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

House

DEP Agricultural Advisory Board: Senate Bill 1171 (Brooks-R-Crawford) changing the membership of the Nutrient Management Advisory Board was amended to provide detailed procedures for DEP to consult with the existing Agricultural Advisory Board on the adoption of technical guidance, changes to permits affecting agriculture and regulations (House Fiscal Note and summary) was removed from the Table, amended on the Floor, 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.

Authority Sales Of Water Systems: House Bill 104 (Godshall-R-Montgomery) relating to the same of water and wastewater systems by authorities was passed by the Senate.  It returned to the House where it was amended and returned to the Senate for a concurrence vote.

Senate

Leaf Waste Recycling: House Bill 927 (Rader-R-Monroe) amends Act 101 Municipal Waste Planning and Recycling Act to eliminate the mandate on smaller municipalities to have a leaf waste collection program (Senate Fiscal Note and summary) was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate without changes.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

Lead Service Lines: House Bill 2075 (Charlton-R-Delaware) authorizing rate recovery for customer-owned lead water service lines (Senate Fiscal Note and summary) was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate and concurred in by the House.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

One-Stop-Business Center: House Bill 1284 (Peifer-R-Pike) directs DCED to develop a one-stop-shop online business formation and permitting portal for business (Senate Fiscal Note and summary) was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and was passed by the Senate without amendments.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

Recreation Liability: House Bill 544 (Moul-R-Adams) further providing for liability protection for landowners opening their land for public recreation (Senate Fiscal Note and summary) was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee, amended on the Senate Floor and was passed by the Senate.  The House concurred on the bill and it now goes to the Governor for his action.

Cleanup Funding: House Bill 2638 (Stephens-R-Montgomery) which would authorize new local authorities to cleanup former military installations or land having water, sewer or stormwater pollution identified by the Department of Environmental Protection or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency financed by tax refunds by businesses and individuals working in the remediation area was amended to eliminate its application to all properties with pollution to just those involving former military installations (Senate Fiscal Note and summary) and reported from the Senate Transportation Committee, referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was passed by the Senate.   The House defeated the bill on concurrence 95 to 86.

Uniform Construction Code: House Bill 1469 (Heffley-R-Carbon) relating to third-party private code enforcement was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee, amended on the Floor and was passed by the Senate.  The bill returned to the House for a concurrence vote.

Conventional Drilling: House Bill 2154 (Causer-R-Cameron) which would weaken environmental standards for conventional (not Shale) oil and gas drilling (Senate Fiscal Note, House Fiscal Note and summaries) was referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is on the Senate Calendar for action.

Lead Testing: Senate Bill 1270 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne), (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring universal lead testing for children (sponsor summary) was reported out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Ag Security Areas: 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 Tabled.

SepticSmart Week: Senate Resolution 462 (Yudichak-D-Luzerne) designating September 17-21 SepticSmart Week to increase awareness of proper maintenance and service of on-lot septic systems (sponsor summary) was adopted by the Senate.

10/22/2018