purposes. It directly affects crime victims by expanding the list of reimbursable expenses to include costs for cleaning a crime scene, temporary relocation of victims and their pets, and physical examinations used to gather evidence. The legislation also specifies that "common household pets" includes domesticated animals like dogs, cats, and birds kept for pleasure. These changes aim to ensure victims can recover more specific costs incurred as a direct result of a criminal incident without covering property damage or pain and suffering.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to update procedures for absentee and mail-in voting and to provide funding for election integrity. It clarifies the definition of "pre-canvass" to include preparing ballots for scanning while explicitly excluding the examination of unopened envelopes or the recording of votes. The legislation sets specific timeframes and notice requirements for county boards of elections when pre-canvassing ballots before an election and canvassing them afterward, while allowing candidate and party representatives to observe these meetings. Additionally, it establishes that challenges to the approval of absentee ballot applications can only be based on voter qualifications, not on whether the applicant chose an absentee or mail-in ballot form.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to specifically regulate how businesses collect and handle reproductive and sexual health data. It requires companies to obtain consumer consent, limit data collection to what is necessary for specific services, and provide clear options for users to access or delete this sensitive information. Additionally, the legislation restricts sharing this data with third parties unless there is valid consent or a legal mandate, while also establishing a process for the Attorney General to issue violation notices before taking enforcement action.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Public Utility Credit Act requiring public utilities in Pennsylvania to report credit information related to utility services. It defines "public utility" broadly to include providers of electricity, gas, water, transportation, and telecommunications, while explicitly excluding private generators, nonprofit cooperatives, and certain resort water services. The legislation imposes specific duties on these utilities to maintain and share credit data, aiming to create a standardized system for tracking payment history. By mandating these reporting requirements, the bill seeks to improve credit visibility for utility customers without advocating for specific regulatory outcomes.