Sen. John Kane

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania legislation establishes a tax credit for owners of residential high-rise buildings located in major cities. The credit is designed to offset the costs of installing or upgrading automatic fire sprinkler systems and associated monitoring equipment within these structures. Owners may receive a credit equal to the amount spent on the retrofitting or up to 100% of their income tax liability, whichever is less. The Office of the Mayor in the respective city will administer the program and determine which buildings qualify as high-rise structures. The tax credit becomes available for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates June 15, 2026, as Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day in Pennsylvania to highlight the severity of the disease among children. The measure calls on residents to observe the day by raising awareness, supporting affected families, and advocating for increased research funding. It does not create new laws or change government operations but serves as a symbolic gesture to draw attention to the condition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution officially designates June 19, 2026, as "Juneteenth National Freedom Day" within the state of Pennsylvania. The measure serves as a symbolic recognition of the historical significance of the date, which marks the day enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation in 1865. By passing this resolution, the Pennsylvania Senate acknowledges the legacy of African-American resilience and culture without altering any laws or government operations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates June 15, 2026, as "World Elder Abuse Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to highlight the issue of elder abuse. The measure does not change any laws or create new programs but serves as a formal recognition to draw attention to the rising number of abuse reports and the vulnerability of older adults. By acknowledging this specific date, the resolution aims to encourage the public and officials to focus on safeguarding the well-being of the state's aging population.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act to clarify rules for residential leases and introduce new rent reporting options. It maintains the existing requirement that leases lasting more than three years must be in writing, while confirming that shorter leases can be oral or written. Additionally, the bill mandates that landlords provide written notice to tenants about a building credit program where rent payments are reported to consumer agencies. This notice must be signed by the tenant at the start of the lease, regardless of whether the agreement is oral or written. The legislation also establishes a separate opt-in program allowing landlords to report on-time rent payments to consumer reporting agencies to help tenants build credit.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to specifically regulate how businesses collect and handle reproductive and sexual health data. It requires companies to obtain consumer consent, limit data collection to what is necessary for specific services, and provide clear options for users to access or delete this sensitive information. Additionally, the legislation restricts sharing this data with third parties unless there is valid consent or a legal mandate, while also establishing a process for the Attorney General to issue violation notices before taking enforcement action.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Public Utility Credit Act requiring public utilities in Pennsylvania to report credit information related to utility services. It defines "public utility" broadly to include providers of electricity, gas, water, transportation, and telecommunications, while explicitly excluding private generators, nonprofit cooperatives, and certain resort water services. The legislation imposes specific duties on these utilities to maintain and share credit data, aiming to create a standardized system for tracking payment history. By mandating these reporting requirements, the bill seeks to improve credit visibility for utility customers without advocating for specific regulatory outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 1349, known as the Digital Provenance Act, requires large online platforms and major AI tool providers in Pennsylvania to clearly label images, videos, and audio created or altered by generative artificial intelligence. These covered entities must embed a permanent, machine-readable label in their synthetic content that identifies the specific AI system used and the date of creation, while also offering a free public tool for users to verify the authenticity of digital media. The law imposes strict privacy rules on these providers, prohibiting them from collecting personal data through their verification tools and mandating that any uploaded content be deleted once the verification process is complete. Additionally, the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of Attorney General will be tasked with enforcing these transparency requirements and can impose penalties for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires oil and gas well operators in Pennsylvania to obtain a specific drilling permit before drilling wells that target the Utica shale formation or reach depths of 3,800 feet or more. The permit application process will follow existing state regulations for resource development, adding a new layer of administrative review for these specific deep-drilling projects. Directly affecting energy companies and land operators, the law mandates compliance with these permitting rules before any drilling begins in the designated geological horizons. The legislation takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's tax laws to increase the maximum annual historic preservation tax credit available to a single property owner from $500,000 to $1,500,000. The change directly affects qualified taxpayers who restore or rehabilitate historic buildings, allowing them to claim a larger tax credit against their state taxes. The Department of Community and Economic Development is responsible for reviewing and approving these credit certificates under the new limit. The legislation takes effect 60 days after it is signed into law.