Sen. Wayne Fontana

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania motor vehicle owners to self-certify financial responsibility (such as auto insurance) during registration or renewal. It establishes an online verification system for the Department of Transportation to confirm coverage instantly, eliminating the need for physical insurance cards. If the system shows no proof, the department notifies the owner to provide evidence within a specified timeframe. Insurers must notify the state of policy cancellations (unless using the online system), streamlining verification and reducing paperwork for drivers.

Maddy summarySR 217 is a commemorative resolution designating February 3, 2026, as "Four Chaplains Day" in Pennsylvania. It honors the sacrifice of four Army chaplains - George Fox, Alexander Goode, John Washington, and Clark Poling - who gave their lives to save others during a WWII ship sinking in 1943. The resolution recognizes their selflessness without creating new legal requirements or affecting specific groups. It serves as a symbolic observance to commemorate their legacy, as noted in Pennsylvania's legislative record.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania law to strengthen background checks for individuals working with children in childcare settings. It prohibits hiring or approving applicants with certain criminal histories, including convictions for strangulation, arson, interstate domestic violence, or being listed on sex offender or child abuse perpetrator registries. The rule applies specifically to employers, administrators, and volunteers at child day-care centers, group day-care homes, and family child-care homes. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

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 1129 amends Pennsylvania's Underground Utility Line Protection Law by updating the definition of "line" or "facility" to explicitly include unconventional oil and gas well production lines, gathering lines, and steam pipelines in public rights-of-way. It clarifies that these additions apply regardless of land ownership or easements, while specifying that stripper well lines are excluded unless they meet specific federal pipeline safety standards. The bill directly affects utility companies, construction crews, and excavation workers who must follow damage prevention rules for underground infrastructure. This definition update ensures clearer coverage for modern utility systems during excavation projects.

Maddy summarySB 1130 amends Pennsylvania's Public Utility Confidential Security Information Disclosure Protection Act to clarify when public utilities' security information can be shared for construction or renovation projects involving public buildings. It adds an exception allowing agencies to disclose such information (after notifying the utility) for these specific construction purposes, without triggering the act's disclosure prohibition or making the information subject to public disclosure under the Right-to-Know Law. The bill directly affects public utilities, government agencies, and construction entities working on public projects. This change ensures security details remain protected while enabling necessary project work without unintended public release.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SB 1128 (the Fuel Gas Detector Act) requires owners of residential buildings (including rentals), multifamily homes, and commercial buildings to install and maintain fuel gas detectors in rooms with gas appliances or leak-prone areas. Owners must install detectors within 30 days of occupancy or property transfer, meeting NFPA 715 and UL standards, while landlords must ensure detectors are working for tenants and tenants must maintain batteries and test them. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $500 per offense, enforceable by municipalities through inspections. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to all new installations or transfers after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a regulatory framework for geothermal energy development in Pennsylvania. It creates the Geothermal Energy Development Fund to support projects, requires the Department of Environmental Protection to promulgate regulations for geothermal operations, and defines key terms like "geothermal resource" and "geothermal well." The law directly affects developers seeking to extract geothermal energy (heat from the earth), landowners with geothermal resources, and the Department of Environmental Protection, which gains new duties to oversee projects. Key provisions include requiring permits for geothermal projects, setting liability rules for well operators, and imposing civil penalties for violations of the regulations.

Maddy summarySB 1135 allows Pennsylvania feed manufacturers to use industrial hemp (with less than 0.3% THC) in commercial animal feed for pets, horses, and nonproduction animals. It requires the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to establish rules for labeling, testing, and recordkeeping of hemp in feed, while coordinating with federal hemp regulations if applicable. The bill directly affects feed producers and the state's agricultural regulatory system by creating new oversight requirements. This law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

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.