The House took final action this week on several bills related to preserving open space, as well as legislation to finance security improvements to water systems, tax incentives for hybrid and zero emission vehicles. Here’s a quick summary—

Exempting Land From Future Taxation: House Bill 87 (Steil-R-Bucks) further allowing local governments to preserve, acquire or hold land for open space by exempting certain land from future taxation.

Expanding Farmland Preservation Program: House Bill 619 (Hershey-R-Chester) expands the state Farmland Preservation Program to land used for boarding, training or riding horses.

Creating Local Land Trusts: House Bill 183 (Ross-R-Chester) would allow local governments to create a dedicated tax to be used for acquiring land.

Reducing Size of Protected Farms: House Bill 629 (Bunt-R-Montgomery) amends the Agricultural Area Security Law to reduce the size of eligible properties in certain circumstances.

Securing Infrastructure: House Bill 612 (Rubley-R-Chester) authorizing financing of security improvement projects in water systems by PennVEST.

Clean Vehicle Tax Incentives: House Bill 220 (Reed-R-Indiana) establishing a career development tax credit was amended to exclude sales and use tax on purchases of electric, hybrid vehicles and zero emission vehicles.

Safe Water Week: House Resolution 183 (Rubley-R-Chester) designating the week of May 1 to 7 as “Safe Drinking Water Week.”

Bills from Committee

Watershed Assn. Funding: House Bill 136 (Fleagle-R-Franklin) and its companion bills House Bills 266 and 267 that allow local governments to fund watershed associations were reported out of House Appropriations Committee and put in position for a final House vote.

Flood Insurance: The House Insurance Committee reported out House Bill 243 (Semmel-R-Berks) establishing a Floodplain Insurance Assistance Program was reported out with a request that it be re-referred to the House Emergency Preparedness and Veterans Affairs Committee.

4/1/2005