Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

Bill Calendars

House (Oct. 16): House Bill 1486 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) exempting high tunnel greenhouse structures on farms from the Stormwater Management Act (sponsor summary); House Resolution 284 (Moul-R-Adams) urging Congress to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s MS4 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (sponsor summary); Senate Bill 181 (Mensch-R-Montgomery) providing for a performance-based budgeting (exempting appropriations to the General Assembly and the Judiciary) and creating a Performance-Based Budget Board (House Fiscal Note and summary); Senate Bill 646 (Killion-R-Delaware) extending the $2/ton Recycling Fee for one year until January 1, 2021 <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (Oct. 16): Senate Bill 663 (Langlin-R-Erie) amending the PA Construction Code to provide for third party contracts to enforce the Code (sponsor summary); House Bill 1490 (Turzai-R-Allegheny) placing the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission.  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar. 

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

Note: This is still budget season.  House and Senate committees can add and cancel meetings with little notice.

House: the Commerce Committee meets to consider House Bill 1237 (Keefer-R- York) which amends the Regulatory Review Act requiring the General Assembly to specifically approve “economically significant” final regulations approved by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.  If the General Assembly fails to adopt a resolution approving a regulation, it dies; the Transportation Committee meets to consider House Bill 86 (Lawrence-R-Chester) eliminate vehicle emissions testing for vehicle model years 1992-1995 (sponsor summary).   <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 790 (Pashinski-D- Luzerne) repeal the Noxious Weed Control Law and replace with the Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed Ac; the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 799 (Alloway-R-Franklin) provides for nitrogen reduction measures in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Click Here for more; Senate Resolution 168 (Langerholc-R- Cambria) directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee to review the vehicle emissions inspection program in Cambria County; the Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 234 (Blake-D- Lackawanna) would authorize local governments to create energy improvement districts to help fund energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation projects by commercial and industrial buildings to reduce their operating costs Click Here for more; the House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committees joint hearing on the impact on agriculture of the Spotted Lanternfly.  <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: the Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee meets to release a report on review of PA One Call utility safety systems.; Environmental Issues Forum, Joint Conservation Committee, featuring a presentation on DCNR’s Penn’s Parks For All Survey.

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.

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced last week--

Green Buildings: House Bill 1830 (Harper-R-Montgomery) requiring state-owned or leased buildings to comply with high performance building standards (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25

November 13, 14, 15

December 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20

House

October 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25

November 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22,

December 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20

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.

10/16/2017