Sen. Michele Brooks

Maddy summarySB 330 amends Pennsylvania's Sports Raffle Charities Act to change how funds from athletic event drawings are distributed. It requires 50% of ticket sales to go directly to designated charities within seven days, while 5% must fund fire department and emergency medical services grants through the Office of State Fire Commissioner. Nonprofit organizations running these raffles must annually report total ticket sales, charity donations, and grant funds to the State Treasurer by September 30. These reports are shared with state legislative committees overseeing appropriations and emergency services. The bill directly affects nonprofits conducting athletic raffles and the fire/emergency grant programs funded by the 5% allocation.

Maddy summarySB 352 updates Pennsylvania's Dam Safety and Encroachments Act by adding a definition for "flood-related hazard" (e.g., debris or obstructions that increase flood risks to life or property). It clarifies which dams must comply with safety regulations, specifying that dams exceeding 15 feet in depth or 50 acre-feet in water storage capacity - whether on watercourses or used for non-water fluids - are covered. The bill explicitly excludes routine flood mitigation on farms under the Right-to-Farm Law. This amendment ensures the law applies consistently to significant dams and hazards while maintaining existing agricultural exemptions.

Maddy summarySB 350 amends Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to clarify and adjust access to public records, primarily affecting individuals or organizations seeking records for commercial purposes. It defines "commercial purpose" as using records to sell information, solicit business, or generate revenue (excluding news media, nonprofits, or academic research), and requires requesters to certify if their use is commercial. Agencies may charge additional fees for commercial requests - capped at the lowest-paid public employee's hourly wage - and must provide fee estimates before fulfilling such requests. Exceptions include insurance-related records, certain legal requests, and records already subject to separate fee structures under other laws.

Maddy summarySB 314 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health to report the death of any registered voter aged 18 or older to local election commissions within seven days of learning of the death. Election commissions must then cancel that voter's registration and update their records. The law aims to improve the accuracy of voter rolls by ensuring deceased individuals are removed promptly. It takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 324 prohibits distributing unofficial mail-in ballot forms to Pennsylvania voters. It specifically targets documents that mimic official election materials (like ballot applications or ballots not issued by election officials) but includes exceptions for clear, informational materials that don't include return addresses, clearly label themselves as "unofficial," and avoid mimicking official stationery. Violating this law is a misdemeanor punishable by fines of $500 to $2,500. The bill directly affects individuals or groups distributing such materials, ensuring only official forms are used for mail-in voting.

Maddy summarySB 267 amends Pennsylvania's Construction Code Act to add specific exemptions from standard building requirements. It directly affects homeowners, event organizers, and small contractors by exempting certain temporary structures (like fair booths under 1,600 sq ft for under 30 days), small decks attached to homes, accessory structures under 200 sq ft, and patio covers meeting 2009 IBC standards. The bill clarifies that these structures are not subject to the full construction code enforcement. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 268 amends Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law to establish rules for calculating health insurance cost-sharing. It requires insurers and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to include all out-of-pocket payments made by insured individuals (or others on their behalf) when determining cost-sharing amounts like deductibles or copays. The law applies to health insurance policies issued, renewed, or entered into after its effective date, but excludes dental, vision, workers' compensation, and similar coverage types. This change directly affects health insurers, PBMs, and policyholders by standardizing how cost-sharing is calculated under health plans.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates February 2025 as "Career and Technical Education Month" in Pennsylvania. It formally recognizes the importance of career and technical education programs for students and the workforce, without creating new laws or altering existing policies. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about these programs, which serve over 68,000 students statewide and connect them to in-demand careers.

Maddy summarySB 242, the "Right-to-Bear-Arms Protection Act," prohibits Pennsylvania state officials from enforcing any federal law or regulation that attempts to register, restrict, ban, or regulate firearms, magazines, or firearm accessories within the state. It directly affects Pennsylvania state actors (like law enforcement and government employees) by requiring them to disregard such federal actions and imposing penalties if they comply. Key provisions include declaring federal firearm-related actions unenforceable in Pennsylvania after December 31, 2020, and subjecting state officials who enforce these federal actions to civil lawsuits, job termination, and a 10-year ban from state employment. The bill aims to protect residents' Second Amendment rights under Pennsylvania and federal constitutions by preventing state officials from facilitating federal gun control measures.

Maddy summarySB 186 repeals Pennsylvania's CO2 Budget Trading Program regulations (specifically 25 Pa. Code Chapter 145 Subchapter E). This bill directly affects entities previously subject to the program's requirements, such as businesses participating in carbon emissions trading. The key provision is the immediate abrogation of all regulatory provisions under the referenced code section, eliminating the state's CO2 trading framework. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.