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

NEW: Click Here for expected action on bills by the full House.

House (June 3): House Bill 247 (Oberlander-R-Clarion) to allow cross unit unconventional drilling and authorizes voluntary pooling; House Bill 374 (Everett-R- Lycoming) establishing the Keystone Tree Fund to support tree planting programs by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (sponsor summary); House Bill 827 (Fritz-R-Wayne) requiring the Delaware River Basin Commission to reimburse property owners for drilling rights if the Commission adopts a ban on fracking was reported from the House Appropriations Committee (House Fiscal Note and summary); House Bill 1055 (Klunk-R-York) establish the Office of the Repealer unaccountable to anyone, General Assembly must vote to approve economically significant regulations, repeal 2 regulations for every new one adopted, reauthorize repeal of any regulation by resolution (House Fiscal Note and summary). <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (June 3):  Senate Bill 618 (Argall-R-Schuylkill, Yudichak-D-Luzerne) to increase the Coal Refuse Energy and Reclamation Tax from $10 to $45 million a year (sponsor summary); House Bill 808 (Mehaffie-R-Dauphin) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to adopt their own fees for 3 years (House Fiscal Note and summary). <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings  This Week

House: the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds an informational meeting on House Bill 781 (Boback-R-Luzerne) amends Act 13 of 2012 to more specifically authorize the use of Act 13 drilling impact fees for stormwater management by counties (sponsor summary);  the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 1516 (Causer-R-Cameron) establishing an Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account (sponsor summary); House Bill 1517 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) establishing the Conservation Excellence Farm Conservation Grant Program (sponsor summary);  the Game and Fisheries Committee meets to consider House Bill 1003 (Gillespie-R-York) further providing for the enforcement of safety markings for low head or run-of-the-river dams (sponsor summary).  <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

NEW: Click Here for a summary of expected House Committee actions.

Senate: the Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 552 (Stefano-R- Fayette) authorizing the Game Commission to adopt its own license fees for 3 years, Senate Bill 553 (Stefano-R-Fayette) authorizing the Fish and Boat Commission to adopt its own license fees for 3 years;  the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds 2 meetings, a meeting to consider Senate Bill 305 (Baker-R- Luzerne) would require the Delaware River Basin Commission to reimburse oil and gas rights holders for the value of their rights if DRBC adopts a moratorium on fracking in the watershed, Senate Bill 575 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would establish a procurement program for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions needed to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed pollution reduction goals and only applies to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Pennsylvania, Senate Bill 619 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) makes fundamental changes to the definition of water pollution under the state Clean Streams Law by saying an accidental spill only constitutes pollution if it violates a numeric surface water quality standard in DEP’s Chapter 93 regulations, Senate Bill 108 (Yaw-R-Lycoming)-- to create a check off on vehicle and driver’s licenses for a Keystone Tree Fund to support the development of riparian buffers and a hearing to discuss third party view of DEP’s Chapter 102 (Erosion and Sedimentation) and Chapter 105 (Dam Safety and Encroachment) permits; the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 634 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing the Conservation Excellence Farm Conservation Grant Program (sponsor summary); House Bill 370 (Klunk-R-York) would amend the Agricultural Area Security Law to authorize farmland conservation owners to relinquish the right to establish a residence (House Fiscal Note and summary); and House Bill 404 (Lawrence-R- Chester) would add the tree of heaven preferred by the spotted lanternfly as a Class B noxious weed (House Fiscal Note and summary).  <>  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--

Nutrient Procurement Program: Senate Bill 575 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) was just introduced May 31. It would establish a procurement program for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions needed to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed pollution reduction goals and only applies to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Pennsylvania. (Scheduled to be considered by the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee June 4.)

Stream Cleaning: Senate Bill 679 ( Yaw-R-Lycoming) directs the Environmental Quality Board to develop regulations that authorize counties to adopt a program for “stream cleaning” and maintenance and the removal of obstructions and flood-related hazards from our local waterways (sponsor summary).

Cross Unit Drilling: Senate Bill 694 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) allowing cross unit drilling of unconventional gas well as long the units are leased (sponsor summary). 

House and Senate Co-Sponsorship Memos

House: Click Here for all new co-sponsorship memos

Senate: Click Here for all new co-sponsorship memos

Session Schedule

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

Senate

June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

House

June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

6/3/2019