Sen. Wayne Fontana

Maddy summarySB 1088 would amend Pennsylvania's laws to establish "First Defenders Day" as an official legal holiday, observed annually on the first Monday of May. This change would directly affect state employees and businesses that typically close on designated legal holidays, requiring them to observe this new day off. The bill's key mechanism is adding the holiday to Title 38 of Pennsylvania's Consolidated Statutes, creating a formal, recurring observance without altering other holiday schedules. The bill is currently in the referral stage and has not yet advanced to a vote.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 1360, titled the "So Every BODY Can Move Act," requires health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover prostheses and custom orthotics for enrollees. The bill mandates that insurers provide these devices in a nondiscriminatory manner and allows patients to choose their own licensed providers for determination and prescription. Additionally, the legislation assigns duties to the Insurance Department and the Department of Human Services to oversee financial requirements, issue necessary notices, and enforce compliance with the new coverage rules.

Maddy summarySB 1277 amends Pennsylvania's Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act to update how local governments can offer property tax exemptions for deteriorated buildings and new construction in economically depressed areas. The bill clarifies definitions to include various types of distressed properties, such as those ordered vacated or demolished, and expands the scope to cover mixed-use and converted residential structures. It also establishes a public registry for these exemptions and requires local authorities to hold at least one public hearing before designating specific areas as deteriorated. Ultimately, the legislation provides a standardized framework for municipalities to implement tax relief aimed at revitalizing struggling neighborhoods.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to update procedures for absentee and mail-in voting and to provide funding for election integrity. It clarifies the definition of "pre-canvass" to include preparing ballots for scanning while explicitly excluding the examination of unopened envelopes or the recording of votes. The legislation sets specific timeframes and notice requirements for county boards of elections when pre-canvassing ballots before an election and canvassing them afterward, while allowing candidate and party representatives to observe these meetings. Additionally, it establishes that challenges to the approval of absentee ballot applications can only be based on voter qualifications, not on whether the applicant chose an absentee or mail-in ballot form.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to specifically regulate how businesses collect and handle reproductive and sexual health data. It requires companies to obtain consumer consent, limit data collection to what is necessary for specific services, and provide clear options for users to access or delete this sensitive information. Additionally, the legislation restricts sharing this data with third parties unless there is valid consent or a legal mandate, while also establishing a process for the Attorney General to issue violation notices before taking enforcement action.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania election laws to restrict police and federal law enforcement officers from standing within one hundred feet of polling places during primaries and elections, aiming to prevent intimidation. While officers are generally barred from this area, the law allows exceptions for those voting, serving warrants, or maintaining order if specifically requested by election officials or voters. The legislation also prohibits soldiers from being present at election sites and mandates that polling locations inside police stations must be in separate rooms. Any officer found in violation of these distance restrictions without a valid exception faces criminal penalties, including fines or imprisonment.

Maddy summarySB 378 establishes new student data privacy rules for Pennsylvania's K-12 schools (excluding colleges). It requires schools to collect only essential student data (like grades or medical records), protect all data with safeguards, and obtain written parental consent for sharing non-essential information. The law defines key terms like "biometric identifiers" (e.g., fingerprints) and prohibits collecting sensitive data such as political views or religious information without authorization. The Department of Education gains enforcement powers to ensure compliance and impose penalties for violations. This directly affects public schools, charter schools, and cyber schools operating under Pennsylvania's education statutes.

Maddy summarySB 803, the First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account Act, creates a program allowing Pennsylvania residents who have never owned a home (first-time homebuyers) to open tax-advantaged savings accounts. The Treasury Department will administer the program using existing structures (like the ABLE Program), enabling account holders to save for down payments and closing costs on single-family homes. Funds in the accounts can only be used for eligible home purchase expenses, with the program funded by account contributions and earnings - not state debt. This bill directly affects first-time homebuyers seeking to save for homeownership within Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to establish a direct billing system for nonnetwork emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. It requires insurers to directly reimburse these agencies for dispatched 911 services at a rate of 350% of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published rate, rather than billing patients directly. The legislation mandates that insurers pay these agencies within 45 days and prohibits them from forcing EMS agencies to sign contracts to receive this reimbursement. Additionally, the bill creates a public registry to track which EMS agencies are eligible for direct payment and restricts how these agencies can solicit donations related to billing practices.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Bill 1332 requires political advertisements that use artificial intelligence or generative AI to clearly disclose this fact to the public. The law mandates that text-based ads display a visible statement with details about the content's origin, while audio or video ads must include an audible tagline at the beginning. Violations of this disclosure requirement can result in civil fines of up to $3,000, along with the payment of legal fees and court costs. The bill applies to all political ads produced after its effective date of 30 days.