Sen. Rosemary Brown

Maddy summarySB 759 requires all Pennsylvania public school buildings to install certified point-of-use filters on drinking water outlets by January 1, 2027, replacing older fountains without lead-reducing filters at a rate of at least one per 100 students/staff. It creates the Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund, providing up to $10 million annually for three years to help schools cover installation and replacement costs, with priority for pre-2014 buildings and those serving prekindergarten students. Schools must maintain filter schedules, post lead-risk information online, and report progress to state agencies, while new outlets must meet strict lead-leaching standards. The bill directly affects all public K-12 school entities in Pennsylvania, aiming to reduce lead exposure in drinking water.

Maddy summaryThis bill extensively amends Pennsylvania's laws governing various forms of gaming, impacting fantasy contests, video gaming, interactive gaming, sports wagering, and casino operations. It revises definitions for fantasy contests, establishes a new category for "skill gaming" along with a dedicated fund, and modifies the regulatory authority of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. The legislation introduces new requirements for background checks, including fingerprinting for gaming employees and licensees, and repeals existing provisions related to political influence in gaming administration. It also updates rules for licensing, enforcement, revenue collection, and permits live-streaming on casino floors.

Maddy summarySB 741 creates a new criminal offense in Pennsylvania for the unauthorized use of electronic tracking devices. It makes it illegal to install or place an electronic tracking device on another person or their property without their consent to track their location or movement. The bill includes exceptions for situations like parents tracking their minor children, legal guardians tracking incapacitated persons, and law enforcement in official duties or with court orders. Businesses are also exempt when tracking fleet vehicles or if they have obtained informed consent, and penalties range from a second-degree to a first-degree misdemeanor.

Maddy summarySB 735 amends Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code concerning chemical testing for driving under the influence (DUI). It expands the types of impairment for which other evidence can be introduced in DUI cases to explicitly include drugs alone, or drugs in combination with alcohol. A key provision allows testimony from a certified "drug recognition expert" to be admissible as evidence of impairment in judicial proceedings. This bill defines what constitutes a "drug recognition expert" and directly affects drivers suspected of impairment and the legal process for DUI cases.

Maddy summarySB 736 amends the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, primarily focusing on fees and charges for State parks. The bill mandates that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) provide a 15% discount on all State park fees, admissions, and charges for active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their immediate family members. It also clarifies that DCNR cannot impose new general parking or admission fees unless they existed prior to 1995, while allowing for fees on specific services or facilities. All fees collected from State parks must be used for the acquisition, maintenance, operation, or administration of the State park system.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 310 mandates that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, high school students in Pennsylvania's public, nonpublic, and private schools must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduating. Students or their parents/legal guardians can choose to opt out of filing the FAFSA by submitting a state-developed form to their school. Schools are responsible for providing this opt-out form and may exempt students if they cannot be reached and no FAFSA or opt-out form is submitted. The bill clarifies that schools do not require personal financial information from students or families, and any inadvertently obtained information is not a public record.

Maddy summarySB 732 amends Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Act, updating provisions related to medical marijuana use in the workplace for certified patients, employers, and job applicants. The bill introduces specific definitions for "impaired," "under the influence," and "safety-sensitive positions" to clarify employment standards. It removes some prior blanket prohibitions on patients performing certain duties while under the influence and instead focuses on defined impairment and drug testing. Employers are permitted to require drug tests for safety-sensitive roles and make employment decisions based on test results or refusal to test.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 675 amends The Administrative Code of 1929, adding new powers and duties for the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. This bill requires inpatient treatment facilities to develop a discharge transportation plan for each patient upon admission or within 72 hours. The plan must detail the patient's transportation from the facility to an initial destination after discharge. It must also include the names of authorized individuals or a public/third-party service for pickup and the initial drop-off address. Facilities are prohibited from releasing a patient who does not have such a discharge transportation plan.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 108 designates May 13, 2025, as "Cancer Action Day" in Pennsylvania. This resolution honors all Pennsylvanians impacted by cancer and those who work to fight the disease, acknowledging efforts by organizations such as the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

Maddy summarySB 657 amends Pennsylvania's Human Services Code to update regulations concerning home- and community-based services. It requires the Department of Human Services to develop regulations that maximize the types of settings available and prioritize individual choice for people receiving residential, day programming, or vocational services through waivers. The bill specifies that these regulations cannot impose requirements beyond federal law or exclude settings based on factors like location or size, unless federal law mandates it. The department must amend existing inconsistent rules and regulations within 180 days to comply with these new directives.