Sen. Nick Pisciottano

Maddy summarySB 459 establishes Pennsylvania's Statewide Imagination Library Program, providing free monthly age-appropriate books to children under five years old in the state. The program is funded through a dedicated state account (using state funds, gifts, and federal dollars) and requires local partners to match funding dollar-for-dollar, with waivers possible for financial hardship. The Department of Education administers the program, coordinating with a nonprofit partner to manage book distribution, local program development, and public awareness. This directly affects eligible children and local community organizations participating in the initiative.

Maddy summarySB 434 repeals a specific section (§ 1704) of Pennsylvania's domestic relations law that previously declared marriage between same-sex couples void in the state and stated marriage must be between one man and one woman. The bill removes this legal provision but does not change current marriage laws or rights for same-sex couples in Pennsylvania. It directly affects the state's statutory code by eliminating an outdated policy statement about marriage. The bill is currently referred to the Judiciary committee for further consideration.

Maddy summarySB 412 repeals outdated provisions in Pennsylvania's Fiscal Code that regulated municipal restrictions on rodeo events. Specifically, it removes rules requiring cities to limit ticketed rodeo events to 12 days annually and defining "rodeo hosting entities" (e.g., nationally recognized producers with venues over 2,500 seats). This change affects municipalities that previously enforced such ordinances, eliminating their requirement to permit up to 12 rodeo days per year. The bill does not create new rules but removes existing ones governing rodeo operations.

Maddy summarySB 371, the Medical Debt Collection Protection Act, protects low-income patients from aggressive medical debt collection practices. It requires health care providers to screen patients for insurance and financial assistance *before* billing them for emergency or necessary care, and prohibits collectors from placing liens on primary homes or reporting debts to credit bureaus. The law also mandates a 30-day notice to patients before pursuing permissible actions like lawsuits or wage garnishment, including information about complaint procedures. It directly affects uninsured patients and those with household incomes under 300% of the federal poverty level (qualified patients), imposing new duties on the Attorney General and Department of Health for enforcement. The bill is currently pending in the Health & Human Services committee.

Maddy summarySB 346 establishes workplace health and safety standards specifically for public employees in Pennsylvania, including state, county, city, school, and local government workers. It creates the Pennsylvania Occupational Safety and Health Review Board to handle disputes, requires employers to provide hazard-free workplaces, and authorizes workplace inspections. The bill extends protections similar to federal OSHA standards (which currently cover private-sector workers) to public employees who are not already covered by federal rules. Key provisions include employer duties to eliminate recognized hazards, requirements for written hazard disclosures, and penalties for violations.

Maddy summarySB 264 extends the maximum duration for tax breaks on qualifying properties in economically depressed areas from 10 to 20 years under Pennsylvania's Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act. It directly affects businesses seeking tax exemptions for deteriorated industrial, commercial, or new construction in designated depressed communities. The key change modifies Section 5(b)(1) to allow local taxing authorities to provide longer tax exemption schedules, while maintaining existing eligibility criteria. This applies to new exemption applications submitted after the law's effective date, which takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 265 prohibits credit card payments for gambling-related services in Pennsylvania. It bans operators of fantasy contests, iLottery, interactive gaming, and sports wagering from accepting credit cards to fund accounts, make deposits, or place wagers. The bill directly affects licensed gambling operators by requiring them to use alternative payment methods for all transactions. Key provisions include adding specific restrictions to existing statutes (Sections 326, 503, 13B23, and 13C11) to enforce the credit card ban. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 266 strengthens Pennsylvania's gaming regulations by requiring licensed casinos and online gaming operators to enforce voluntary self-exclusion programs. It prohibits direct marketing (including email, texts, and social media) to self-excluded individuals, mandates real-time updates to exclusion lists every 48 hours, and bans access to rewards, credit, winnings, and promotional benefits for excluded persons. Violations could result in fines up to $1.2 million for gaming entities, with misdemeanor or felony penalties for repeated offenses. The bill directly affects gaming businesses and supports individuals seeking to avoid gambling activities through formal self-exclusion.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most health insurance plans in Pennsylvania to cover infertility treatments without out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles or copays). It applies to individuals, spouses, and dependents seeking fertility care, including treatments like IVF, egg/sperm freezing, embryo transfers, and surrogacy costs. The law prohibits excluding coverage for infertility based on preexisting conditions, prior treatments, or arbitrary limits on the number of attempts. It specifically mandates coverage for 22 defined infertility services, including medical procedures and fertility preservation for those undergoing cancer treatment.

Maddy summarySB 273 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to regulate recurring campaign contributions. It requires political candidates and committees to obtain clear, active consent from donors before setting up automatic recurring payments (like monthly credit card charges), prohibiting reliance on pre-checked boxes or passive actions. The law mandates immediate written receipts detailing terms, easy cancellation options in all communications, and refunds within 14 days if consent was not properly obtained. Violations carry penalties of up to $5,000 per incident or fines up to three times the improper contribution amount (if exceeding $1,000 and knowingly accepted without consent). The bill applies to recurring contributions solicited or accepted 60 days after enactment.