Sen. James Malone

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Resolution 359 designates September 2026 as "Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month" to highlight the elevated suicide rates among military veterans in the state. The resolution cites specific statistics, noting that nearly 250 Pennsylvania veterans die by suicide annually and that female veterans face a significantly higher risk than their male counterparts. It acknowledges contributing factors such as post-traumatic stress disorder, unemployment, and difficulties reintegrating into civilian life. Additionally, the bill expresses support for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and its ongoing initiatives to provide resources and education on suicide prevention for veterans and their families.

Maddy summaryPennsylvania Senate Resolution 358 officially designates September 2026 as Suicide Prevention Month within the state. The resolution cites national and local statistics regarding suicide rates and mental health challenges to support this designation. It aims to raise public awareness, encourage open dialogue about mental health, and promote community engagement during the designated month.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Pennsylvania public agencies from entering into nondisclosure agreements with data center owners regarding the construction, development, or location of these facilities. The law ensures that any contract attempting to keep details about a data center's project or the agreement itself secret from the public is considered invalid and unenforceable. By banning such confidentiality clauses, the legislation aims to increase transparency around government interactions with data center developers. The changes apply to all state and local agencies and will take effect 60 days after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the life of former State Senator Shirley M. Kitchen and expresses condolences on her passing. It recognizes her career as a social worker, activist, and legislator who served Philadelphia for 20 years, focusing on health care and affordable housing. The document outlines her personal background and public service achievements, including her role as the leader of the 20th Ward Democratic Executive Committee. By formally acknowledging her contributions, the Senate pays tribute to her legacy of community advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code to clarify definitions and streamline zoning rules for local governments. It mandates that municipalities allow accessory dwelling units, such as secondary living spaces on existing lots, in all areas where single-family homes are permitted. The legislation requires these units to be approved automatically within 14 days without a public hearing, provided they meet specific size and location criteria. Additionally, the bill ensures that no-impact home-based businesses are allowed by right in residential zones, subject to existing private land restrictions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 738 amends the Older Adults Protective Services Act to create new requirements for financial institutions concerning the financial exploitation of older adults. It mandates that financial institution employees report suspected financial exploitation to a designated representative within two business days. If the representative finds reasonable cause, they must then report the suspected exploitation to the Department of Aging or an area agency on aging. This bill aims to establish a structured reporting system within financial institutions to protect older adults.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create a model program for hunting and trapping education for students in grades six through twelve. The program must include age-appropriate firearm safety instruction covering topics like safe handling, maintenance, and wildlife conservation, taught only by certified instructors without bringing actual firearms onto school property. Schools can offer this as an optional extracurricular class or integrate it into existing courses, and parents may request to excuse their children from the instruction without penalty. Additionally, the bill allows schools to receive reimbursement for program costs and counts related training hours toward staff professional development.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to explicitly ban "surveillance pricing," which is defined as setting customized prices for goods or services based on personal data gathered through technology like cameras, sensors, or third-party purchases. The legislation prohibits businesses from using such data to charge different prices to specific consumers unless they can prove the price difference is due to varying costs, public discounts available to broad groups like seniors or students, loyalty program rewards, or credit decisions based on standard credit reports. In addition to banning this practice, the bill increases civil penalties for violations to up to $3,000 per incident and allows individual consumers who suffer financial loss from these pricing tactics to file private lawsuits for damages.

Maddy summarySB 1133 amends Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Act to adjust the composition of the State Board of Pharmacy. The bill increases the number of pharmacist members from five to six, requiring two to be appointed from acute care institutional pharmacies (previously one), and specifies that pharmacy technician members must have at least five years of experience. All board members serve six-year terms, with the technician limited to one term and other members to two consecutive terms. Appointments require the Governor's nomination and Senate approval.

Maddy summarySB 746 gives residents of manufactured home communities in Pennsylvania the right to purchase their community when it's sold. When a community owner plans to sell, they must notify all residents, the resident association (if one exists), and local housing agencies at least 90 days in advance, detailing the sale price and terms. Residents represented by a group owning at least 25% of spaces can then submit a competing offer within 90 days, forcing the owner to pause other sales for 120 days while they prepare their offer and negotiate in good faith. The bill also adds legal remedies, allowing residents to seek court action to stop non-compliant sales within 90 days of the transfer. This directly affects manufactured home residents and community owners across Pennsylvania.