Sen. Joe Pittman

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 3, 2025, as "Four Chaplains Day" in Pennsylvania to commemorate the sacrifice of four Army chaplains (George Fox, Alexander Goode, John Washington, and Clark Poling) during WWII. It honors their selfless actions when the ship Dorchester was torpedoed in 1943, as they gave up life jackets to save others. The resolution has no policy impact - it is purely ceremonial recognition of historical events. It does not affect any laws, rights, or government programs.

Maddy summarySR 14 is a ceremonial Senate resolution honoring Vincent C. DeLiberato, Jr., upon his retirement as Director of the Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau after 49 years of service. It recognizes his career spanning legal work, military service, academic contributions, and leadership roles in legal committees. The resolution formally acknowledges his "distinguished career" and "extraordinary commitment" to the bureau, with a copy sent to Mr. DeLiberato. As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy impact or effect on public law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution adopts the Senate's Financial Operating Rules for the 2025-2026 legislative sessions. It establishes standardized procedures for Senate personnel management, including requirements for employee payroll files, contract documentation, and travel reimbursement processes. The rules directly affect Senate staff, Senators, and their employees by governing payroll, contractor agreements, and travel expense claims. These rules ensure consistent financial oversight and accountability across Senate operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SR 3) adopts the Senate's operating rules for the 209th and 210th legislative sessions. It governs how the Senate conducts business, including scheduling weekly sessions, defining leadership roles (like the President and President Pro Tempore), and establishing procedures for committee referrals and bill processing. The rules directly affect Senate members, staff, and leadership who follow these procedures during sessions.

Maddy summarySR 1 is a procedural resolution adopting the Pennsylvania Senate's Ethical Conduct Rules for the 2025-2026 legislative sessions. It directly affects Senators and Senate employees by prohibiting campaign activities during Senate work time or in Senate offices using Senate resources. Key provisions require campaign work to occur only during "own time" (non-work hours), ban using Senate equipment or facilities for campaigns, and define campaign activities like fundraising or preparing campaign materials. The rules also clarify exceptions for minor campaign-related tasks during official duties and establish requirements for employees who reduce Senate hours for campaign work.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life and achievements of the late Henry George Hager III, a former Pennsylvania state senator and Senate leader. It formally expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and friends following his passing. The document outlines his career highlights, including his service as a district attorney, his tenure as Senate President pro tempore, and his leadership roles at the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for the Pennsylvania Senate to handle situations where an individual refuses to obey a subpoena issued by a standing committee. It outlines specific steps for bringing the non-compliant person to the Senate floor, administering an oath, and conducting a structured questioning session led by Senate leadership and the committee chair. The resolution also defines who may ask questions, limits the scope of the inquiry to the original subpoena's subject matter, and sets rules for admitting legal counsel and recording the proceedings. By adopting these special rules, the Senate creates a standardized procedure to address non-compliance without altering the underlying authority of committee subpoenas.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs the Pennsylvania Senate to summon Patrick M. Browne, the Secretary of Revenue, to appear before the Senate for refusing to comply with a subpoena. The subpoena ordered the release of specific tax data related to Neighborhood Improvement Zone programs, which the Department of Revenue declined to provide despite a legal opinion stating the information is not confidential. The bill outlines the Senate's intent to determine if the Secretary is in contempt of the chamber for defying the committee's authority to investigate state agency operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific bridge over the South Branch of Bear Run in Banks Township as the PFC John Tabacsko Memorial Bridge to honor a local World War II veteran. The legislation formally recognizes PFC Tabacsko's service and sacrifice, noting that he was killed in action in the Philippines in 1945. To implement this change, the state Department of Transportation is required to install and maintain official signs displaying the new name for traffic traveling in both directions. The act will become effective 60 days after its passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "enforcement officer" in Pennsylvania's state retirement laws to include commissioned police officers working for the Department of Corrections, Bureau of Investigations and Intelligence. By adding these employees to the enforcement category, the legislation changes how their retirement benefits are calculated and funded. The state will cover the resulting increase in retirement costs by spreading the expense over ten years, with payments tied to the salaries of affected workers. The new rules apply retroactively to current employees who joined the retirement system before 2019, while those who joined later will be covered only from the bill's effective date.