Sen. Dawn Keefer

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Bill 1426 designates the Interstate 81 and State Route 4007 interchange, known as Exit 119 in Schuylkill County, as the PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira, Jr. Memorial Interchange. The bill honors Trooper Pahira, who died in July 2026 after being struck by a tractor-trailer while conducting a commercial vehicle safety inspection at that specific location. It directs the state Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signs displaying the new name at the interchange.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Bill 1422 amends state agriculture laws to prohibit the commercial sale of cell-cultured protein, which is defined as food made from animal cells or DNA grown outside the living animal. The bill adds a specific legal definition for this product and explicitly bans its manufacturing, selling, delivery, or offering for sale within the state. These restrictions apply to all producers and vendors of such products, effectively removing them from the Pennsylvania market. The law is set to take effect 60 days after it is signed.

Maddy summarySB 1181 adds two specific road segments to Pennsylvania’s state highway system under the 1931 Township State Highway Law. It designates Bow Creek Road (Route T-612) in Dauphin County (1.91 miles from Jonestown Road) and Susquehanna Trail (Route T-956) in York County (2.05 miles from Manchester Township line) as state highways. The bill requires local townships to formally accept the "turn-back" of these roads from state maintenance (subject to existing 40-foot widths) before the routes are officially added. Implementation depends on publishing notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin after township acceptance.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs Pennsylvania's Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to audit the state's medical assistance programs (including Medicaid) within 18 months. The audit must examine actuarial standards, whether past federal audit recommendations were adopted (like those from 2017 and 2024), and analyze high-risk areas for potential fraud. It requires the committee to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, focusing on program efficiency, cost savings, and fraud prevention. The resolution directly affects state agencies providing medical assistance and the committee conducting the audit.

Maddy summarySB 972 amends Pennsylvania's Second Class Township Code to expand the definition of "memorials" that townships can maintain. It specifically adds memorials honoring first responders - including firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and police officers - to the existing category recognizing military veterans. The bill allows township boards of supervisors to repair, establish, or fund these memorials using donations from individuals or organizations. This change directly affects second-class townships across Pennsylvania by clarifying their authority to care for both military and first responder memorials.

Maddy summarySB 971 amends Pennsylvania's Second Class Township Code to update deadlines for township financial reporting. It requires townships' boards of auditors to complete audits by June 30 (instead of April 1) and file reports with township secretaries, county officials, and state agencies by June 30 (instead of 90 days after the fiscal year). Township secretaries must publish simplified financial summaries (showing assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses) in a local newspaper by July 15 (instead of April 15). This affects second-class townships across Pennsylvania, specifically their auditors and secretaries responsible for financial transparency. The bill focuses on streamlining reporting timelines without altering the core financial disclosure requirements.

Maddy summaryThis Pennsylvania Senate Resolution urges the U.S. Congress to review Major Richard D. Winters' actions during World War II and award him the Congressional Medal of Honor. The bill highlights his leadership at Heteren Crossroads in 1944, where he led a small force against a larger German unit, resulting in significant enemy casualties and the protection of allied headquarters. It also notes the upcoming 25th anniversary of the popular 'Band of Brothers' television series, which brought Winters' story to a wide audience. The resolution directs copies to federal lawmakers and Pennsylvania representatives to advocate for this recognition.

Maddy summarySB 1182 amends Pennsylvania's Board of Vehicles Act to update definitions and add new requirements for vehicle dealers, manufacturers, and distributors. It requires manufacturers/distributors to reimburse dealers for all parts and service costs mandated by them, includes audit provisions for these reimbursements, and establishes a process for manufacturers/distributors to repurchase dealer inventory or equipment. The bill also adds consumer data protection rules, defining "consumer data" to align with federal standards (15 U.S.C. § 6809) and limiting how third-party "authorized integrators" can access dealer data. These changes directly affect vehicle dealers (who sell new/used cars), manufacturers, and distributors, while protecting consumer data used in dealership operations.

Maddy summarySB 9 requires public schools and colleges in Pennsylvania to explicitly label athletic teams as "male," "female," or "coed" based on students' sex assigned at birth. It prohibits male students from participating on teams designated for females, directly affecting student-athletes and school athletic programs. The bill creates legal causes of action allowing students to sue institutions for denying athletic opportunities or causing harm due to violations, and protects schools from penalties for maintaining sex-segregated teams. It also permits schools to sue entities that unfairly target them for enforcing these designations, with all claims needing to be filed within two years of the harm.

Maddy summarySB 599 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to clarify procedures for absentee and mail-in voting. It updates rules for how voters can obtain and return ballots, allowing county boards to provide absentee ballots to designated representatives or deputies (via judges) if voters cannot visit offices themselves. The bill also specifies that completed absentee ballots must be returned to the county board's primary office at the county seat. These changes directly affect voters using absentee or mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania elections, streamlining their voting process while maintaining security protocols.