The next scheduled voting session day is March 9 for the Senate and House, but between now and then both chambers will hold hearings on Gov. Rendell's proposed budget. NOTE: Many budget hearings will be carried on the PA Cable Network on cable and online. The Senate Appropriations Committee starts its budget hearings next week. The Senate will webcast their hearings live on the regular Senate webpage.

Session Schedule

Here's the House and Senate session schedule through June 2009--

House

March 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31

April 1, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 20

Senate

Budget Hearings: Feb. 23, 24, 25, 26 – March 2, 3, 4, 5

March, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31

April 1, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

June 1, 2 , 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30

You can watch the Senate Floor Session and House Floor Session live online.

Calendars

House (March 9): House Bill 92 (Staback-D-Schuylkill) authorizing up to a $1 fee on purchasers of hunting licenses and stamps through the automated licensing system.

Senate (March 9): Senate Resolution 20 (Pippy-R-Allegheny) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to determine the impact of state tax credit programs.

Committees

The following Committees have meetings this week--

House :theAppropriations Committee holds Budget Hearings on: Department of Education,Office of the Governor/Executive Offices; the Commerce Committee holds a hearing on economic development in a recession in Philadelphia.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee holds Budget Hearings on: Department of Education - K-12, Higher Education, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Department of Transportation. Hearing,Department of Community & Economic Development.

Other: Joint Conservation Committee legislative breakfast sponsored by the PA Recycling Markets Center.

NOTE:Many budget hearings will be carried on the PA Cable Network on cable and online. The Senate will webcast their budget hearings live on the regular Senate webpage.

Link: Full Senate Budget Hearing Videos Posted

Bills Introduced

These bills of interest were introduced this week--

House

Diesel Technology: House Bill 565 (Beyer-R-Lehigh) providing a tax credit for new, clean diesel technology.

Water Fluoridation: House Bill 584 (Barrar- R-Chester) requiring the fluoridation of public water.

Geologists: House Bill 587 (Markosek-D-Allegheny) providing for a geologist in training under registration law.

Medical Sharps: House Bill 594 (Siptroth-D-Monroe) establishing a program for disposal of in-home generated medical sharps within the Department of Environmental Protection.

State Reptile :House Bill 621 (Curry-D-Montgomery) designating the Eastern Box Turtle as the official reptile for the Commonwealth.

Gas. Timber Royalties: House Bill 625 (Causer-R-Cameron) 10 percent of all royalties and revenues from the sales of timber, gas and oil from state agencies, except the Game and Fish and Boat Commissions, shall be used to fund in lieu of tax payments for local governments and school districts.

Senate

Oil & Gas Production: Senate Bill 297 (Yaw-R-Bradford) requiring the semi-annual reporting of production from oil and gas wells.

Sale Tax Exclusions: Senate Bill 401 (Leach-D-Montgomery) excluding fluorescent light bulbs from sales tax.

Electric Meters: Senate Bill 411 (Leach-D-Montgomery) providing a lending program at libraries for electric meters.

2/27/2009