The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

House
 

Tax Bill: House Bill 325 (Sponsor Withdrew) enacting an 8 percent natural gas production severance tax and increasing taxes on tobacco was referred back to the House Appropriations Committee after House Democrats failed, for the third time, to find enough votes for passage.

Electronics Recycling:  House Bill 708 (Ross-R-Chester) requiring the recycling of consumer electronics was amended on the House Floor and passed by the House.  The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Alternative Energy: House Bill 2405 (DePasquale-D-York) which would increase the solar mandate provisions of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and provide for carbon sequestration facilities was reported from the House Rules Committee and was referred to House Appropriations Committee.

Senate

General Fund Budget:  House Bill 2279 (D.Evans-D-Philadelphia) providing for General Fund appropriations was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee with a negative recommendation and then referred back to Senate Appropriations.

Guaranteed Energy Savings:  House Bill 687 (Dermody-D-Allegheny) expanding guaranteed energy savings contracts to include technologies to reduce water and wastewater consumption was amended and reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Gas/Coal Spacing:  Senate Bill 1374 (MJ White-R-Venango) requiring DCNR's Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey to update workable coal seams annually and setting separation distances from gas wells and coal seams was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Clean Water Fund: Senate Bill 1303 (MJ White-R-Venango) authorizing the use of the Clean Water Fund to finance Black Fly and West Nile Virus suppression was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Traditional Neighborhoods:  House Bill 1609 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) further providing for traditional neighborhood development in the Municipalities Planning Code was removed from the Table and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

6/21/2010