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 (March 14): 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 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; Senate Resolution 55 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) re-establishing the Forestry Task Force under the Joint House/Senate Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee (sponsor summary).  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (March 14): 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 House Appropriations Committee holds budget hearings on the Department of Agriculture and the Governor’s Budget Office. <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

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

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--

Drilling Fee Exemption: Senate Bill 1145 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) exempting drilling companies from the $5,000 fee to DEP imposed by the Oil and Gas Conservation Law for inadvertently penetrating the Onondaga formation and not developed (sponsor summary).

Hunting Licence Fee Increase: Senate Bill 1148 (McIlhinney-R-Bucks) providing for a hunting license fee increase (sponsor summary).

Congressional Approval Of Regulations: Senate Resolution 278 (Wagner-R-York) urging Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to mandate Congressional approval of any regulation opposed by at least one quarter of the members of the U.S. House (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

Budget Hearings: March 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

Budget Hearings: March 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (no session during hearings)

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.

3/7/2016