Sen. Camera Bartolotta

Maddy summarySB 959 requires Pennsylvania insurance companies to use a standardized health insurance claim form developed by the Department of Insurance within 180 days. This uniform form must be used by all insurers, the state's public health programs, and healthcare providers within 120 days of its creation, though dental and vision claims may use the form at the insurer's discretion. The bill also mandates that insurers allow direct payment to dental providers when a patient authorizes it (a provision set to expire after 10 years) and requires a study on the impact of this payment rule. The Legislative Budget Committee must report on network participation changes within 36 months of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summarySB 950 requires pet cremation providers in Pennsylvania to clearly explain service options to pet owners and intermediaries (like veterinarians or pet shops). It mandates written disclosures detailing three cremation types: private (single pet, ashes returned), individual-partitioned (multiple pets separated, ashes returned), and communal (multiple pets, no ashes returned). Providers must also certify returned ashes and maintain records for five years. The law directly affects pet owners, cremation providers, and businesses handling pet remains, aiming to prevent confusion and ensure transparency in pet cremation services.

Maddy summarySB 951 modifies Pennsylvania's community college funding formula to prioritize enrollment in first responder training programs. It adds a new allocation method that counts students in credit first responder programs at 1.5 times their enrollment and noncredit programs at full value, distributing additional funds based on weighted enrollment across all colleges. This directly affects community colleges offering these programs and their students, as funding levels will depend on how many enroll in first responder training (both credit and noncredit courses). The bill changes how existing state funds are distributed rather than creating new funding, with the new formula applying starting in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Maddy summarySB 416 allows licensed organizations in Pennsylvania (like charities or community groups) to accept electronic payments - such as credit cards, debit cards, or mobile payments - for raffle tickets. It requires these organizations to verify buyers are at least 18 years old and comply with federal gambling laws. The bill specifically prohibits mobile payment services for certain gaming licensees under Chapter 9. It also removes an outdated regulation (61 Pa. Code § 901.506) that conflicted with these new payment rules.

Maddy summarySB 929 proposes a constitutional amendment to end school districts' authority to levy real property taxes after June 30, 2029. It directly affects Pennsylvania school districts, requiring the state to replace their lost property tax revenue through new state or local income, sales, or service taxes. The bill mandates that the General Assembly annually fund school districts at levels matching their pre-2029 property tax collections, depositing new tax revenue into a dedicated "Stabilization of Education Fund" exclusively for school support. It explicitly prohibits any future real property taxes and prevents diversion of funds from the stabilization account.

Maddy summarySB 930 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to strengthen school safety and security systems. It establishes a School Safety and Security Committee, requires schools to appoint coordinators for safety planning, and mandates annual training for staff on topics like cyber safety, active shooter drills, and mental health awareness. The bill creates a grant program funding mental health services and cyber security measures (e.g., preventing data breaches), with funds restricted to these purposes. Schools must report safety meeting attendance and security personnel details annually, starting in 2026, to their boards of directors. These changes directly affect public school districts, charter schools, and their administrators.

Maddy summarySB 739 creates new criminal offenses for manufacturing, distributing, selling, transferring, using, or possessing "illicit devices" for motor vehicles. These devices include physical keys adaptable to multiple vehicles or electronic tools that can unlock, start, or emulate vehicle key fobs. The law specifically targets devices that work across multiple vehicles, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors for first offenses to felonies for repeat violations. Legitimate businesses like dealers, locksmiths, rental agencies, manufacturers, and law enforcement are exempt from these restrictions when operating in their normal course of business.

Maddy summarySB 896 amends Pennsylvania's Crime Victims Act to expand how victims can prove a crime occurred for compensation claims, allowing medical records, protection orders (like those under 23 Pa.C.S. §61), or sexual violence orders (42 Pa.C.S. §62A) instead of requiring police reports. It requires hospitals, funeral homes, and crime scene cleaners to stop billing victims while claims are processed, with a 45-day window after a claim decision. The bill also increases the cap for crime scene cleanup costs from $500 to $1,500 and maintains a $35,000 total award limit. This directly affects victims filing claims and service providers waiting for payment under the compensation program.

Maddy summarySB 411 creates a statewide stroke registry to track stroke care data across Pennsylvania hospitals. It requires comprehensive stroke centers, thrombectomy-capable centers, primary stroke centers, and acute stroke-ready hospitals to submit biannual data starting in 2026, aligned with national standards like those from the American Heart Association. The registry, managed by the Department of Health, will be publicly accessible online and include stroke care metrics while prohibiting personally identifiable information. This law directly affects stroke-care hospitals and the Department of Health, which will oversee data collection, storage, and public reporting to improve stroke care quality.

Maddy summarySB 255 classifies "sexual assault by sports official, volunteer or employee of nonprofit association" (18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.3) as a Tier II sexual offense under Pennsylvania sentencing law. This change directly affects individuals convicted of this specific type of sexual assault who work in sports organizations or nonprofit settings. Tier II classification requires longer mandatory registration periods and stricter supervision for offenders. The bill amends Title 42 of Pennsylvania law to add this offense to the existing Tier II list, effective immediately upon the Governor's approval on June 30, 2025.