Sen. Elder Vogel

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 summaryThis resolution (SR 130) condemns the antisemitic firebombing attack that occurred on June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado, during a Run for Their Lives demonstration supporting Jewish hostages. It calls on Pennsylvania (referred to as "the Commonwealth") to address the rising trend of antisemitism, citing statistics showing Jewish people face 67% of religious hate crimes in the U.S. and a 344% increase in antisemitic incidents over five years. The resolution expresses solidarity with the Jewish community, thanks law enforcement for responding to hate incidents, and urges action to combat antisemitism statewide. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally condemns the attack and advocates for community support.

Maddy summarySR 133 is a symbolic resolution designating July 21-25, 2025, as "Construction Opioid Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania. It directly encourages Pennsylvania's construction industry - including contractors, unions, and organizations like the Keystone Contractors Association - to promote awareness of opioid dangers and facilitate discussions during that week. The resolution references high overdose rates in construction (130.9 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2020) and urges existing efforts like educational toolkits, naloxone access, and "Drug Take Back" events. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes the industry’s ongoing awareness initiatives.

Maddy summarySB 924 establishes a 35-mile-per-hour maximum speed limit for all dirt and gravel roads in Pennsylvania. This rule applies directly to all drivers traveling on such roads, setting a specific speed limit where no explicit default existed previously under state vehicle code. The bill amends Title 75 of Pennsylvania’s vehicle regulations to add this provision as a new subsection (1.3) under speed limits. It will take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania's SB 649 (now Act No. 35 of 2025) creates a new criminal offense for "digital forgery," targeting individuals who create and distribute fake digital images or audio recordings of real people without consent, intending to defraud or cause harm. It defines a "forged digital likeness" as a computer-generated representation that materially changes a person's appearance, speech, or behavior to deceive others, with penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony for fraud schemes. The law explicitly excludes satire, political commentary, law enforcement activities, and technology providers from prosecution, and allows a defense if the creator clearly disclosed the content as fake. This law directly affects creators of deceptive digital content and aims to protect individuals from identity-based fraud or harm.

Maddy summarySB 898 amends Pennsylvania's Waterfront Development Tax Credit program under the Tax Reform Code. It establishes 60-day timelines for the Department of Revenue to approve or renew waterfront development organizations' applications and projects. The bill increases the maximum tax credit from 75% to 90% of a business's annual contribution and raises the annual cap on total tax credits from $5 million to $10 million. These changes directly affect waterfront development organizations and businesses making qualifying contributions to eligible projects.

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 842 amends Pennsylvania's Dental Law to clarify what constitutes "practice of dentistry" and establish a new "restricted faculty license" for dental educators. It specifically defines this license for individuals teaching in dental schools or accredited advanced education programs, allowing them to practice dentistry only within approved dental school facilities. The bill directly affects dental school faculty, students in clinical training, and dental hygienists by updating licensing rules and scope-of-practice boundaries. Key provisions include defining permitted teaching-related dental activities and prohibiting restricted faculty license holders from practicing outside designated educational settings.

Maddy summarySB 838 amends Pennsylvania's definition of "private licensed school" in the 1986 Private Licensed Schools Act. It explicitly includes schools offering distance education in a field of study, while clarifying that the definition excludes religious schools, barber/cosmetology schools, employer-run training, and hospital-based programs. This update directly affects for-profit schools teaching skilled trades or business skills through distance learning, requiring them to comply with licensing rules they previously might not have faced. The change ensures these schools fall under the State Board of Private Licensed Schools' oversight, excluding them from existing exemptions.

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.