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 (Nov. 13): House Bill 86 (Lawrence-R-Chester) eliminate vehicle emissions testing for vehicle model years 1992-1995; 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); <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (Oct. 23): Senate Resolution 168 (Langerholc-R-Cambria) directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee to review the vehicle emissions inspection program; 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:   <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Rules Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 242 (Baker-R- Luzerne) adding unconventional and larger conventional natural gas gathering lines to the PA One Call utility safety program (House Fiscal Note and summary); the Game and Fisheries Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 935 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) which would limit the term of the Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission to eight years; the Labor and Industry Committee meets to consider House Bill 1469 (Heffley-R-Carbon) further providing for the use of third-party agencies to enforce Uniform Construction Code requirements (House Fiscal Note and summary); the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds a hearing on Senate Bill 800 (Alloway-R-Franklin) creating a new Waste Electronic Equipment Recovery Act to replace the 2010 Covered Device Recycling Act; 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 (sponsor summary); the Consumer Affairs and Professional Licensure Committee meets to consider Senate Resolution 227 (Aument-R- Lancaster) urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to quickly implement policies to ensure baseload electricity generation (like coal and nuclear) are compensated for all the positive attributes they provide to the electric system  (sponsor summary); the Aging and Youth and Health and Human Services Committees hold a joint hearing on Lyme Disease Task Force Report. <>  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.

Bills Introduced

The following bills of interest were introduced last week--

Act 129 Opt-Out: Senate Bill 805 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) allows large commercial and industrial electricity users to opt-out of the Act 129 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program (sponsor summary).

Limiting Term Of Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director: Senate Bill 935 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) would limit the term of the Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission, who is selected by the Commission Board, to 8 years.  The Senate Game and Fisheries Committee is scheduled to consider this bill October 24.  Click Here for more.

PA Natural Gas Exports: Senate Resolution 214 (Greenleaf-R-Montgomery) urging Pennsylvania natural gas producers to export gas to European countries in an effort to curtail the natural gas monopoly that Russia has on the region (sponsor summary).

Delay MS4 Stormwater Program: Senate Resolution 216 (Folmer-R-Lebanon) urging Congress to delay and review EPA’s MS4 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (sponsor summary)

Review Of DEP Permitting Programs: Senate Resolution 226 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) require the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to do an independent performance evaluation of DEP’s Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sedimentation) and Chapter 105 (Water Obstruction and Encroachment) permit programs (sponsor summary).

Coal, Nuclear Power Electricity Pricing: Senate Resolution 227 (Aument-R-Lancaster) and House Resolution 576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to quickly implement policies to ensure baseload electricity generation (like coal and nuclear) are compensated for all the positive attributes they provide to the electric system  (sponsor summary).  The Senate Consumer Affairs & Professional Licensure Committee has scheduled a meeting on October 24 to consider this resolution.  Click Here for more.

Session Schedule [Updated]

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

Senate

October 23, 24, 25

November 13, 14, 15

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

House [Updated]

Members on a 12-Hour call

October 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.

10/23/2017