Sen. Dan Laughlin

Maddy summarySR 140 designates September 2025 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. This resolution does not create new laws or requirements but formally recognizes the month to promote public awareness about childhood cancer. It encourages state agencies, community organizations, and the public to host educational events and support initiatives during September 2025. The resolution serves as a symbolic gesture by the Pennsylvania legislature to highlight the issue and support affected families.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates September 2025 as "Military Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but formally recognizes the need for increased awareness and support related to military suicide prevention. The designation aims to encourage community efforts and education during that month, directly affecting Pennsylvanians through heightened public focus on this issue.

Maddy summarySB 983 creates a program to support commercial and industrial businesses in installing solar panels on their rooftops. It directly affects large businesses (such as factories, warehouses, and offices) with suitable roof space. The bill establishes rules for program participation and sets standards for solar installations. The bill is currently pending review by the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure committee.

Maddy summarySR 135 is a Senate resolution honoring Pennsylvania veterans on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025. It formally recognizes all Pennsylvania veterans who served during wartime and peacetime, acknowledging their contributions to national security. The resolution encourages communities across Pennsylvania to hold ceremonies on that date to honor approximately 700,000 current Pennsylvania residents who have served in the armed forces. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but serves as a symbolic gesture of appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the week of August 17-23, 2025, as "Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania. It aims to raise awareness about online child exploitation, citing statistics such as a 192% increase in online enticement cases (546,000 in 2024) and 1 in 5 teens experiencing sextortion. The resolution encourages educational programming and public awareness efforts to protect minors from social media risks as students return to school, without creating new laws or enforcement mechanisms. It is a non-binding symbolic gesture focused on community education, not a policy change.

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 938 requires Pennsylvania counties to collect and submit specific information about child-care facilities to the municipalities where those facilities are located. Starting December 2026, counties must provide each facility's address, phone number, floor plan, and emergency plan annually. This applies directly to all Pennsylvania municipalities and counties, creating a standardized record-keeping process for child-care locations. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment, focusing solely on administrative data collection without altering facility standards or funding.

Maddy summarySB 946 adds tianeptine - a medication sometimes used for depression but with abuse risks - to Pennsylvania's Schedule II of controlled substances, placing it in a high-risk category due to its potential for abuse and dependence. The bill requires the Pennsylvania Department of Health to monitor tianeptine-related health issues (like overdoses, seizures, or withdrawal symptoms) by collecting data from hospitals, poison control centers, and law enforcement. It also empowers the department to issue public safety advisories and establish reporting rules for healthcare providers. This directly affects tianeptine users, healthcare facilities, and public health officials, focusing on tracking health impacts rather than restricting access immediately. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 478 establishes Pennsylvania's Office of Employee Ownership within the Department of Community and Economic Development to support employee-owned businesses. It creates an Employee Ownership Advisory Board and a Main Street Employee Ownership Grant Program to provide technical assistance, financial aid, and education to businesses meeting specific employee ownership criteria (like worker cooperatives, employee stock ownership plans, or broad profit-sharing programs). The Office will track employee-owned businesses statewide, identify barriers to their growth, and submit annual reports to legislative committees. This bill directly affects businesses seeking to convert to or maintain employee ownership structures across Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySB 811 establishes Pennsylvania's SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program to support small businesses with federal research grants. It provides state matching funds (up to $50,000) to Pennsylvania-based businesses that receive Phase I awards under the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. To qualify, businesses must conduct at least 51% of their Phase II research in Pennsylvania, submit a Phase I report, and avoid duplicate state funding. The program aims to foster economic growth by helping small businesses advance federal-funded research projects.