Here are the Senate and House Calendars and Committee meetings showing bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Bill Calendars

House (Feb. 8): House Bill 48 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) setting standards for drinking water well construction; House Bill 544 (Moul-R-Adams) further providing for liability protection for landowners who open their land for recreation (sponsor summary); House Resolution 60 (Emrick-R-Northampton) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the state’s program to regulate the beneficial use of sewage sludge; Senate Bill 385 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) updating and improving the Transit Revitalization investment District; Senate Bill 307 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) providing for an independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board; Senate Bill 811 (Hughes-D- Philadelphia) FY 2015-16 Capital Budget bill; Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh), the “agreed-to” pension reform bill; Senate Bill 1073 (Browne-R-Lehigh) “agreed-to” $30.8 billion General Fund budget bill.  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (Feb. 8): Senate Bill 805 (Boscola-D- Lehigh) allowing an Act 129 opt-out for large electric users (sponsor summary);  House Bill 57 (Payne-R-Dauphin) further providing for natural gas competition (sponsor summary).  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds an informational meeting on  House Bill 1536 (Petri-R-Bucks) imposes a 5.5 percent severance tax, eliminates the Act 13 drilling impact fee and distributes the revenue based on the provisions of Act 13.  Any additional revenue would be deposited in the General Fund (sponsor summary),  House Bill 82 (Harper-R- Montgomery) imposes a 3.5 percent severance tax and leaves in place the existing Act 13 drilling impact fee.  Revenue would fund public school employee pensions (sponsor summary); the Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 1436 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) providing for the computation of income tax expense for utility ratemaking purposes, House Bill 1712 (R.Brown-R-Monroe) establishing a Private Dam Financial Assurance Program; the Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 1392 (Dush-R-Indiana) authorities water and sewer authorities to charge a security deposit on new customers (sponsor summary), House Bill 914 (Ross-R-Chester) removing the permit-exempt inspection fee cap in Sewage Facilities Act (sponsor summary), House Bill 1605 (James-R- Butler) establishing the Heritage Areas Program in law (sponsor summary). <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate:   <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other:  Gov. Wolf’s Second Budget Address. 11:30.  Click Here to watch live.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Here are links to key Standing Committees in the House and Senate and the bills pending in each--

House

Appropriations

Education

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Affairs

Gaming Oversight

Human Services

Judiciary

Liquor Control

Transportation

Links for all other Standing House Committees

Senate

Appropriations

Environmental Resources and Energy

Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure

Community, Economic and Recreational Development

Education

Judiciary

Law and Justice

Public Health and Welfare

Transportation

Links for all other Standing Senate Committees

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced this week--

Changes In FEMA Floodplain Map: House Bill 1648 (Davis-D-Bucks) requiring notification of residential property owners of changes to official FEMA floodplain maps (sponsor summary).

Mine Reclamation Liability: House Bill 1825 (Sankey-R-Cambria) amending Act 2 Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act to provide liability protection for conservation districts and private firms reclaiming abandoned mine sites (sponsor summary).

Expanding Use Of Mushroom Compost: Senate Bill 1125 (Dinniman-D-Chester) expanding the use of mushroom compost in best management practices to control erosion, reclaim abandoned mines, highway projects and other uses (sponsor summary).

Delay Clean Power Plan: Senate Resolution 277 (Stefano-R-Fayette) would urge DEP to delay its development of Pennsylvania’s Plan to meet EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan by 2 years (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

Here is the latest voting session schedule for the Senate and House--

Senate

February 8, 9, 10

Budget Hearings: Feb. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, March 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (no session during hearings)

March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

May 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

February 8, 9, 10

March 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

May 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Governor’s Schedule

Gov. Tom Wolf's work calendar will be posted each Friday and his public schedule for the day will be posted each morning.   Click Here to view Gov. Wolf’s Weekly Calendar and Public Appearances.

2/8/2016