All Legislation

Bill voted on Third Consideration

SB 734 (ROTHMAN) Authorizes the installation of the America250PA Semiquincentennial Celebration Bell monument on the Capitol grounds to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States. Stipulates preparation for and acquisition of supplies for the monument’s construction to be coordinated by the America250PA Commission, with the Department of General Services preparing the designated site location and taking ownership and maintenance responsibility of the monument after the disbanding of the Commission. PASSED 48-1.

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Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 829 (DUSH) Creates a freestanding act to designate the Hynerpeton Bassetti as the new official state fossil of Pennsylvania and repeal Act 138 of 1988, which designated the Phacops Rana as the state fossil. PASSED 49-0.

SB 1020 (GEBHARD) Amends Title 34 (Game) to expand eligibility for free hunting licenses for 100% disabled veterans and reduced price, one-dollar ($1) licenses for 60%-99% disabled veterans to those whose disabilities were not only incurred during war or armed conflict. PASSED 49-0.

SB 1058 (J. WARD) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to allow for gasoline-ethanol mixtures containing 51% to 85% ethanol by volume as specified by the ASTM International D5798 standard. PASSED 49-0.

HB 1176 (CIRESI) Amends Title 20 (Decedents, Estates and Fiduciaries) to change the order of succession for intestate cases and redirect unclaimed estate shares to an endowed community fund in the following order: a fund that is in the decedent’s municipality, a fund in the decedent’s school district, or a fund in the decedent’s county. Stipulates if no such endowed community fund exists at any level, the Commonwealth receives the estate. Increases the amount a financial institution may release to a family member of a deceased individual from $10,000 to $20,000 if a receipt showing that funeral services have been paid is provided. Increases the threshold for the distribution of unclaimed property held by the State Treasurer from $11,000 to $20,000 in cases where an eligible heir is able to use a notarized affidavit to file a claim for the property. PASSED 49-0.

HB 1359 (CONKLIN) Amends Title 12 (Commerce and Trade) to provide for updates to the Entertainment Economic Enhancement Program (EEEP) and codifies the Self-Service Storage Facility Act while providing updates and clarifications for the regulation of self-service storage facilities. Moves events affiliated with qualified charitable operations from Class 3 to Class 1 venues for eligibility under the EEEP and reduces the square footage needed to maintain a place of business in Pennsylvania for eligibility from 5,000 to 2,500 square feet for at least 24 consecutive months. Requires the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to verify taxpayers have or will incur sufficient rehearsal and tour expenses before approving credits. Establishes a 5% tax credit for qualified rehearsal or tour expenses if concerts are held at a total of two or more Class 2 or Class 3 venues, or if a concert is held by a venue leased by or affiliated with a qualified charitable corporation. Removes the $250,000 cap on contributions to charitable corporations. Allows DCED to award the maximum amount of tax credits if contributions exceed $325,000.
Reduces the time needed for a self-service storage facility owner to deny an occupant’s access to leased storage space from 20 days to ten days when an occupant is in continuous default. Prohibits, with few exceptions, an occupant’s entry into a self-service storage facility after a termination or non-renewal notice is delivered. Gives an occupant at least 14 days to remove personal property from a self-service storage facility after a termination or non-renewal notice is delivered. PASSED 46-3.

Executive Nominations

State Board of Medicine, Taliba M. Foster CONFIRMED 48-1.
State Board of Nursing, Brandy L. Hershberger CONFIRMED 48-1.
Board of Trustees of The Pennsylvania State University, David M. Kleppinger CONFIRMED 48-1.
Board of Trustees of The Pennsylvania State University, Daniel A. Onorato CONFIRMED 48-1.

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Bills voted on Third Consideration

HB 439 (MAYES) Amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination based on traits associated with an individual’s race or religious creed, including hair type, hair texture, hairstyle, or head covering. Does not prohibit an employer from adopting or enforcing an otherwise valid workplace health and safety rule or policy within certain provisions. Does not prohibit an employer from adopting and enforcing an otherwise valid workplace policy to prevent a hostile work environment, provided the policy is adopted for nondiscriminatory reasons and is applied equally. PASSED 44-3.

HB 923 (RIVERA) Amends the State Lottery Law to provide through December 31, 2027, that enrollees in the PACE and PACENET programs as of December 31, 2024, will remain eligible for the programs if the maximum income limit is exceeded due solely to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). PASSED 46-0.

SB 997 (FLYNN) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to add one member, appointed by the governor, from the Pennsylvania Online Messengers Association Board of Directors to the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee. PASSED 46-0.

SB 1050 (PENNYCUICK) Amends Title 23 (Domestic Relations) to require mandated reporter to report incidents involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or artificially generated CSAM to Childline, regardless of whether the material was created, displayed, or exhibited to others by a minor. Directs Childline, upon receipt of such a report, to transmit it to the appropriate law enforcement agency. PASSED 46-0.

HB 1421 (HARRIS) Provides for the Commonwealth’s non-preferred appropriations to the State-Aided Universities for FY 2025-26. State-Aided Universities include: the Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, Lincoln University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Restricts the University of Pittsburgh to using state funds only for instruction, student services and community outreach, and explicitly prohibits the University from using its appropriation for its environmental law clinic. Requires the University of Pennsylvania (PENN) to report how its state funding for FY 2025-26 was used to reduce costs for Pennsylvania resident students or to provide services to Pennsylvania residents. Provides money appropriated to PENN is contingent on the University maintaining at least four voting Board of Trustee members appointed by legislative leaders who are not elected officials. PASSED 39-7.

HB 1332 (HARRIS) Provides for the Capital Budget Act for FY 2025-26. PASSED 43-3.

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