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 21): 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 21): Senate Bill 805 (Boscola-D- Lehigh) allowing an Act 129 opt-out for large electric users (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1123 (Vogel-R-Beaver) extends the one-pound Reid Vapor Pressure waiver for gasoline sold in Pennsylvania that is due to expire on May 1, 2016;  Senate Bill 1142 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) amends the Storage Tank Act to add members to the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund Board; House Bill 806 (Causer-R-Cameron) providing for county-specific use values for land in forest reserves (sponsor summary).  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 385 (Pileggi-R-Delaware) further providing for Transit Revitalization Investment Districts; the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets, but the agenda is not yet available, DEP’s Chapter 78 drilling regulations may be discussed; the  House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on incentivizing use of natural gas. <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 1114 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) allowing the use of alternative on-lot septic systems on the sewage facility planning process (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1041 (Schwank-D-Berks) amending Act 101 to authorize counties and local governments to charge a recycling fee (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 1145 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) amending the Oil and Gas Conservation Law to exempt drilling companies that pass through the Onondaga formation without producing it from a $5,000 permit fee (sponsor summary); House Bill 1712 (R.Brown-R-Monroe) establishing a Private Dam Financial Assurance Program (House Fiscal Note and summary).  <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: the Joint Conservation Committee holds a hearing on Collapse of Pennsylvania’s Electronic Waste Recycling Program.

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 Tanks: House Bill 1895 (Metzgar-R-Bedford) changing the members of the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board (sponsor summary).

Greenhouse Gas Reductions: House Bill 2030 (Santarsiero-D-Bucks) setting a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Pennsylvania by 50 percent (sponsor summary).

World Water Day: House Resolution 741 (McClinton-D-Delaware) designating March 22 as World Water Day in PA (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

March 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 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.

3/21/2016