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

Senate

Reopening Businesses: Senate Bill 613 (Mensch-R-Montgomery) requires the publication of a COVID-19 Mitigation Plan following March 28, 2020 CDC advisory memorandum on critical infrastructure workers that would reopen many more businesses in the state was passed by the Senate by a party line vote-- Republicans supporting-- and now goes to the Governor for his action.  Read more here.

Local Government Emergency Provisions:  Senate Bill 841 (Martin-R-Lancaster) provides for flexibility in local taxpayer deadlines, extends Education Improvement Tax Credits, provides for use of electronic meetings for local governments and remote notary services (House Fiscal Note & Summary) was passed by the Senate with a bipartisan vote and now goes to the Governor for his action.  Read more here.

Reopening Businesses: Senate Bill 327 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) establishes a Cost and Recovery Task Force to oversee management of the COVID-19 response and gives counties the authority to lift COVID-19 mitigation measures on businesses was passed by the Senate by a party line vote-- Republicans supporting-- and returns to the House for concurrence vote. Read more here.

State Game Lands Purchases: House Bill 752 (Turzai-R-Allegheny) removing the cap for State Game Land purchases in Allegheny County was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee (Senate Fiscal Note & Summary) and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

4/20/2020