Sen. Michele Brooks

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 346 honors the 10th anniversary of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers' Milk Bank in Allegheny County. This commemorative resolution recognizes the bank's role in providing pasteurized donor human milk to medically vulnerable infants when their own mothers cannot supply enough. The document highlights the facility's growth, its contribution to public health through reduced infant complications, and its support for local manufacturing and research.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code to increase the annual funding available for mixed-use development tax credits from $4.5 million to $15 million. The change directly affects developers and investors who qualify for these credits by allowing the state to allocate a larger pool of money to support projects that combine residential, commercial, or other uses. Under the new provisions, the state agency responsible for tax administration can distribute up to $15 million in credits each fiscal year to eligible projects. The legislation takes effect 60 days after it is passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Firefighter Cancer Screening Program and a dedicated fund to help Pennsylvania firefighters cover out-of-pocket costs for cancer screenings. The program is administered by the Insurance Department and specifically targets eligible firefighters, including those in airport fire companies that meet certain mutual aid and response criteria. Funding for these screenings will come from the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund, which the bill modifies to allow for this specific expenditure. The legislation defines eligible participants and approved screening methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound, while excluding those who already have comprehensive health insurance coverage.

Maddy summarySB 357 repeals Pennsylvania's requirement for a license to carry a firearm, removing Section 6106 which previously mandated licenses for concealed carry. It requires counties to provide free lockers for checking firearms at court facilities and updates rules for convicted persons to relinquish firearms and licenses. The bill also repeals Philadelphia-specific restrictions on carrying firearms on public streets and revises provisions related to firearms in vehicles and hunting. These changes primarily affect firearm owners, law enforcement, and court facility users by altering licensing, carrying, and storage requirements. The bill makes technical amendments across multiple statutes but does not create new licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania bill prohibits the development and distribution of artificial intelligence applications that generate realistic images of people in states of nudity or engaged in sexual acts. It specifically targets online app stores, requiring them to remove these prohibited tools within five days after receiving a report and mandating that they provide a public portal for users to submit such notices. The law includes exceptions for general-purpose editing software, tools used for medical or law enforcement purposes, and services designed to detect or block these harmful applications. Violations of the act can result in civil penalties of up to $100,000 for each illegal download of the application.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to issue two-year licenses to healthcare providers that meet specific quality standards, rather than the standard one-year renewal. To qualify for this extended license, providers must maintain good standing, hold a current multiyear accreditation from a national organization, and agree to notify the department within 14 days if that accreditation lapses. In exchange for the two-year term, the department will conduct only one comprehensive inspection per period instead of annual visits, though it retains the authority to inspect immediately if complaints arise. The law takes effect 60 days after being signed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program to provide grants for treating veterans with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. The State Veterans' Commission will award $150,000 annually to nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and healthcare providers selected from the eastern, central, and western regions of Pennsylvania. Recipients must use the funds to develop and evaluate treatment programs aimed at improving mental health outcomes and reducing suicide risk among veterans. The program is set to expire three years after it begins, and the state will submit annual reports to the legislature detailing how the grants were used and their effectiveness.

Maddy summarySB 469 provides $1 annual fishing and hunting licenses for eligible law enforcement officers in Pennsylvania. It directly affects officers employed by defined law enforcement agencies (including campus police, airport authorities, railroad police, and county park forces) who qualify for resident licenses. The bill creates a $1 fee for both fishing licenses (under Title 30) and hunting licenses (under Title 34), replacing standard fees for these officers. Key provisions define "law enforcement agency" broadly and specify that officers must provide employment documentation to qualify. The policy change takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySB 127 changes Pennsylvania's Public School Code to make Holocaust, genocide, and human rights violations education mandatory for all schools starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It requires schools to integrate this instruction into required social studies and language arts courses, replacing the previous voluntary approach. The bill mandates that curriculum guidelines and teacher training programs be developed by the Department of Education to support this requirement. This affects all public school districts, charter schools, and private schools within Pennsylvania.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools and universities in Pennsylvania to explicitly label their athletic teams as male, female, or coed, while prohibiting female teams from allowing male participation. It protects schools from facing complaints or investigations for maintaining separate sports for girls and allows students to sue for damages if they are harmed by violations of these labeling and separation rules. The law also permits schools to sue if they are penalized by outside organizations for following these guidelines, and it applies to all public education and higher education institutions in the state.