The information you need to follow legislation in the House and Senate- starting with articles and NewsClips from last week--

-- Republicans On House Environmental Committee Urge Disapproval Of Final Carbon Pollution Reduction Reg. For Power Plants [RGGI]  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Comitta, Rep. Herrin: Discuss RGGI Investments Act, Climate Change During Online Program [PaEN]

-- PA Business Report Podcast: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative With Sen. Pittman, Rachel Gleason, PA Coal Alliance

-- Sen. Muth, Rep. Innamorato: Call On DEP To Close Loopholes In Regulation Of Oil & Gas Industry Waste As Hazardous Waste

-- AP: Pennsylvania Court Vacancies Allow Voters To Shape Judiciary

-- PG: Nordenberg Pledges Open, Honest Redistricting Process For Pennsylvania

Bill Calendars

Senate (September 20): Senate Bill 284 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would load up renewable energy projects, energy efficiency products and high-efficiency  locomotives with bonds to prevent their development.  Read more here; Senate Bill 435-- encouraging the development of clean transportation infrastructure to support electric, natural gas and hydrogen vehicles; Senate Bill 545 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) changes the definition of what constitutes reportable water pollution under the state Clean Streams Law. Read more here; Senate Bill 597 (Stefano-R- Fayette) would impose conflicting and expensive requirements on small water and wastewater systems for no benefit to their customers and if they can’t comply they would come under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission Read more here; Senate Bill 717 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) create a new stand for review of DEP permit actions that narrows the grounds for appeals by citizen groups and companies. Read more here; Senate Bill 718 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) shorten the terms of a judge on the Environmental Hearing Board from six to five years. Read more here. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (September 27): House Bill 591 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) providing for exemptions for NPDES water quality permits;  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.

Committee Meetings

House   

-- August 2-- House Democratic Policy Committee tour and roundtable discussion at Presque Isle State Park, Erie. 1:00 p.m.

-- August 10-- House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on infrastructure and green spaces. Holy Family University, 9801 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia.  10:00 p.m.

-- August 26-- House Consumer Affairs Committee hearing on solar energy in PA.  Penn State Brandywine Campus, Media, Delaware County. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live [if available].

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

-- August 24-- Center for Rural Pennsylvania public hearing on invasive species in rural Pennsylvania.  10:00 a.m.  Click Here to register to attend online.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Senate

RGGI Investment Program: Senate Bill 15 (Comitta-D-Chester) establishing a program to invest the proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative carbon pollution limits on power plants to reinvest in communities and workers impacted by the transition to clean energy, environmental justice areas, clean energy and energy efficiency.  Read more here.

Electric Vehicle Road Use Fee:  Senate Bill 813 (Mastriano-R-Adams) providing for an electric vehicle road use fee, a gas tax holiday and other provisions (sponsor summary).

Reauthorize Federal Abandoned Mine Funding:  Senate Resolution 154 (Yudichak-I- Luzerne) urging Congress to reauthorize funding for the federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program (sponsor summary). 

House

Power Plant Impact Fee: House Bill 1740 (Mullins-D-Lackawanna) providing for a power plant community impact fee (sponsor summary).

Pollinator Conservation License: House Bill 1758 (Howard-D-Chester) providing for a pollinator conservation vehicle license plate to support a Pollinator Habitat Program (sponsor summary).

Pollinator Habitat Program:  House Bill 1759 (Howard-D-Chester) establishing the PA Pollinator Habitat Program in the Department of Transportation (sponsor summary).

Bat Conservation: House Resolution 124 (Howard-D-Chester)  directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the status of bat species in Pennsylvania and management and conservation efforts to protect and bolster bat populations (sponsor summary).

Electric Vehicle Study: House Resolution 125 (Rabb-D-Philadelphia) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of the costs and benefits of electric vehicles (sponsor summary).

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.

Session Schedule

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

Senate

September 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

October 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

November 15, 16, 17

December 13, 14, 15

House 

September 27, 28, 29

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

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

December 13, 14, 15

8/2/2021