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 (Dec. 11): House Bill 1401 (DiGirolamo-R-Bucks) which amends the Tax Code to impose a sliding scale natural gas severance tax, in addition to the Act 13 drilling impact fee, on natural gas production was amended to divert all revenues to the General Fund and NO money for environmental programs and add provisions related to minimum landowner oil and gas royalties; House Resolution 284 (Moul-R-Adams) urging Congress to repeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s MS4 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (sponsor summary).  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (Dec. 11): 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;  Senate Bill 656 (Fontana-D-Allegheny) authorize local governments to make funds available to repair or replace lateral water lines contaminated with lead; Senate Bill 792 (Alloway-R-Franklin) requiring law fertilizer applicators to be certified in application techniques and creates an education program. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meeting Agendas This Week

House: the  Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 497 (Vogel-R-Beaver) exempting steel slag from the definition of waste if it was not produced prior to January 1, 2007 or mixed with other waste (sponsor summary); the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 1932 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) setting a 90 day deadline for reviewing nutrient management plans, if a decision is not made it is deemed approved (sponsor summary); the Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on special funds related to PennDOT.  <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 799 (Alloway-R-Franklin) a voluntary program to allow municipalities to pay for nutrient reductions; CANCELED- Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 800 (Alloway-R-Franklin) eliminating and replacing the existing state electronics waste recycling law with a more comprehensive program, Click Here for more; House Bill 1341 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) expands the qualifications for emergency medical personnel who must be employed onsite at coal mines (House Fiscal Note and summary); the Senate Republican Policy Committee holds a hearing on the Buckeye Pipeline proposal to reverse the flow of the Laurel Pipeline.  <>  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--

E-Waste Recycling: Senate Bill 975 (Gordner-R-Columbia) makes significant changes to the electronics waste recycling law (sponsor summary).

Session Schedule

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

Senate

December 11, 12, 13, [canceled- 18, 19, 20]

2018

January 2, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31

February 5, 6 (Governor's Budget Address), 7

Budget Hearings: Feb. 20 - March 9

March 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28

April 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30

May 1, 2, 21, 22, 23

June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29

House

December 11, 12, 13, [canceled- 18, 19, 20]

2018 [Updated]

January 2 (non-voting), 22, 23, 24

February 5, 6, 7

March 12, 13, 14

April 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 30

May 1, 2, 22, 23

June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 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.

12/11/2017