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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- Sen. Comitta: Calls For Halt To Mariner East Pipeline Construction In Light Of Criminal Charges By Attorney General  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Comitta: Calls For Hearings On The Failure Of Pennsylvania To Invest In Clean Energy Infrastructure  [PaEN]

-- Republicans On House Environmental Committee Report Out Bill Redefining Water Pollution, Letting Companies Decide When To Report Spills  [PaEN]

-- WBTimes: Sen. Yudichak’s Senate Committee Examines PA’s Natural Gas Infrastructure

-- House Committee Sets Oct. 25 Hearing On Biosolids Permit Revisions  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Holds Hearing Oct. 25 On Bill To Control Overuse Of Fertilizer On Turf  [PaEN]

-- PA Cap-Star: As PA Lawmakers Evaluate The Future Of Electric Vehicles, This Company Is Thinking Strategically

-- House Hearing On Recreation, Hunting & Fishing During Pandemic Highlights Importance Of Investments In Green Infrastructure, Clean Water [PaEN]

-- PA Environmental Council: Podcast On Fall State Legislative Agenda

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]

House/Senate Bills Moving Last Week

House

Native Roadside 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 was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House [House Fiscal Note & Summary].  It now goes to the Senate for action.

Changing Definition Of Pollution: House Bill 1842 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) making fundamental changes to the definition of water pollution under the state Clean Streams Law effectively making most spills and discharges to rivers and streams no longer pollution was amended to make it look like a companion bill-- Senate Bill 545 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) and reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled.  Read more here.

Prescriptive Easements: House Bill 598 (Oberlander-R-Clarion) would limit actions to create prescriptive easements to public entities like state agencies and local governments, not private entities reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Bill Calendars

Senate (October 18): 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 525 (Gordner-R-Columbia, Comitta--D-Chester) is bipartisan legislation allocating $500 million from the federal American Rescue Plan to fund Growing Greener watershed, farm conservation, mine reclamation and recreation projects [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 635 (Yudichak-I-Luzerne) which expands the Property-Assessed Clean Energy Program-- C-PACE-- to include multifamily buildings, indoor air improvements and resiliency measures [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; Senate Bill 806 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) further providing for natural gas royalty interest payment transparency;  Senate Bill 832 (Yaw-R-Lycoming)  to allocate $250 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to establish a Clean Streams Fund for Pennsylvania and establish a fake program to help reduce nutrient pollution [Read more here];  House Bill 1598 (Boback-R-Luzerne) redesignating the PA Emergency Management Agency as primary agency to oversee floodplain management, rather than DCED, and making other changes. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (October 25): House Bill 598 (Oberlander-R-Clarion) would limit actions to create prescriptive easements to public entities like state agencies and local governments, not private entities. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

October 19-- House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Powering Pennsylvania: Training for Today’s Energy Jobs.  420 Tioga West Plaza, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County. 2:00 p.m.

October 25-- House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee holds hearing on 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. ​​Room 523 Irvis Building. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch it live.  Click Here for more on the hearing.

October 25-- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee holds hearing on “biosolids management permit revisions.” Room G-50 of the Irvis Building. 9:30 a.m.  Click Here to watch the hearing online.  Click Here for more on the hearing.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Block Community Choices On Clean Energy: House Bill 1947 (O’Neal-R-Washington) a companion to Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) promoted by the natural gas industry which would limit the ability of communities to offer new and clean energy sources and energy efficiency programs by locking in the status quo.  It is opposed by local governments, many others.  Read more here.

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--

House

October 25, 26, 27

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

December 13, 14, 15

Senate [Updated]

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

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

December 13, 14, 15

10/11/2021