Sen. Dan Laughlin

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Pennsylvania-Ireland Trade Commission to facilitate business and trade activities between Pennsylvania and Ireland. It establishes a dedicated funding account within the state's General Fund to cover the commission's administrative costs and authorizes the Secretary of Business and Industry to oversee its operations. The commission will be led by the Secretary or their designee, along with six members appointed by the Governor representing various sectors. Additionally, the legislation updates the official name of the department responsible for the commission from Commerce to Business and Industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the state's Tax Reform Code to modify how sales and use tax is calculated. Specifically, it changes a single word in the statute to alter the conditions under which discounts are applied. The text requires the Finance and Appropriations committees to review the change before it can become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Pennsylvania counties to create public safety authorities specifically for emergency medical services and related support functions. Under the new rules, a county can establish up to two such authorities and must try to include municipal representatives in their governance, while existing emergency organizations can continue operating without restriction. Municipalities within the county can contract with these authorities to meet their legal obligations for providing emergency services, but the authorities generally cannot charge fees unless a municipality explicitly opts in through an ordinance. The legislation also requires the Department of Community and Economic Development to offer guidance and technical assistance to help counties set up and manage these new public safety entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code to allow the removal of citations issued to liquor store and restaurant owners for failing to follow COVID-19 safety rules. It specifically targets violations of health orders, quarantine guidelines, and other pandemic-related directives that occurred while the state's disaster emergency proclamation was active in 2020. Under the new provision, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board must erase these penalties and notify the affected businesses within 30 days of the bill's effective date, ensuring no fines are charged for these past infractions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the existing Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act to impose stricter rules on pharmacy benefit managers and the pharmacies that work with them. The legislation prohibits PBMs from forcing pharmacies to accept lower reimbursement rates to join their networks, banning retroactive money take-backs, and outlawing hidden fees or practices that steer patients toward specific pharmacies solely for cost savings. Additionally, it requires PBMs to respond to pharmacy network requests within 30 days, mandates quarterly reporting on drug rebates, and tasks a state department with regulating PBMs and ensuring pharmacies are reimbursed at least the cost of the drugs they dispense.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program to provide financial aid to students pursuing degrees in high-demand fields such as STEM, nursing, and allied health. It defines eligible majors and allows recipients to take occasional online courses while maintaining their scholarship status. The program requires scholars to work in approved in-demand occupations after graduation, with provisions for partial reimbursement if they fail to meet these service obligations. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that switching between approved courses of study does not affect eligibility and limits the ability of institutions to use private collection agencies for debt recovery.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill creates a new tuition and fee waiver program for foster and adopted youth attending state colleges and universities. To qualify, students must have been eligible for federal Chafee grants, have experienced foster care at age sixteen or older, and apply for available financial aid. The waiver covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees after subtracting other scholarships and grants, and it is available for up to five years or until the student turns twenty-six, whichever comes first. Institutions must also report annually on how many students receive this benefit to state officials and legislative committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the eligibility requirements for Pennsylvania's Ready-to-Succeed Scholarship program. It raises the maximum household income limit for applicants from $126,000 to $175,000 and allows this figure to increase annually based on inflation. Additionally, the bill lowers the minimum grade point average needed to qualify from 3.25 to 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The legislation also clarifies that students must maintain at least half-time enrollment in an approved course of study to receive the scholarship.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a State Advisory Board to guide the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The board will include members representing various groups, such as pediatric physicians and breastfeeding experts, to ensure diverse perspectives in their work. Its primary purpose is to increase awareness of breastfeeding services and improve access to WIC-authorized stores for program participants. By adding specific roles focused on nutrition and lactation support, the legislation aims to strengthen the program's ability to assist eligible families.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Pennsylvania's Administrative Code to grant the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs temporary regulatory flexibility during an opioid epidemic. It allows the department to suspend specific rules that previously barred individuals with lived experience in addiction recovery or those in apprenticeship programs from becoming counselors, provided they receive supervisor approval and complete a training plan. Additionally, the legislation prevents the department from creating new credential requirements for staff positions within drug and alcohol treatment facilities while the epidemic is deemed to be occurring. The changes take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.