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

House

Reclamation Advisory Board: House Bill 2219 (James-R-Venango) adding a representative of the coal waste-fired power industry to DEP’s Reclamation Advisory Board was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee (House Fiscal Note & Summary) and passed by the House.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Fees For Groin Structures: House Bill 1779 (Wentling-R-Erie) exempting owners of groin structures along Lake Erie from annual fees (sponsor summary) was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

Senate

Encouraging Use Of Natural Gas: House Bill 732 (Quinn-R-Delaware) was amended  to add a provision to establish a tax credit to encourage the use of natural gas in manufacturing fertilizer was passed by the Senate and concurred in by the House.  The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.  Read more here.

Leasing Delaware River Bed: Senate Bill 1235 (Street-D-Philadelphia) would authorizing the leasing of a portion of the Delaware River bed in the city of Philadelphia to L-A Battery QOZ, LLC was reported out of the Senate State Government Committee and passed by the Senate.  It now goes to the House for action.

Pipeline Emergency Plans: House Bill 2293 (Quinn-R-Delaware) that requires pipeline companies to make emergency response plans available to the Public Utility Commission, the PA Emergency Management Agency and county emergency management director where the pipeline is located was reported out of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.  Read more here.

Ag Preservation Funding: Senate Bill 881 (Martin-R-Lancaster) which sets aside a portion of farmland preservation funding for land trust organizations (Senate Fiscal Note & Summary) was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

7/20/2020