Sen. Katie Muth

Maddy summarySenate Bill 662 amends Pennsylvania's cruelty to animals laws to establish concurrent jurisdiction for prosecuting felony offenses. This bill grants the Pennsylvania Attorney General the authority to investigate and institute criminal proceedings for felony animal cruelty cases. The Attorney General can prosecute these cases if they make a written request and the local district attorney either accepts it, or fails to respond within specific timeframes after an initial and subsequent written request.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 659 proposes to amend Pennsylvania's Oil and Gas statutes by requiring the installation of combustible gas detectors in various buildings. Owners of residential buildings, multifamily dwellings, dormitories, child-care facilities, and lodging establishments would need to install these detectors in rooms containing appliances fueled by propane, natural gas, or liquefied petroleum gas. Beginning January 1, 2026, this requirement would extend to assembly, business, and mercantile occupancy buildings. For residential rental units, the bill outlines responsibilities for landlords to provide and maintain detectors, and for tenants to report deficiencies and not disable the devices. The bill also imposes a penalty for non-compliance.

Maddy summarySB 685 amends Pennsylvania's Air Pollution Control Act to update requirements for certain industrial facilities and increase civil penalties for violations. The bill mandates that "major facilities" develop municipal notification plans to alert their host and adjacent communities within 12 hours of an air pollution event caused by equipment breakdown or accident that poses a significant health risk. These plans must also outline risk mitigation measures for residents and be updated annually. Additionally, the bill raises the maximum daily civil penalty for violations of the act from $25,000 to $37,500 for infractions occurring after the fifth year of enforcement.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 660 amends Pennsylvania's Oil and Gas law, specifically updating requirements for well reporting and chemical disclosure related to hydraulic fracturing. The bill requires operators to include a declaration that chemical products used in hydraulic fracturing contain no intentionally added PFAS chemicals in their stimulation records. It also clarifies and expands the responsibilities of manufacturers, service providers, and operators regarding chemical disclosures, even when trade secrets are involved. Additionally, it updates the process for health professionals to access chemical information during medical emergencies.

Maddy summarySB 678 amends Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law to establish specific liability for general contractors in the construction industry. It makes general contractors jointly responsible for violations of wage payment laws committed by subcontractors providing construction services. The bill also requires subcontractors to repay general contractors for these liabilities, including wages and fees, unless otherwise specified in their contract or if the general contractor caused the violation by not paying promptly. These changes apply to construction contracts entered into on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 684 amends Pennsylvania's Oil and Gas statutes to update provisions for notifying public and private drinking water systems about spills. The bill requires the Department to investigate spills upon receiving notification. After investigating, the Department must notify any public drinking water facility or private well owner that could be affected by the event. This notification must include a brief description of the spill and any expected impact on water quality.

Maddy summarySB 19 proposes amendments to The Minimum Wage Act of 1968, directly affecting employees and employers across the state. The bill seeks to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour starting January 1, 2026, with subsequent annual adjustments tied to the cost of living. It also revises rules for tipped employees, requiring their cash wage to be at least 70% of the minimum wage and clarifying that all gratuities are the property of the employee. Employers would be prohibited from deducting credit card processing fees from employee tips and must pay them by the next regular payday.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 661 establishes the Animal Cruelty Investigation Fund within the State Treasury. This fund is continuously appropriated to the Attorney General to support efforts against animal cruelty. The money will be used for training and equipping humane society police officers, developing investigation materials, and covering salaries and benefits for attorneys prosecuting animal cruelty cases. It also provides grants to animal shelters for investigations or other permissible expenses. The fund will be financed by a new $25 assessment imposed on individuals who violate animal cruelty laws.

Maddy summarySB 656 proposes changes to Pennsylvania's corporate net income tax, primarily affecting corporations that are part of a "unitary business," meaning a group of related companies operating as a single economic unit. Beginning after December 31, 2025, these businesses would calculate their taxable income based on the combined income of their U.S. operations ("water's-edge basis"). The bill also modifies rules for deductions related to intercompany dividends and addresses the treatment of intangible and interest expenses incurred in transactions between affiliated entities. Income for these unitary businesses would be apportioned to the state using a sales factor.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 643 amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to regulate how landlords can use criminal history information when making housing decisions. The bill prohibits landlords from denying tenancy or retaliating against prospective occupants and tenants based on certain criminal histories. It establishes "fair chance housing" practices, defining specific "legitimate business reasons" for considering criminal history, generally excluding convictions more than two years old. Additionally, it requires landlords to provide notice regarding their use of criminal history and updates the procedures and civil penalties for violations.