The following bills of interest saw movement this week-- 

Senate 

Flood Control: Senate Bill 235 (Wozniak-D-Cambria) authorizing the use of non-structural flood control alternatives was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Brownfield Revitalization: Senate Bill 880 (Wonderling-R-Montgomery) reimbursing developers for certain brownfields redevelopment costs was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

Neighborhood Blight: Senate Bill 900 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) relating to eliminating neighborhood blight was amended and reported from the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. Senate Resolution 142 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the cost of creating a statewide blighted property database was also reported from the Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action. 

Prescribed Burning: House Bill 262 (Haluska-D-Cambria) setting standards for prescribed burning practices was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. 

Appalachian Trail: House Bill 263 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) providing additional protection for the Appalachian Trail through local zoning ordinances was put on the Senate Calendar for action.

House 

Alternative Energy/Carbon Sequestration: House Bill 80 (Vitali-D-Delaware) creating a carbon sequestration network and expanding the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards was amended and reported from the House Appropriations Committee, amended on the House Floor and then recommitted to the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. The Committee is likely to consider the bill July 8. 

Capital Greenbelt: Senate Bill 54 (Piccola-R-Dauphin) which would establish a permanent easement to protect the Capital Greenbelt trail on the former State Hospital grounds in Harrisburg was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action. 

7/3/2009