Maddy summarySB 790 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to create a process for government agencies to seek relief from individuals making repeated or abusive public records requests. Agencies must petition the Office of Open Records with clear evidence that a requester's conduct is "vexatious" (e.g., overwhelming numbers of requests, repetitive identical requests, or requests intended to harass). If granted, the Office may limit an agency's obligation to respond to future requests from that individual for up to one year, while ensuring decisions remain content-neutral and include opportunities for the requester to respond or mediate. The bill includes exemptions for school-related requests, election-related inquiries, and cases where prior petitions were denied.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 90 modifies Pennsylvania's fire service training rules by requiring Firefighter I training programs to offer two testing options: a single cumulative test at program end or module-based tests completed within the same accreditation period. It mandates annual reports tracking firefighter numbers (paid/volunteer), course participation, specific certifications held (like Firefighter I), course summaries, and fund usage. The bill directly affects all Pennsylvania firefighters in the certification system and fire training programs statewide. These changes standardize testing methods and increase transparency in fire service training management.
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 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 840 amends Pennsylvania's gaming laws to reduce the minimum number of slot machines required at licensed casinos. It lowers the mandatory minimum from 1,500 to 1,000 machines for Category 1 and 2 facilities (and keeps Category 3 at 250), while allowing facilities to request reductions of up to 2% of their total machines. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board must approve any decrease exceeding this 2% threshold. The bill directly affects all casino operators holding slot machine licenses, changing their operational requirements under state law. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.
Maddy summarySB 518 requires hunters to report wildlife kills (except raccoons) to a wildlife officer within 24 hours and surrender the entire carcass (except raccoons) to an officer or approved processor. It also makes refusing to answer questions about kills or carcass disposal unlawful, and mandates reporting when killing wildlife to protect oneself. The law directly affects hunters, landowners (including farmers under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Farm Law), and wildlife officers. Key provisions include standardized reporting methods (phone, online) and clearer rules for carcass handling and investigations.
Maddy summarySB 109 amends Pennsylvania's Dam Safety and Encroachments Act to define "groin structure" as a shore structure affecting erosion, waves, or flooding. It adds a $250 license fee for individuals or entities constructing, repairing, operating, maintaining, or removing such structures on Commonwealth submerged lands. The bill directly affects property owners, developers, and coastal managers working with shoreline infrastructure. Key provisions are Section 3 (new definition) and Section 15(f) (fee), effective 60 days after enactment. The bill was approved by the Governor on June 30, 2025, as Act No. 19 of 2025.
Maddy summarySB 89 requires EMS providers responding to overdoses in Pennsylvania to report specific details - such as time, location, substances involved, and whether reversal drugs were used - within 72 hours to an approved digital reporting system. This directly affects EMS providers who must now document incidents under standardized guidelines, supplementing existing reporting obligations. The bill amends the Overdose Mapping Act to clarify that EMS providers are "authorized users" who must submit data to the Overdose Information Network (ODIN) or other approved platforms, ensuring coordinated data sharing with the Pennsylvania State Police and Department of Health. It does not change other legal reporting requirements but mandates real-time data entry to improve overdose tracking.
Maddy summarySB 129 creates 15-member advisory councils for each Pennsylvania veterans' home to provide input on resident care, operations, and compliance. Each council includes 10 veterans appointed by the Governor from local nominations, 3 members (including a family member) from residents, 2 legislators, and 1 member selected by residents. Councils must meet quarterly, submit annual reports assessing care quality, and make recommendations to the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The bill directly affects all Pennsylvania veterans' homes and their residents by establishing formal channels for community input into facility management.
Maddy summarySB 202 updates Pennsylvania's 1965 Money Transmission Business Licensing Law to include virtual currency transmission under the same regulatory framework as traditional money transmission. It requires businesses transmitting virtual currency (via money orders, checks, or digital methods) to obtain a license, meet a $500,000 tangible net worth requirement, and post a $1 million security bond. The law exempts personal virtual currency transfers using self-hosted wallets (where users control their digital records) and transactions between businesses for commercial purposes. This bill, signed into law on June 27, 2025, directly affects money transmission businesses and virtual currency service providers operating in Pennsylvania.