Sen. Wayne Fontana

Maddy summarySB 842 amends Pennsylvania's Dental Law to clarify what constitutes "practice of dentistry" and establish a new "restricted faculty license" for dental educators. It specifically defines this license for individuals teaching in dental schools or accredited advanced education programs, allowing them to practice dentistry only within approved dental school facilities. The bill directly affects dental school faculty, students in clinical training, and dental hygienists by updating licensing rules and scope-of-practice boundaries. Key provisions include defining permitted teaching-related dental activities and prohibiting restricted faculty license holders from practicing outside designated educational settings.

Maddy summarySB 719 amends Pennsylvania's CPA Law to update licensing requirements for certified public accountants (CPAs) and accounting firms. It raises the required education credits from 120 to 150 semester credits for exam eligibility, revises exam retake rules to use a rolling 30-month window for passing all sections, and creates "automatic mobility" allowing out-of-state CPAs in good standing to practice in Pennsylvania without a new license. The bill also repeals outdated provisions about "substantial equivalency" for out-of-state practice and clarifies disciplinary procedures. This law, signed by the governor on June 30, 2025 (Act No. 27 of 2025), directly affects CPAs, accounting firms, and individuals seeking licensure in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 89 requires EMS providers responding to overdoses in Pennsylvania to report specific details - such as time, location, substances involved, and whether reversal drugs were used - within 72 hours to an approved digital reporting system. This directly affects EMS providers who must now document incidents under standardized guidelines, supplementing existing reporting obligations. The bill amends the Overdose Mapping Act to clarify that EMS providers are "authorized users" who must submit data to the Overdose Information Network (ODIN) or other approved platforms, ensuring coordinated data sharing with the Pennsylvania State Police and Department of Health. It does not change other legal reporting requirements but mandates real-time data entry to improve overdose tracking.

Maddy summarySB 838 amends Pennsylvania's definition of "private licensed school" in the 1986 Private Licensed Schools Act. It explicitly includes schools offering distance education in a field of study, while clarifying that the definition excludes religious schools, barber/cosmetology schools, employer-run training, and hospital-based programs. This update directly affects for-profit schools teaching skilled trades or business skills through distance learning, requiring them to comply with licensing rules they previously might not have faced. The change ensures these schools fall under the State Board of Private Licensed Schools' oversight, excluding them from existing exemptions.

Maddy summarySB 255 classifies "sexual assault by sports official, volunteer or employee of nonprofit association" (18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.3) as a Tier II sexual offense under Pennsylvania sentencing law. This change directly affects individuals convicted of this specific type of sexual assault who work in sports organizations or nonprofit settings. Tier II classification requires longer mandatory registration periods and stricter supervision for offenders. The bill amends Title 42 of Pennsylvania law to add this offense to the existing Tier II list, effective immediately upon the Governor's approval on June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Pennsylvania's fishing license fees for specific veterans and military members. Disabled veterans with a 100% service-connected disability (certified by the VA) receive free resident fishing licenses, while those with 60-99% disability pay $1. Deployed Pennsylvania National Guard members (with proof of 60+ days overseas deployment in the last 24 months) also get a $1 annual license. It repeals a prior section that provided similar $1 licenses to reserve component military members. The law took effect 60 days after the governor signed it on June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 837 amends Pennsylvania's abortion laws by repealing the existing "Abortion Control Act" (Sections 3201-3202) and overhauling related statutes. It removes requirements for parental consent, spousal notice, and certain medical consultations, while revising definitions (like "abortion" and "born alive") and gestational age limits. The bill establishes a new framework for "reproductive rights" and repeals provisions related to federal healthcare compliance, civil/criminal penalties, and medical board oversight. This directly affects abortion providers, patients seeking abortions, and healthcare facilities operating in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 476 updates Pennsylvania's boating safety requirements by exempting operators of small motorboats (25 horsepower or less, not personal watercraft) from mandatory safety training. It requires the state commission to coordinate statewide boating safety courses, issue certificates to those who complete approved courses or pay fees, and provide safety materials. The bill also specifies that course fees must fairly cover costs and allows the commission to replace lost certificates. These changes directly affect boat operators and the state commission responsible for safety programs. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 665 creates a state-funded program allowing Pennsylvania municipalities to establish "Safe Exchange Zones" for two specific purposes: exchanging online purchases and conducting child custody exchanges. Municipalities apply for one-time grants to set up zones within 100 feet of police stations, sheriff's offices, or public areas with active presence, requiring clear signage, video surveillance, and emergency contact displays. The program mandates that participating police departments or sheriff's offices monitor zones for safety without interfering unless a clear danger exists, and it protects municipalities, law enforcement, and the state from liability for participant conduct. This bill, pending in committee, aims to provide designated safe locations through local grant funding.

Maddy summarySB 517 modifies Pennsylvania's hunting and wildlife laws to clarify reporting requirements, trespass rules, and create a new agricultural wildlife management program. It requires hunters to report kills within 24 hours and surrender carcasses (except raccoons), adds trespass penalties for unpermitted hunting on private property (including license suspensions), and mandates the Game Commission to create a 2026 program matching landowners with hunters to address crop damage. The bill directly affects hunters, landowners, and the Game Commission, with key changes including standardized reporting methods, clearer trespass definitions, and a new database for agricultural wildlife control. These provisions aim to improve wildlife management coordination while updating enforcement procedures.