The following bills of interest saw action this week in the House and Senate--

Senate

New Fiscal Code: House Bill 1589 (Causer-R- Cameron) amending the Fiscal Code with some of the items Gov. Wolf vetoed in House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike) was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, amended on the Senate Floor and passed the Senate 37 to 11.  The bill was then passed by the House 149 to 46.   A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

            The bill includes provisions to authorize a transfer from the PA Racehorse Development Fund, a $15 million reduction in funding for the Environmental Stewardship (Growing Greener) Fund, takes $12 million from CFA’s High Performance Buildings Program and transfers it to fund a new program to expand access to natural gas infrastructure, earmarks existing DCNR funding for the operation of Washington Crossing Historical Park and directs funding to sewer and drinking water projects for specific legislators, but NOT the provisions delaying the development of a Pennsylvania plan to meet the Clean Power Climate Plan rule or killing DEP’s final conventional oil and gas drilling regulations.

Alternative On-Lot Septic Systems: Senate Bill 1114 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) allowing the use of alternative on-lot septic systems on the sewage facility planning process (sponsor summary) was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action.

Stormwater Fees: House Bill 1325 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) allowing townships of the second class to charge stormwater management fees (amended), House Bill 1394 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing boroughs to charge stormwater management fees (amended), House Bill 1661 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) authorizing first class townships to charge a stormwater management fee (amended) were reported out of the Senate Local Government Committee and are now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Killing DEP Conventional Drilling Regs: Senate Bill 1011 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) killing DEP’s final drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and starting the rulemaking process over was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.  This provision was vetoed by Gov. Wolf in the Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike).

Clean Power Plan Delay: Senate Bill 1195 (White-R-Indiana)  to further delay a Pennsylvania plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Plan rule by changing the General Assembly’s review dates under Act 175 of 2014 was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.  This provision was vetoed by Gov. Wolf in the Fiscal Code bill-- House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike).

Forest Land Value: House Bill 806 (Causer-R-Cameron) providing for county-specific use values for land in forest reserves (sponsor summary) was Tabled.

Earth Day 2016: Senate Resolution 348 (Hughes-D-Philadelphia) encouraging all citizens to observe and participate in Earth Day April 22 (sponsor summary) was introduced and adopted.

Drinking Water Week: Senate Resolution 328 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) designating May 1 -7 as Drinking Water Week in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary) was adopted by the Senate .

Lyme Disease Awareness: Senate Resolution 338 (Greenleaf-R-Montgomery) designating May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary) was adopted by the Senate.

House

Earth Day 2016: House Resolution 771 (Murt-R-Adams) encouraging all residents of the Commonwealth to observe Earth Day on April 22 (sponsor summary) was adopted by the House.

Drinking Water Week: House Resolution 809 (Neuman-D-Washington) designating May 1-7 as Drinking Water Week in Pennsylvania was adopted by the House (sponsor summary).

Prescription Take-Back: House Resolution 803 (Dean-D-Montgomery) designating April 30 as National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day (sponsor summary) was adopted by the House.

4/18/2016