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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- Going, Going, Gone... Senate, House Have Little Time To Act On Funding For Local Flood Prevention, Watershed Restoration, Recreation Projects  [PaEN]

-- House Committee Adds Oct. 27 Meeting To Vote On Bill To Control Overuse Of Fertilizer On Turf; Still Holds Oct. 25 Hearing  [PaEN]

-- Senate Committee Moves Bill To Prohibit Communities From Promoting Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency; House Set To Move Companion Oct. 26  [PaEN]

-- PA Senators Call For More Natural Gas Pipelines As Winter Heating Costs Expected To Increase Dramatically [Consumer Advocate Told The Senate Heating Costs Could Jump 20% In Gas-Rich PA]  [Note: Solar And Wind Energy Facilities Have No Fuel Costs That Fluctuate Wildly On International Markets.]

-- U.S. EIA Forecasts Winter Heating Fuel Costs To Increase Significantly: Heating Oil By 43%, Natural Gas By 30%, Electricity By 6%

-- USA Today: What To Know About Hikes In Natural Gas Prices; Why Your Heating Bill Could Skyrocket This Winter

-- WilliamsportS: Activists Slowing Natural Gas Pipelines

-- City & State: Republican Legislative Leaders Question Legality Of RGGI Regulation, Ask Attorney General Shapiro To Intervene

-- PA Cap-Star: PA Senate Passes Bill To Exempt Newer Vehicles From Emissions Test

-- MCall: Senate Votes To Exempt Newer Vehicles From Emissions Test, Lehigh, Northampton Drivers Would Benefit

-- Sen. Yaw Touts National Drug Take-Back Day October 23

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

Senate

Vehicle Emissions Inspection Exemptions:  Senate Bill 777 (Langerholc-R-Bedford) exempting certain additional vehicles from the emissions testing program was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary], passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action.

Lyme Disease/Tick Education: Senate Bill 603 (Brooks-R-Crawford) requiring Lyme disease and tick education in schools was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary], passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action.

C-PACE Expansion: 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 was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.  [Read more here]

Oil & Gas Royalties: Senate Bill 806 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) further providing for natural gas royalty interest payment transparency was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Floodplain Management: 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 was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Limiting Community Support Of Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency: Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which would limit the ability of communities to offer new and clean energy sources and energy efficiency programs by locking in the status quo, in particular natural gas was amended and reported out of the Senate Local Government Committee on a party-line vote-- Republicans supporting.  The bill is now on the Senate Calendar for action.  Read more here.

Bill Calendars

Senate (October 25): Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which would limit the ability of communities to offer new and clean energy sources and energy efficiency programs by locking in the status quo, in particular natural gas [Read more here]; 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 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 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]. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar. 

NEW.  House Republicans: Expected Actions On House Floor

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 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.

October 25-- House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee meets to consider House Resolution 148 (White-R-Philadelphia) urging EPA to revise nationwide Renewable Fuel Standard to provide relief to refiners in Pennsylvania.  Room G-50 of the Irvis Building. 9:30 a.m.  Click Here to watch the hearing online.

October 26-- House Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 1947 (O’Neal-R-Washington) which would limit the ability of communities to offer new and clean energy sources and energy efficiency programs by locking in the status quo, in particular natural gas.   [companion to Senate Bill 275 (Yaw-R-Lycoming)]  Room 515 Irvis Building. 9:30 a.m.  Click Here to watch the hearing online.

October 27-- House Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee meets to consider 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 G-50 Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch it live.  Click Here for more on the meeting.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

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

January 4 (NV), 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26

February 7, 8, 9

March 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30

April 11, 12, 13, 25, 26, 27

May 23, 24, 25

June 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

September 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

October 24, 25, 26

November 14, 15, 16

Senate

October 25, 26, 27

November 8, 9, 10

December 13, 14, 15

10/25/2021