Sen. Tony Williams

Maddy summarySB 447 requires health insurance policies in Pennsylvania to cover annual prostate cancer screenings with no out-of-pocket costs for men aged 40+ who are high-risk. High-risk status includes genetic factors, family history of prostate cancer (a first-degree relative diagnosed), or physician determination of medical need. The law mandates coverage for screenings like PSA tests and digital rectal exams, applying to policies filed or renewed 180 days after the law takes effect. It directly affects insured men meeting these criteria and insurance companies offering health coverage in Pennsylvania.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 106 is a commemorative resolution that honors the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles for winning Super Bowl LIX and recognizes them as one of the greatest football teams to represent the Commonwealth. This resolution was introduced and adopted on May 7, 2025.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 716 amends Pennsylvania's Mental Health Procedures Act, primarily to update terminology and expand the scope of mental health services. The bill explicitly includes "substance use disorder" as a mental illness, making it eligible for treatment under the act. It also clarifies that assisted outpatient treatment services can encompass substance use disorder treatments, especially when co-occurring with a primary mental illness diagnosis. Additionally, the bill updates outdated language for conditions such as intellectual disability, alcohol use disorder, and age-related cognitive decline.

Maddy summarySB 21 amends Pennsylvania's Liquor Code, primarily by updating definitions for "eating place," "hotel," and "restaurant" to specify requirements for "substantial food offerings" and minimum seating capacities for venues holding liquor licenses. It also allows the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to contract with more hearing examiners for license-related proceedings. The bill introduces provisions for failing to maintain licensure requirements and strengthens the review of State tax status for license applicants. These changes affect businesses that manufacture, sell, or serve alcoholic beverages in the state, as well as the administrative processes of the Liquor Control Board. It also updates appeals processes for various license decisions and imposes penalties.

Maddy summarySB 678 amends Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law to establish specific liability for general contractors in the construction industry. It makes general contractors jointly responsible for violations of wage payment laws committed by subcontractors providing construction services. The bill also requires subcontractors to repay general contractors for these liabilities, including wages and fees, unless otherwise specified in their contract or if the general contractor caused the violation by not paying promptly. These changes apply to construction contracts entered into on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (not a bill with policy changes) honoring the Philadelphia Eagles for winning Super Bowl LIX on February 9, 2025. It formally recognizes their championship victory over the Kansas City Chiefs (40-22), their historic playoff performance, and their community contributions like supporting schools and mental health initiatives. The resolution expresses the Senate's appreciation for the team's role in uniting Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, calling them "one of the greatest football teams ever to represent this Commonwealth." As a symbolic gesture, it has no legal effect or impact on public policy.

Maddy summarySB 579 adds music therapy as a licensed profession under Pennsylvania's existing Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors Act. It requires individuals practicing music therapy to obtain a license to use the title "licensed professional music therapist" and defines the scope of practice, including clinical music interventions like improvisation and songwriting for therapeutic goals. The bill directly affects music therapists seeking to legally represent their credentials in Pennsylvania, while excluding students, supervised practitioners, and those not claiming to be licensed therapists. Key provisions clarify what constitutes "practice of music therapy" and establish the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Music Therapists to oversee licensing. This bill does not change employment requirements for government or nonprofit agencies.

Maddy summarySB 131 proposes a constitutional amendment to replace Pennsylvania’s current Legislative Reapportionment Commission with an 11-member Independent Redistricting Commission. The new commission would be composed of four members from the largest political party, four from the second-largest, and three unaffiliated voters, all required to have voted in recent statewide elections and meet strict eligibility rules (e.g., no current officeholders, lobbyists, or campaign staff). This change directly affects how the state redraws congressional and legislative district boundaries after each federal census, aiming to reduce partisan influence in the process. The bill also specifies redistricting criteria but does not detail specific geographic or population standards. As a proposed constitutional amendment, it remains in committee and has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 320 bans for-profit companies (including corporations, private equity firms, and investment banks) from owning or managing hospitals and health systems in Pennsylvania. It would prevent new for-profit ownership but allows existing for-profit hospitals and health systems to continue operating as they are. The law defines "for-profit entity" broadly and exempts current owners as of the law's effective date. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment, with no new for-profit acquisitions permitted after that date. This directly affects current and future hospital ownership structures in the state.

Maddy summarySB 321, the Mandatory Severance for Mass Layoffs Act, requires employers with 50+ employees to provide severance pay and advance notice when shutting down a facility, transferring operations, or laying off 50+ workers within 30 days. It mandates 90 days' notice (or federal requirements if longer) to employees, the state labor department, and local officials before such events. Severance pay equals one week of average pay per full year of employment, with an additional four weeks if notice is shorter than required. This applies to most full-time employees but excludes managers, temporary workers, and part-timers working under 20 hours weekly.