Sen. Wayne Fontana

Maddy summarySB 718 designates a specific portion of Pennsylvania Route 51 in Whitehall Borough, Allegheny County, as the "Hon. Raymond T. Book Memorial Highway." The bill directs the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs displaying this new name for traffic in both directions.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 100 designates the week of May 4 through 10, 2025, as "Jewish Day Schools Week" in Pennsylvania. This resolution aims to recognize and express appreciation for Jewish day schools across the Commonwealth.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 99 designates the week of May 6 through May 12, 2025, as "Nurses Week" in Pennsylvania. This resolution acknowledges the contributions of nurses to the Commonwealth's healthcare system.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 716 amends Pennsylvania's Mental Health Procedures Act, primarily to update terminology and expand the scope of mental health services. The bill explicitly includes "substance use disorder" as a mental illness, making it eligible for treatment under the act. It also clarifies that assisted outpatient treatment services can encompass substance use disorder treatments, especially when co-occurring with a primary mental illness diagnosis. Additionally, the bill updates outdated language for conditions such as intellectual disability, alcohol use disorder, and age-related cognitive decline.

Maddy summarySB 717 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to adjust sales and use tax exclusions for consumers. The bill updates an existing sales tax exclusion for personal computers, tablets, and related devices with a sales price of up to $1,500 by setting an annual tax-free period from the first to the third Saturday in August. It also creates a new sales tax exclusion for various school supplies, art supplies, and instructional materials, provided each item costs $50 or less. These exclusions apply to individual purchasers for nonbusiness use during the specified August timeframe, effectively establishing an annual sales tax holiday for these items.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state's tax code to create new deductions and tax credits related to health and fitness for military personnel. Businesses that offer free fitness facility memberships to active duty military, Pennsylvania National Guard, or reserve component members can deduct these costs from their taxable income. Additionally, these qualified military individuals can claim a personal health investment tax credit of up to $600 annually for their own sports and fitness expenses, such as gym memberships or participation fees. These changes will apply to taxable years commencing after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summarySB 400 amends the Pennsylvania Election Code to permit "unenrolled electors" to vote in primary elections. An unenrolled elector is defined as a registered voter who has not selected a political party affiliation. The bill establishes a procedure where these electors can choose which political party's primary ballot they wish to cast at the polling place, without affecting their unenrolled status for future elections. It also directs state and county election officials to provide guidance, update voter registration materials, and modify election systems to facilitate this change.

Maddy summarySB 701 amends Pennsylvania law regarding judicial expenses. This bill increases the annual registration fee paid by the Office of the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania to the Special Court Judges Association for each magisterial district judge and Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge position, raising it from $200 to $400. The bill clarifies that funding for these registration fees comes from the annual appropriation made to magisterial district judges. Additionally, it confirms the Office of the Court Administrator is directly responsible for the cost of publishing a monthly journal that provides updates on laws and State Supreme Court rule changes.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 696 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle code regarding special speed limitations in school zones. The bill clarifies that the 15 miles per hour speed limit within a school zone can be enforced during regular school hours. This enforcement is permissible regardless of whether students are allowed to walk to and from the school located within that zone. The change aims to ensure consistent application of school zone speed limits based on a school's operational hours, affecting drivers in those areas.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 563 proposes to provide a new supplemental annuity for eligible retirees of both the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System and the State Employees' Retirement System. Commencing July 1, 2025, individuals receiving a superannuation, withdrawal, or disability annuity who retired prior to July 2, 2001, will receive an additional monthly payment. The amount of this supplement will be a percentage of their July 1, 2025, monthly annuity, ranging from 10% to 20% based on their original retirement date. The Commonwealth will fund the additional liability for these benefits over a 10-year period, starting July 1, 2025.