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 (April 19): House Bill 763 (B-Miller-R-Lancaster) would require PennDOT to develop a list of native vegetation species that can be used in roadside work that is done throughout the state.. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (April 19): Senate Bill 251 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which sets standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, provides for the certification of professional fertilizer applicators and for labeling and an education program;  Senate Bill 435-- encouraging the development of clean transportation infrastructure to support electric, natural gas and hydrogen vehicles. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings  This Week 

House:  the Consumer Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R- Allegheny) authorizing the establishment of a local solar energy subscriber program [Read more here]; the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds two meetings-- information meeting on “conventional oil and gas industry and the environmental benefits they provide” [Read more here] and  meets to consider House Bill 72 (Keefer-R-York) that authorizes the General Assembly to kill final regulations by doing nothing; House Bill 139 (Rothman-R- Cumberland) requires private review of DEP permit applications with no conflict of interest requirements; House Bill 288 (O’Neal-R-Washington) would shield law violators from enforcement actions if they just “attempt” to comply [Read more here]; the State Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 939 (Klunk-R-York) creating a new bureaucracy-- the Independent Office of the Repealer-- to review existing regulations from all state agencies and make recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor for the repeal or revision; House Bill 950 (Metcalfe-R-Butler) would authorize the General Assembly to repeal any existing regulation using a concurrent resolution passed by both the Senate and House and presented to the Governor for his action [Read more here]; and the Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 221 (Rader-R-Monroe) would authorize communities to use a portion of revenue from a local open space tax for property maintenance. <>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate:   <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Other: the Joint Legislative Air & Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee information meeting on Harmful Algal Blooms.

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--

House

Authorize Off-Highway Motorcycles In State Forests: House Bill 478 (Owlett-R-Tioga) authorize the use of off-highway motorcycles on State Forest and other public lands.  Read more here on last session’s bill.

Local Solar Energy Subscriber Program: House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R-Allegheny) authorizing the establishment of a local solar energy subscriber program [House Bill 1970 last session].  Will be considered by the House Consumer Affairs Committee April 19.  Read more here.

Senate

Pipeline Safety/Communication: Senate Bill 494 (Comitta-D-Chester) establishing a Pipeline Safety and Communication Board to improve communications on public safety issues related to constructing and operating pipelines (sponsor summary).

Placing Term Limits On Compacts:  Senate Bill 529 (Dush-R-Clearfield) would amend the state constitution to require any future interstate compacts the Commonwealth enters to have a 10-year limit of duration (sponsor summary). 

Direct Ballot Initiative To Amend Constitution: Senate Bill 538 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) authorizing a direct ballot initiative to allow voters to propose and approve amendments to the state’s constitution (sponsor summary).

Restricting Billboard Locations: Senate Bill 557 (Comitta-R-Chester) further providing for restrictions on billboard locations (sponsor summary).

Wildlife Conservation Corridors: Senate Resolution 70 (Muth-D-Berks) directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of conservation corridors in Pennsylvania.  A conservation corridor is defined as habitat linkage that joins two or more areas of wildlife habitat, allowing for fish passage or the movement of plant or animal wildlife from one area to another  (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

Senate Budget Hearings Start March 8

April 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28

May 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26

June 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30

House  [Updated]

April 19, 20, 21, [26, 27, 28-canceled]

May 3, 4, 5, 24, 25, 26

June 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30

September 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 29

October 4, 5, 6, 25, 26, 27

November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

December 13, 14, 15

4/19/2021