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 Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to hold two meetings this week, the first is an information meeting on House Bill 1391 (Everett-R-Lycoming) providing for a guaranteed minimum royalty on oil and gas leases (sponsor summary) and the second is a voting meeting--agenda to be announced; the  Consumer Affairs Committee holds an informational meeting on electric grid reliability and its impact on retail prices; the Senate & House Agriculture And Rural Affairs Committees joint hearing on the impact of the budget impasse on agriculture; the Tourism and Recreational Development and Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committees hold a joint hearing on PA’s tourism budget, Heritage Areas and tourism marketing.  <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 806 (Causer-R-Cameron) amending the Clean and Green farmland preservation program related to use and fair market values (sponsor summary)  <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, features a presentation from the State Association of Pennsylvania’s Heritage Areas.

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--

Storage Tank Insurance Board: Senate Bill 1142 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) making changes to the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board (sponsor summary).

Cutting Penalties For Farmers Exiting Farmland Preservation: Senate Bill 1136 (White-R-Indiana) cutting the penalty for removing farmland from the Clean and Green Program from 6 years to one  (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

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

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.

3/14/2016