Sen. Wayne Fontana

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 130) condemns the antisemitic firebombing attack that occurred on June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, during a Run for Their Lives demonstration supporting Jewish hostages. It calls on Pennsylvania (referred to as "the Commonwealth") to address the rising trend of antisemitism, citing statistics showing Jewish people face 67% of religious hate crimes in the U.S. and a 344% increase in antisemitic incidents over five years. The resolution expresses solidarity with the Jewish community, thanks law enforcement for responding to hate incidents, and urges action to combat antisemitism statewide. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally condemns the attack and advocates for community support.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Congress to establish a National Infrastructure Bank to address infrastructure funding gaps. It references Pennsylvania's specific challenges, including lead pipes in water systems and bridge maintenance needs, as justification for federal action. The resolution requests Congress create this bank but does not create new laws or funding. It was referred to the Transportation committee for consideration.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Administrative Code to give the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs more flexibility in hiring and training staff during an opioid epidemic. It allows individuals with lived experience of addiction recovery or internship experience to serve as counselors if approved by a clinical supervisor, and prevents the department from adding new credential requirements for treatment staff during the crisis. The law defines an opioid epidemic as a period with over 1,000 confirmed overdose deaths from opioids in at least three consecutive years, and it takes effect 60 days after passage.

Maddy summarySB 500 repeals outdated tax credits for Pennsylvania petrochemical and fertilizer manufacturing projects and creates new tax credits for clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors. It establishes tax credits for reliable energy investments, regional clean hydrogen hubs, semiconductor and biomedical manufacturing/research, geothermal energy, and sustainable aviation fuel. Businesses must meet specific eligibility criteria (like capital investment thresholds and job creation targets) to apply for these credits through the Department of Revenue, with annual funding limits and application deadlines outlined. The bill directly affects qualifying companies in these emerging industries seeking tax incentives for new investments.

Maddy summarySB 921 requires hospitals and ambulatory surgical facilities in Pennsylvania to adopt policies using smoke evacuation systems by January 1, 2027, to prevent exposure to surgical smoke generated during procedures. The bill defines "surgical smoke" as the plume from energy-based surgical tools, including harmful bio-aerosols and contaminants. The Department of Health will enforce this during facility inspections and when addressing complaints about violations. This policy directly affects healthcare facilities by mandating specific safety equipment to protect staff and patients from respiratory and eye exposure during surgeries.

Maddy summarySB 95 amends Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Act to create a 180-day provisional license for pharmacists moving from other states, allowing them to practice without demonstrating competency under Pennsylvania's requirements. It also permits emergency medical services providers to distribute naloxone dose packages for opioid overdose reversal under specific conditions, including a Department of Health standing order and voluntary distribution without liability. Additionally, the bill requires pharmacies to disclose prescription drug prices (brand vs. generic), cost-sharing amounts, and health insurance options upon customer request. These changes aim to improve pharmacist mobility, expand naloxone access, and increase price transparency for consumers.

Maddy summarySB 90 modifies Pennsylvania's fire service training rules by requiring Firefighter I training programs to offer two testing options: a single cumulative test at program end or module-based tests completed within the same accreditation period. It mandates annual reports tracking firefighter numbers (paid/volunteer), course participation, specific certifications held (like Firefighter I), course summaries, and fund usage. The bill directly affects all Pennsylvania firefighters in the certification system and fire training programs statewide. These changes standardize testing methods and increase transparency in fire service training management.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SB 649 (now Act No. 35 of 2025) creates a new criminal offense for "digital forgery," targeting individuals who create and distribute fake digital images or audio recordings of real people without consent, intending to defraud or cause harm. It defines a "forged digital likeness" as a computer-generated representation that materially changes a person's appearance, speech, or behavior to deceive others, with penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony for fraud schemes. The law explicitly excludes satire, political commentary, law enforcement activities, and technology providers from prosecution, and allows a defense if the creator clearly disclosed the content as fake. This law directly affects creators of deceptive digital content and aims to protect individuals from identity-based fraud or harm.

Maddy summarySB 466 modifies Pennsylvania's fire and emergency medical services (EMS) grant programs and training requirements. It requires semiannual reports on grant recipients (including recipient names, amounts, and purposes) for federal disaster, homeland security, and public health funds, submitted to legislative leaders. The bill updates training standards to allow online/lecture/hands-on formats and integrates records into a certification system, while setting a 45-day application window and 60-day approval timeline for grants to fire and EMS companies. Crucially, it sets an expiration date of December 31, 2029, for the grant authority under these programs. The bill was enacted as Act No. 25 of 2025 on June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 411 creates a statewide stroke registry to track stroke care data across Pennsylvania hospitals. It requires comprehensive stroke centers, thrombectomy-capable centers, primary stroke centers, and acute stroke-ready hospitals to submit biannual data starting in 2026, aligned with national standards like those from the American Heart Association. The registry, managed by the Department of Health, will be publicly accessible online and include stroke care metrics while prohibiting personally identifiable information. This law directly affects stroke-care hospitals and the Department of Health, which will oversee data collection, storage, and public reporting to improve stroke care quality.