Legislation on the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy, setting up a Forestry Task Force and a resolution urging Congress to reauthorize federal funding for abandoned mine reclamation were just some of the highlights of legislative activity this week. Here’s a rundown.

On the Governor’s Desk

Open Space Preservation: House Bill 87 (Steil-R-Bucks) further authorizing local governments to preserve open space through the waiver of certain service fees. The bill was signed into law and is now Act 4.

Given Final Action

Forestry Task Force: Senate Resolution 137 (Madigan-R-Bradford) re-establishing the Forestry Task Force supported by the Joint Legislative Air & Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee was given final action by the House and Senate.

Federal Mine Reclamation Funding: House Resolution 382 urging Congress to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund was given final action by the House and Senate.

Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy: Senate Resolution 207 urging DEP to place a nine month moratorium on implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy was adopted by the Senate unanimously.

Senate

Capital Budget: House Bill 2317 (Feese-R-Lycoming) 2005-2006 Capital Budget for flood control, Keystone Recreation, Environmental Stewardship projects was amended several times to add projects and reported from Senate Appropriations.

House

Donations of Property: Senate Bill 640 authorizes claims for taxes, water, lighting fees to be forgiven for donations of property was passed by the House and goes back to the Senate for a concurrence vote on House changes.

Defending Conservation Easements: House Bill 671 (Reichley-R-Berks) requiring county farmland preservation boards to monitor and enforce agricultural conservation easements, including payment of legal costs associated with defending easements was referred to House Appropriations.

Infrastructure Tax Credit: House Bill 2069 (Payne-R-Dauphin) providing a tax credit to provide security systems for critical infrastructure-- water and wastewater systems, data storage and processing, chemical factories, hydroelectric facilities, dams, electrical generating facilities, gas and oil storage, telecommunications, Internet, banking and financial institutions and health facilities was referred to House Appropriations Committee.

Bills Introduced

Windmills: House Bill 2413 (Bastian-R-Somerset) amends the PA Farmland and Forest Land Assessment Act to allow property enrolled in the program to be used for wind power generation.

Registered Septic Inspectors: House Bill 2416 (Saylor-R-York) establishing the Rural Homeowner and Real Estate Buyer Protection Act requiring septic system inspectors to register with the Department of State.

2/3/2006