The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate-- 

House

Disposal Of Hospice Medication: Senate Bill 978 (Baker-R- Luzerne) disposal of unused medicines in hospice or for home health care patients (House Fiscal Note and summary) was referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House. The bill was concurred in by the Senate and now goes to the Governor for his action.

Littering/Dumping: Senate Bill 431 (Scavello-R-Monroe) authorizes the designation of local litter enforcement corridors where fines are doubled for certain offences or even tripled for commercial littering or illegal dumping and designates all scenic highways as litter enforcement corridors (House Fiscal Note and summary) was referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House.  The bill was concurred in by the Senate and goes to the Governor for his action.  Click Here for more.

Eminent Domain: House Bill 2468 (Kampf-R-Chester) limiting use of eminent domain on land with conservation easements for parks and open space purposes was reported from the House Rules Committee, was referred into and out of the House Appropriations Committee and was passed by the House 179 to 18.

The bill was reported out of the Senate Local Government Committee, amended twice on the Senate Floor to exempt public utilities who condemn land (like pipelines) and exempt “emergency” condemnations from the provisions of the bill and was passed by the Senate.  The bill was concurred in by the House and now goes to the Governor for his action.  Click Here for more.

Permitting Portal: House Bill 1284 (Peifer-R-Pike) directs DCED to develop a one-stop-shop online permitting portal for business was amended on the House Floor and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Natural Gas Service Extension: House Bill 107 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) providing a mechanism to cover costs of extending natural gas distribution systems was amended to require the approval of the Public Utility Commissions for a distribution system extension charge and other changes and was reported from the House Consumer Affairs Committee, referred into and out of the House Rules Committee and is on the House Calendar for action.  Click Here for more.

Lead Water Line Replacement: House Bill 2075 (Charlton-R-Delaware) lead water service line and damaged sewer lateral replacement was amended to limit the bill to lead water service line replacements and reported out of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, referred into and out of the House Rules Committee and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.  Click Here for more.

Nonpoint Source Program Audit: House Resolution 948 (Causer-R-Cameron) requesting the Auditor General to do a financial audit of the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority nonpoint source water pollution control program was adopted by the House.  Click Here for more.

Lake Appreciation: House Resolution 990 (Wentling-R-Crawford) recognizing July as Lake Appreciation Month was adopted by the House (sponsor summary). Click Here for more.

Senate

General Fund: House Bill 2121 (Saylor-R-York) FY 2018-19 General Fund budget bill was amended with the agreed-to budget numbers.  Click Here for an overview of the budget from House Democrats.  Click Here for a spreadsheet show line items and how they were adjusted.  Click Here for more.

Fiscal Code: House Bill 1929 (Marsico-R- Dauphin) amending the Fiscal Code includes a new Private Dam Financial Assurance and Loan Program, direction to DCNR on developing ATV trails and more funding for small water and sewer projects was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and  amended and passed by the Senate.  The bill returned to the House which concurred in the Senate amendments. The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.  Senate Fiscal Note and summary.  Click Here for a summary by House Democrats.   Click Here for more.

Alternative Ratemaking: House Bill 1782 (Delozier-R-Cumberland) authorizing alternative ratemaking such as decoupling, performance-based, multiyear and other mechanisms for utilities regulated by the PUC, including electric, natural gas, water and wastewater services (Senate Fiscal Note and summary) was referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was passed by the Senate without amendment.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.  Click Here for more.

Ag Security Areas: Senate Bill 819 (Aument-R-Lancaster) amending the Agricultural Security Law to provide for agritourism uses on protected land was passed by the Senate (Senate Fiscal Note and summary).  The bill now goes to the House for action.

Price Gouging: Senate Bill 1172 (Vulakovich-R-Allegheny) further providing for enforcement of price gouging provisions during an emergency declaration was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate.  A Senate Fiscal Note and summary is available. 

The bill was reported out of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Farm Animal Advisory Board: Senate Bill 1171 (Brooks-R- Crawford) replacing the Nutrient Management Advisory Board with the Farm Animal Advisory Board was amended on the Senate Floor and passed by the Senate.  The bill now goes to the House for action.

Pipeline Eminent Domain Bill Of Rights:  Senate Bill 1199 (Rafferty-R- Montgomery) providing for a landowners’ bill of rights in cases of eminent domain, including by private entities like pipeline companies (sponsor summary) was reported from the Senate Judiciary Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Ag Security Area: House Bill 1550 (Klunk-R-York) amending the Agricultural Area Security Law to allow for a residence for the principal landowner (House Fiscal Note and summary) was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

Lewis & Clark Expedition: Senate Resolution 326 (Vogel-R-Beaver) encourage Congress to recognize the Eastern Legacy of the Lewis and Clark National Trail for its historic national significance was adopted by the Senate (sponsor summary).

Ethane Storage Hub: Senate Resolution 375 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) urging Congress to support the development of an ethane storage hub in Pennsylvania  was adopted by the Senate (sponsor summary).

6/25/2018