Maddy summarySB 151 requires Pennsylvania's Independent Fiscal Office to conduct poverty impact analyses for the Governor's proposed budget, the enacted state budget, and any bill or amendment upon written request from a state legislator. The analysis must project how proposed budgets or legislation affect poverty levels (using 200% of the federal poverty threshold), including changes in household incomes below that threshold and access to basic services like health care and housing. The bill mandates the analysis be completed by specific deadlines (e.g., May 1 for the proposed budget) and be impartial and easy to understand. If the office fails to provide the analysis within 10 days of a request, the bill or amendment may proceed without it. This policy directly affects the state budget process and legislative review of measures impacting low-income residents.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 214 establishes a Municipal Codes Enforcement Grant Program to help municipalities without existing code enforcement programs hire staff and create new programs, with grants up to $100,000 awarded competitively based on financial need and property conditions. It also creates Municipal Neighborhood Mitigation Funds, funded by penalties for serious property violations (e.g., unsafe structures), which must be used for cleanup, repairs, or demolition of blighted properties. Municipalities must match grant funds and follow specific guidelines, while penalties for repeated violations range from $25 to $1,000. The bill additionally allows counties to adopt property maintenance codes through ordinances, with requirements for public notice and accessibility.
Maddy summaryThis resolution designates January 26-February 1, 2025, as "Catholic Schools Week" in Pennsylvania. It expresses the state Senate's formal congratulations and appreciation to Catholic elementary and secondary schools across the Commonwealth. The resolution acknowledges these schools educate over 100,000 students and highlights their low dropout rate and high college enrollment. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect funding or regulations.
Maddy summarySB 217 establishes Pennsylvania's Fresh Food Financing Initiative to fund projects improving access to fresh food in underserved communities. It creates a grant program within the Department of Agriculture that provides up to 15% of project costs for eligible grocery stores, farmers markets, regional supermarkets, and retail food establishments operating in USDA-designated food deserts. Applicants must serve underserved communities, derive at least 50% of revenue from food sales, and prioritize Pennsylvania-grown products or diverse business partnerships. Grants require matching private funds for supermarket projects and reserve no more than 10% of funding for program administration.
Maddy summarySB 219 establishes Pennsylvania's School-Based Youth Court Pilot Program, creating a three-year initiative to replace traditional disciplinary actions with restorative justice approaches in schools. The bill provides grants of up to $250,000 per school to help schools develop youth courts staffed by students under 21, using trauma-informed methods to address minor misconduct through restorative sanctions like community service, workshops, or mediated conversations. It requires the Department of Education to create an Education and Justice Resource Center to train participants, collect data, and oversee program implementation. The program directly affects schools, students under 21 involved in disciplinary cases, and local education agencies seeking to reduce suspensions through restorative practices.
Maddy summarySR 18 is a procedural resolution recognizing February 2025 as "Black History Month" in Pennsylvania. It formally honors the contributions of African Americans throughout Pennsylvania's history and aligns with the national observance established by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The resolution does not create new laws or affect specific groups, but rather serves as an official acknowledgment by the Pennsylvania Senate. It follows the annual tradition of designating February for this observance, as established by the ASALH.
Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution symbolically recognizes February 15-22, 2025, as "National FFA Week" in Pennsylvania. It honors the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization and its members participating in agricultural education programs statewide. The resolution has no legal effect but serves to acknowledge FFA's role in youth leadership development across Pennsylvania's agricultural education community.
Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 17) symbolically recognizes February 7, 2025, as "National Wear Red Day" in Pennsylvania. It highlights cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. and promotes awareness of the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign. The resolution urges Pennsylvanians to wear red on that date to support efforts combating heart disease and stroke in women. It does not create new laws or allocate funding, serving solely as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness.
Maddy summarySB 189, the "Data for LGBTQ Lives Act," requires all Pennsylvania state agencies and entities (excluding courts, the legislature, and certain universities) to add an optional question about LGBTQ identity to public forms and applications within 30 days of the law's effective date. Individuals can choose not to answer, and agencies cannot use responses for discrimination, disclose answers in ways that reveal personal information, or require answers to access services. Agencies must also report annually on how many people answered affirmatively, negatively, or opted out. The law enforces these requirements through penalties under Pennsylvania's existing Human Relations Act.
Maddy summarySB 191 amends Pennsylvania's 1971 Tax Reform Code to adjust tax credit rules and create a new Angel Investment Tax Credit. It increases the annual cap on tax credits from $60 million to $100 million, reserving $20 million specifically for small businesses. The bill establishes an Angel Investment Tax Credit program, allowing accredited investors to claim a 25% credit on investments in qualifying Pennsylvania startups that meet criteria like having fewer than 100 employees, operating in the state for under five years, and developing intellectual property. This directly affects investors seeking tax benefits and qualifying small businesses aiming to secure early-stage funding.