Here’s a rundown on the environmental bills that moved this week.

House

Fireworks: The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee amended and reported out House Bill 2349 (Scavello-R-Monroe) imposing further restrictions on fireworks displays.

Farmland Preservation: Senate Bill 723 (Wenger-R-Lancaster) making changes to the definition of eligible entity in the Agricultural Security Law was amended and reported out of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. There were six amendments that added provisions, among them—

• Allow the donation of conservation easements to counties;
• Expand opportunities for counties to develop conservation plans pursuant to House Bill 671; and
• Reducing the minimum acceptable acreage to 25.

Land Trust Reimbursements: Senate Bill 940 (Waugh-R-York) which would set aside up to $200,000 per year from the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund to reimburse Land Trusts for expenses incurred in acquiring agricultural conservation easements was amended and reported from the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee.

Small Business Development Centers: House Bill 2357 (Killion-R-Chester) directing that an expansion study be undertaken to make recommendations on providing efficient service territories for the Centers was reported from the House Education Committee with the recommendation the bill be referred to the House Commerce Committee.

Senate

Small Business Development Centers: Senate Bill 1063 (Pileggi-R-Montgomery) expanding and making an appropriation to the Small Business Development Centers was referred to Senate Appropriations.

Water Supply Shutoff: House Bill 893 (Semmel-R-Berks) changing procedures for shutting off water for nonpayment of sewage bills was amended and reported out of Senate Appropriations.

One Call System: Senate Bill 1104 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) amending the One Call System Underground Utility Line Protection Law was amended and reported from the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.

Bills Introduced

Emission Inspection Fee Cap: House Bill 2502 (Reichley-R-Berks) setting a fee cap of $10 on vehicle emissions inspection exemption test.

Fireworks: Senate Bill 1096 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) sets additional restrictions on the sale and storage of fireworks within 250 feet of a residential property.

3/17/2006