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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- PA Bipartisan House/Senate Legislative Climate Caucus: Lists Climate Week Events Sept. 20-26  [PaEN]

-- Senate Agriculture Committee: Holds Sept. 21 Hearing On Utility Scale Solar Development And Agricultural Land  [PaEN]

-- Republicans On Senate Committee Report Out Resolution Killing Final Power Plant Carbon Pollution Reduction Regulations [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw: Senate Committee Disapproves Wolf RGGI Tax On PA Energy Producers

-- IndianaG: RGGI Debate Continues After House/Senate Committees Pass Resolutions

PA Capitol News: Top 10 Stories From Harrisburg Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- PA Capitol News: Top 10 Stories From Harrisburg Last Week  [PaEN]

Senate/House Bills Moving This Week

House

Flood Insurance Task Force: House Bill 70 (Warren-D-Bucks) establishing a Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force was Tabled.  The bill was placed on the voting schedule.

Water Quality Permit Exemptions: House Bill 591 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) providing for exemptions for NPDES water quality permits was Tabled.   The bill was placed on the voting schedule.

Automatic Approval Of DEP Permits: House Bill 604 (Fritz-R-Wayne) providing for automatic approval of DEP permit applications was reported from House Rules Committee and Tabled.

Land Bank Environmental Liability: House Bill 610 (Davis-D-Allegheny) providing for land bank environmental liability protection under Act 3 was Tabled.

Killing RGGI Regulations: House Bill 637 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) would kill final power plant carbon pollution reduction regulations was reported from House Rules Committee and Tabled.

Mining & Reclamation Board Membership: House Bill 668 (James-R-Venango) adding a coal refuse energy industry representative to DEP’s Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board was reported from House Rules Committee and Tabled.

PennDOT Native Vegetation:  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 was Tabled.  The bill was placed on the voting schedule.

Electric Vehicle Road Fee: House Bill 948 (Carroll-D-Luzerne) establishing an electric vehicle road use fee was Tabled.  The bill was placed on the voting schedule.

Solar Energy Subscription Program: House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R-Allegheny) a solar energy subscription program preferred by utilities but not farmers, solar energy industry and others was placed on the voting schedule.  The bill preferred by these groups is the bipartisan House Bill 1555 (Kaufer-R-Luzerne).  Read more here.

Bill Calendars

Senate (September 21): 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 20): <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

NEW. House Republican Week Ahead - Expected Activity On House Floor

Committee Meetings

House   

September 27-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing on “Biosolids Management Permit Revisions.” Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:30.  Click Here to watch the hearing online.  Click Here for more on the agenda.

October 6-- House Game & Fisheries And Tourism & Recreational Development Committees informational meeting on the increase in outdoor activities during the pandemic and ways to help maintain this increase.  Room 60 East Wing. 9:30 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

September 21-- Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee hearing on utility scale solar development and agricultural land.  9:00 a.m.  Click Here for more on the agenda.

October 1-- Center For Rural Pennsylvania hearing on solar energy development in rural Pennsylvania-- policy approaches, starting and decommissioning a solar project.  Shippensburg University Conference Center, 2nd Floor, 500 Newburg Road, Shippensburg.  9:00 a.m.  Click Here to register to join via Zoom.  Contact: Christine Caldara-Piatos, caldarac@rural.pa.gov.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Recycling Packaging: House Bill 1873 (Shusterman-D-Chester) providing for the recycling of packaging by making packaging manufacturers responsible for recycling their products (sponsor summary).

Water Use Fee: Senate Bill 868 (Muth-D-Chester) establishing a water use fee to support a Water Use Fund to finance local environmental restoration projects (sponsor summary).  A companion to House Bill 20 (Sturla-D-Lancaster).

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 [Updated]

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

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

November 15, 16, 17

December 13, 14, 15

House 

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

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

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

December 13, 14, 15

9/20/2021