May 5 – May 7, 2025

Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 255 (BAKER) Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) to include and classify sexual assault by a sports official, volunteer, or employee of a nonprofit association as a Tier II sexual offense. PASSED 50-0.

SB 518 (ROTHMAN) Amends Title 34 (Game) to repeal several provisions which conflict with the protection from self-incrimination provided under the U.S. Constitution by making it unlawful for an individual to refuse to answer questions from Game Commission officers during investigations of certain offenses. PASSED 50-0.

SB 466 (BROOKS) Amends Title 35 (Health and Safety) to allow fire suppression training completed as a condition of employment to count toward the required number of hours of instruction needed for Firefighter I certification. Allows the State Fire Commissioner to extend Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant program reporting deadlines by 15 days once every three years when requested by a fire or EMS company. Codifies several Fiscal Code provisions including reports required to be submitted to the Appropriation Committees on PEMA grants awarded from federal disaster and public health emergency funds; deadline extensions for Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant applications; and the sunset of the State Fire Commissioner’s authority to award Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grants. PASSED 50-0.

Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 349 (YAW) Amends Title 27 (Environmental Resources) requiring solar energy facility agreements to provide for the decommissioning of a solar energy facility by its owner on leased property no later than 18 months after the facility has ceased producing electricity, with certain limited exceptions. Further requires owners of solar energy facilities on leased land to submit proof of financial assurance—in an amount equal to the estimated cost to decommission the facility—to the county recorder of deeds and provide notice to the property owner. Requires DEP to issue regulations and, in consultation with the solar energy industry, develop a provisional standard form for a decommissioning plan and financial assurance. Provides preemption of local ordinances and regulations that materially impede decommissioning provisions. PASSED 49-1.

SB 9 (J. WARD) Establishes the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act to require interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural or club athletic teams or sports that are sponsored by a public school entity, a public institution of higher education or any school or institution where students or teams compete against a public school entity or public institution of higher education to be expressly designated for one of the following: male, men, or boys; female, women, or girls; or coed or mixed. Prohibits students born male from participating on scholastic athletic teams or in sports designated for females, women or girls. Prohibits a government entity or licensing, accrediting or athletic organization from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation or taking adverse action against a school for maintaining separate teams or sports for students of the female sex. Allows causes of action for injunctive relief, damages, harm suffered, attorney fees and any other relief available to be brought within two years by a student who is deprived of athletic opportunity or suffers direct or indirect harm due to a school allowing male born students to participate in female sports or teams. PASSED 32-18.

Bills amended on Third Consideration

SB 115 (ARGALL) Amends the Human Services Code to require the Department of Human Services to provide a skill competency examination in lieu of a high school diploma or GED for individuals seeking employment as a direct care staff person in personal care homes and assisted living residences. Requires the examination to assess interpersonal communication skills, basic writing and reading comprehension, understanding of cultural and diverse communities, awareness of mental health and behavioral health needs, and other competencies specific to working in a personal care home or an assisted living residence. Specifies this examination will not permit a direct care staff person to dispense, distribute, or administer medication. OVER AS AMENDED.

A00492 (PICOZZI) Allows individuals seeking employment as direct care staff in personal care homes or assisted living residences to bypass the waiver process for high school diplomas or GED’s obtained in other countries, provided the individuals are legally present in the U.S. and otherwise qualified to be a direct care worker. ADOPTED 48-2.

Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 115 (ARGALL) Amends the Human Services Code to require the Department of Human Services to provide a skill competency examination in lieu of a high school diploma or GED for individuals seeking employment as a direct care staff person in personal care homes and assisted living residences. Requires the examination to assess interpersonal communication skills, basic writing and reading comprehension, understanding of cultural and diverse communities, awareness of mental health and behavioral health needs, and other competencies specific to working in a personal care home or an assisted living residence. Specifies this examination will not permit a direct care staff person to dispense, distribute, or administer medication. Allows individuals seeking employment as direct care staff in personal care homes or assisted living residences to bypass the waiver process for high school diplomas or GED’s obtained in other countries, provided the individuals are legally present in the U.S. and otherwise qualified to be a direct care worker. PASSED 47-3.

SB 232 (PENNYCUICK) Amends Title 30 (Fish) to streamline and modernize how fishing licenses are issued to disabled veterans. Allows 100% disabled veterans to obtain a free lifetime fishing license. Allows veterans with a service-connected disability rating between 60% and 99% to obtain a resident fishing license for $1.00. Requires veterans to include a copy of the disability rating determination letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs when submitting the license application to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission or their county treasurer. PASSED 50-0.

SB 308 (HUTCHINSON) Amends Title 51 (Military Affairs) to rename the Medical Officer or Health Officer Incentive Program to the Specialty Branch Officer Incentive Program and expands those eligible for educational stipends under the program to include dentists, chaplains, and judge advocate general officers. Replaces the current stipend formula which is based upon profession with a tiered formula based on level of academic degree. Authorizes the Adjutant General to adjust stipend amounts beginning in 2026, and every five years thereafter, rather than the current two years, in an amount equal to the change in the applicable Consumer Price Index in the preceding five years provided there is sufficient funding. PASSED 50-0.

SB 481 (J. WARD) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to allow milk hauling on highways without penalty when PennDOT restricts the operation of combination or farm vehicles due to inclement weather or during a declared national, state, or local emergency impeding the operation of combination or farm vehicles. Requires licensed milk hauler vehicles to display a decal designed and issued by the Milk Board on the driver’s side cab to identify it as a licensed milk hauling vehicle. PASSED 36-14.