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 (May 8): House Bill 290 (Metzgar-R-Bedford) changing the members of the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification (Insurance) Board to include legislative appointments.  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (May 8): Senate Bill 143 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) changing the makeup of the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Board to include legislative appointments (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 242 (Baker-R-Luzerne) adds natural gas gathering lines to the PA One Call utility construction safety program so they can be identified and mapped for emergency services (sponsor summary).  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar. 

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 938 (Evankovich-R- Allegheny) exempting steel slag from the definition of waste under Act 97 (sponsor summary); the Transportation Committee meets to consider House Bill 603 (Metzgar-R- Bedford) exempting heavy duty natural gas-fueled vehicles from weight limits (sponsor summary); the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee holds an information meeting with Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding on budget and other priorities of the agency; the Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 913 (Everett-R-Lycoming) providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by incorporated towns (sponsor summary), House Bill 914 (Everett-R- Lycoming) providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by boroughs (sponsor summary), House Bill 915 (Everett-R-Lycoming) providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by first class townships (sponsor summary), House Bill 916 (Everett-R-Lycoming) providing for the adoption of stormwater fees by Cities of the Third Class (sponsor summary). <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 269 (Baker-R- Luzerne) changing the process for updating the PA Construction Code (sponsor summary); the  Environmental Resources and Energy Committee considers the nomination of Patrick McDonnell to be DEP Secretary; the Rules Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 561 (DiSanto-R-Dauphin) requiring legislative approval of regulations with an economic impact of $1 million or more  (Click Here for more background.); the Transportation Committee meets to consider  Senate Bill 431 (Scavello-R-Monroe) increasing fines for littering (sponsor summary).. <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Pending In Key Committees

Check the PA Environmental Council Bill Tracker for the status and updates on pending state legislation and regulations that affect environmental and conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.

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--

End Natural Gas Drilling Moratorium: Senate Resolution 104 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) urging Gov. Wolf to end the moratorium on new natural gas leases on DCNR lands and authorize the agency to again enter into leases in order to address the state budget deficit (sponsor summary).

Extending Biofuel Mandate To Heating Oil: House Bill 1306 (Harkins-D-Erie) extending biofuel mandates to heating oil as well as diesel fuel (sponsor summary).

Small Project Fee For Chapter 105 Permits: House Bill 1326 (Hanna-D-Centre) establishing a permit fee for small projects for Chapter 105 permits (sponsor summary).

Plastic Bag Recycling Advisory Board: House Bill 1330 (Hanna-D-Centre) establishing the Plastic Bag  Recycling Board making recommendations on how to reduce pollution from improper disposal of plastic bags and plastic bag recycling (sponsor summary).

Temporary Cessation Of Coal Mining: House Bill 1333 (Gabler-R-Clearfield) extending the period of time for the temporary cessation of coal mining without clear standards (sponsor summary).  (Click Here for more background.)

Certification Of Deep Mine Medical Responders: House Bill 1341 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) certification of bituminous coal mine emergency medical responders (sponsor summary).

Landowner Liability For Public Recreation: House Bill 1328 (Hanna-D-Centre) adds snowmobile and ATV activities to public recreation liability protection for landowners (sponsor summary).

Lyme Disease Awareness Month: House Resolution 316 (Baker-R-Tioga) designating May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

May 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24

June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

May 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24

June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 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.

5/8/2017