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

House

General Fund Budget: Senate Bill 1073 (Browne-R-Lehigh), the FY 2016-17 General Fund budget proposal totaling $31.55 billion was amended and passed by the House.  The Senate amended the bill to include a 2.5 percent increase for some higher education line items and for community colleges and reduced the total spend number slightly to $31.52 billion.

The House reported the bill out of the House Rules Committee and concurred in by the House 144 to 54.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

Click Here for a spreadsheet from Senate Republicans showing differences between FY 2015-16 and FY 2016-17 Senate-passed budget.  Click Here for a Senate Fiscal Note and summary.   Click Here for a narrative summary by the House Democratic Appropriations Committee staff.

EQB Independent Counsel: Senate Bill 307 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) amending the Administrative Code to provide for an independent counsel for the Environmental Quality Board was amended with an unrelated provision related to state agricultural fairs and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Private Development In State Parks: House Bill 2013 (Ellis-R-Butler)-- to open Pennsylvania’s State Parks to private development-- was reported out of the House Rules Committee, amended on the House Floor, referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was defeated on the House Floor by a vote of 123 to 77.

Oil & Gas Royalties: House Bill 1391 (Everett-R-Lycoming) requiring the payment of minimum royalties to the owners of oil and gas mineral rights was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Rules Committee (sponsor summary)

Standby Water Charges: House Bill 1040 (Harper-R-Montgomery) further providing for exemptions from standby water charges was removed from the Table and was referred to the House Consumer Affairs Committee.

Coal Miner Heritage Day: House Resolution 951 (Kaufer-R-Luzerne) designating the third Saturday in July Coal Miner Heritage Day was introduced and adopted by the House (sponsor summary).

Senate

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 was concurred in and now goes to the Governor for his action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Sewer Laterals: Senate Bill 289 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) funding to assist homeowners with deteriorating private sewer laterals was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action.  Senate Fiscal Note and summary. 

Flood Hazard Notice - Property: Senate Bill 141 (Greenleaf-R- Montgomery) further providing for the disclosure of flooding hazards in real estate sales was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action.

Heritage Parks/In-Lieu Of Tax Payments: House Bill 1605 (James-R-Butler) amends the Fiscal Code to establish the DCNR Heritage Parks Program in law was amended to included an in-lieu of tax payments increase for State Forests lands to local governments and reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and referred back to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Construction Code: House Bill 568 (Evankovich-R-Allegheny) making changes to the process for adopting updates to the PA Construction Code Act was referred to, amended and reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Anthracite Heritage Day: Senate Resolution 405 (Baker-R-Luzerne) designating July 16 Anthracite Heritage Day in Pennsylvania was adopted by the Senate (sponsor summary).

7/4/2016