Sen. Jay Costa

Maddy summarySB 479 requires Pennsylvania public schools to observe a moment of silence during instructional hours on January 6 each year to honor those injured or killed in the 2021 Capitol insurrection. It directs the state Department of Education to develop a model curriculum about the January 6 events (including historical context, the attack, government response, and post-January 6 challenges) within 12 months, and to make this resource available online. School districts, charter schools, and other "school entities" are not required to adopt or use this curriculum. The bill applies to all public schools in Pennsylvania and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summarySB 484 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to exclude qualifying solar energy systems from state sales and use tax. It exempts the retail sale or use of solar systems (including components) that meet national and industry standards for equipment, installation, and performance. The Department of Revenue will create regulations defining these standards, covering systems used for water heating, space heating, cooling, or other solar applications. This policy directly affects consumers and businesses purchasing compliant solar installations by reducing their upfront costs.

Maddy summarySB 485 creates a Pennsylvania tax credit for homeowners who install residential electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. It allows eligible taxpayers to claim a credit covering 100% of the installation cost, up to $2,000, against their state income tax liability for the year the station is placed in service. To qualify, a taxpayer must reside in Pennsylvania for over half the previous year, own their primary residence, and install the charger there. The credit is refundable, meaning any unused portion is paid back as a cash refund if it exceeds the taxpayer's state income tax bill.

Maddy summarySB 492 requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to include suicide prevention resources on student identification cards. Specifically, physical student IDs must display "988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline" prominently, while digital IDs must include this information alongside other crisis resources like the National Sexual Assault Hotline or campus health contacts. Institutions must annually update all contact information on IDs to ensure accuracy and replace outdated numbers within 30 days. Schools without physical or digital IDs must distribute this information through other means. The bill directly affects all Pennsylvania higher education institutions and their students by embedding critical crisis resources into routine student identification.

Maddy summarySB 497, the Radon Remediation Act, requires schools, landlords, and home sellers in Pennsylvania to test for radon gas (a radioactive gas linked to lung cancer) in specific buildings and take action if dangerous levels exceed 4 picocuries per liter. Schools must test all buildings by June 2027 (or within 19 months of remodeling/occupancy), notify parents of results, and prevent student access if unsafe levels are found until remediation is complete. Landlords must test rental units before leasing and home sellers must test before selling residential properties, providing written results to tenants or buyers. The law mandates follow-up testing every five years and requires entities to certify compliance with state regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to clarify eligibility rules. It adds a 30-day benefit exclusion for claimants unemployed due to labor disputes (excluding lockouts), and clarifies that workers who leave jobs due to company union requirements, unfair labor conditions, or military spouse relocation needs remain eligible. The law also defines "suitable employment" as work requiring comparable skills and paying at least 80% of prior wages. These changes directly affect workers filing for unemployment benefits and employers processing claims. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summarySB 440 creates new tax credits under Pennsylvania’s PA EDGE program for semiconductor and biomedical manufacturing and research companies meeting specific criteria. It directly affects businesses that invest at least $200 million (or $20 million for early-stage semiconductor firms) in facilities, create 800 (or 100) permanent jobs, and meet local hiring and wage standards. The bill establishes two credit calculation methods: up to 2.5% of capital investment or up to $20,000 per job (capped at $20 million annually). Eligible companies must apply by March 1 each year, with credits approved by May 1, and the program prioritizes semiconductor projects with a minimum $1 million annual allocation. The tax credits reduce state tax liability for qualifying investments and job creation in these sectors.

Maddy summarySB 112, the Consumer Data Privacy Act, establishes new rules for how businesses handle personal data in Pennsylvania. It requires businesses (like online services or retailers meeting revenue or data volume thresholds) to get clear, affirmative consent from Pennsylvania residents before collecting or selling their data, bans deceptive "dark patterns" that trick users into sharing information, and prohibits selling data for targeted advertising without consent. The law defines personal data broadly to include location and biometric information (but excludes de-identified data or publicly available information) and imposes penalties for violations. It directly affects Pennsylvania consumers by giving them more control over their data and businesses that process their information.

Maddy summarySB 240 amends Pennsylvania's REAL ID Compliance Act to create a fee exemption for senior citizens (65+ years) when obtaining driver's licenses or photo ID cards. The bill adds "senior citizen" to the act's definitions and specifies that eligible seniors will not pay fees related to REAL ID administration, only standard license/card costs. The Department of Transportation may still set reasonable fees for administering the exemption. This change directly affects Pennsylvania residents aged 65 and older seeking REAL ID-compliant identification.

Maddy summarySB 212 amends Pennsylvania's criminal code by redefining "serious provocation" in Title 18. It explicitly states that a victim's actual or perceived gender identity, sexual orientation, or unwanted romantic/sexual advances (including past relationships) cannot be considered serious provocation. This change affects defendants in violent crime cases who might claim "serious provocation" as a defense. The bill removes specific LGBTQ+-related scenarios from being used to justify violent acts under this legal defense.