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

House

Climate Plan Review: Senate Bill 1195 (White-R-Indiana) further providing for legislative review of any plan developed by DEP to implement the EPA Clean Power Climate Plan was reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, was amended on the House Floor, referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House by a vote of 147 to 41 and concurred in by the Senate 38 to ll.  The bill now goes to the Governor and is expected to become law.

DEP Conventional Drilling Regs: Senate Bill 279 (Hutchinson-R-Venango) requiring DEP to start over to update its drilling regulations covering conventional oil and gas wells and creating the PA Grade Crude Development Advisory Council was removed from the Table, referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House by a vote of 141 to 46 and concurred in by the Senate 37 to 12.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available. The bill now goes to the Governor and is expected to become law.

1-Pound Waiver: Senate Bill 1123 (Vogel-R-Beaver) extends the one-pound Reid Vapor Pressure waiver for gasoline sold in Pennsylvania that expired on May 1, 2016 (sponsor summary) was amended and reported from the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Tabled.

Pollinator Week: House Resolution 924 (Matzie-D-Allegheny) designating the week of June 20-26 Pollinator Week In PA (sponsor summary) was adopted by the House.

Senate

Stormwater Fees: House Bill 1325 (Mustio-R-Allegheny) allowing townships of the second class to charge stormwater management fees was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for a concurrence vote.

Game, Fish Commission License Fees: Senate Bill 1166 (Stefano-R-Fayette) providing for the adopting of fees by the Game Commission and Senate Bill 1168 (Eichelberger-R- Blair) providing for the adoption of fees by the Fish and Boat Commission were reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and are now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Potomac River Basin Commission: House Bill 577 (Moul-R-Adams) providing for the appointment of alternates on the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (House Fiscal Note and summary) was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Heritage Areas Program: House Bill 1605 (James-R-Butler) establishing DCNR’s Heritage Areas Program in law (House Fiscal Note and summary) was reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Science-Based Agriculture: House Resolution 872 (Causer-R-Forest) urging federal and state regulatory agencies to use science-based, peer-reviewed data when evaluating modern agricultural technology tools and developing regulations (sponsor summary) was reported from the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

6/20/2016