Sen. Jay Costa

Maddy summarySB 260 adds a new exemption category for caregivers from Pennsylvania jury duty. It allows caregivers who request excusal, do not work outside the home, and live with a child under seven or a person with a permanent disability requiring active care during court hours (and lack affordable or available alternative care) to be excused permanently or for a limited period. Courts must require a notarized affidavit confirming these conditions, and caregivers excused for a limited time will be reassigned to the next jury array after their period ends. This bill directly affects caregivers meeting these specific criteria, modifying existing jury duty exemptions under Title 42.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SB 262 creates a legal process for courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals who pose a significant risk of harming themselves or others with a firearm. Family members, household members, or law enforcement can petition a court if they reasonably believe a person has firearms and is at risk of violence, requiring specific evidence like recent threats or acts. The court must hold a hearing within 14 days, and if it finds the risk is "more likely than not," it issues a one-year order requiring the person to surrender all firearms. The bill prohibits fees or bonds for petitioners and mandates law enforcement to enforce firearm surrender, with clear procedures for service, notice, and reporting.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 2025 as "Career and Technical Education Month" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes the importance of career and technical education programs for students and the workforce, without creating new laws or altering existing policies. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about these programs, which serve over 68,000 students statewide and connect them to in-demand careers.

Maddy summarySB 249, nicknamed "Tara's Law," amends Pennsylvania's Crime Victims Act to require state and local law enforcement agencies to make a reasonable effort to contact surviving family members of murder victims or intervenors (those who helped during a crime) before publicly releasing the victim's identity. The bill creates an exception allowing immediate public release if needed for an ongoing murder investigation. This change directly affects law enforcement agencies' protocols when handling sensitive victim information. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 251 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's Constitution, creating a two-year window for victims of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits against the Commonwealth. It directly affects individuals who experienced abuse as children and were previously barred by expired statutes of limitations, damage caps, or government immunity. The amendment overrides these legal barriers, allowing such cases to be filed within two years of the amendment's effective date, without being blocked by standard time limits or immunity protections. This change applies only to childhood sexual abuse claims arising before the amendment takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally recognizes February 2025 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups directly, but encourages statewide observance of African American contributions to the Commonwealth. The Senate adopted the resolution on February 5, 2025, aligning with the national observance established through historical efforts like Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson's founding of Negro History Week. The resolution acknowledges the annual theme "African Americans and Labor" as designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Pennsylvania state and county correctional facilities to provide free voice communication services (like phone calls) to all inmates. It mandates that facilities maintain at least the same level of access as on January 1, 2024, and ensure at least one operable phone device for every ten inmates in housing units or recreational areas. The bill prohibits charging inmates for communications, using services to replace in-person visits, or collecting fees from callers. It also appropriates $16.5 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year (70% to the state, 30% to counties based on inmate population) to cover these costs.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 20) is a ceremonial statement honoring the 50th anniversary of the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation on January 15, 2025. It recognizes the foundation’s 50-year work serving Philadelphia’s Korean immigrant community and expanding to support broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities through health services, senior employment training, advocacy, and cultural programs. The resolution also commemorates Dr. Philip Jaisohn, a pioneering Korean-American who became the first Korean immigrant to gain U.S. citizenship in 1890 and championed Korean independence efforts in the U.S. This is a symbolic gesture with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation.

Maddy summarySB 234 amends Pennsylvania's domestic relations law to clarify procedures for emergency protection orders in domestic violence cases. It specifies that emergency orders issued by local courts expire no later than 10 business days (or when a court hearing occurs, per local rules), requiring courts to schedule hearings promptly and enter orders into a statewide registry. The bill mandates that hearing officers provide victims with clear instructions on next steps, including how to seek a permanent order, report violations, access free legal aid, and connect with domestic violence support services. This directly affects domestic violence victims, local courts, and hearing officers handling emergency protection cases. The changes aim to streamline safety protections while ensuring victims receive timely, actionable guidance.

Maddy summarySB 237 amends Pennsylvania's Equal Pay Law to clarify that "wages" include all compensation (salaries, benefits, and supplements) and define "comparable work" as requiring similar skill, effort, and working conditions - not just matching job titles. It strengthens protections by requiring employers to prove pay differences are based on job-related factors (like experience or performance), not sex, and prohibits lowering wages to comply with the law. The bill also allows the Attorney General to sue for unpaid wages with no filing fees and extends the statute of limitations to three years for willful violations. It directly affects all employers in Pennsylvania, including state and local government, and workers experiencing pay discrimination.