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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- House Committee Meets Nov. 8 To Consider Resolution To Kill Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Regulation, Even Though Time For Action Has Expired  [PaEN]

-- MCall Guest Essay: Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Will Haunt PA Long Into The Future - Republican Sen. Doug Mastriano [Who Tried Repeatedly To Overturn 2020 Election Results]

-- House State Government Committee meets Nov. 8 to consider House Bill 865 (Keefer-R- York) consolidation of Commonwealth Documents Law, Commonwealth Attorneys Act and Regulatory Review Act related to the promulgation of regulations “not the intent of this consolidation to make revisions to the law” (sponsor summary).  Room B-31 Main Capitol.  8:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

-- Resolution To Study Wildlife Conservation Corridors To Be Considered By House Committee Nov. 10  [PaEN]

-- WilliamsportS Editorial: We Need Nuanced Debate In Legislature On Environmental Policies, Not Extremes

-- PA Cap-Star: Republican Rep. Wentling Criticizes PHMC For Efforts To Instill Diversity, Equity, Inclusion And Access In Historical Marker Designations; Suggests ‘Privatizing’ Historical Recognitions   Wentling Guest Essay In City & State

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]

Bill Calendars

Senate (November 8): 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 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 Republican Summary Of House Floor Action

House (November 8): House Bill 668 (James-R-Venango) adding a member of the coal refuse industry to DEP’s Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board; House Resolution 148 (White-R- Philadelphia) urging EPA to revise nationwide Renewable Fuel Standard to provide relief to refiners in Pennsylvania.  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

November 8-- House State Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 865 (Keefer-R-York) consolidation of Commonwealth Documents Law, Commonwealth Attorneys Act and Regulatory Review Act related to the promulgation of regulations “not the intent of this consolidation to make revisions to the law” (sponsor summary).  Room B-31 Main Capitol.  8:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

November 8-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds informational meeting on “economic consequences of PA adopting California’s regulation on diesel emission controls for large trucks.”  Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:30.  Click Here to watch online.  Click Here for some background.

November 8-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meets to consider Senate Concurrent Resolution disapproving of the final regulation limiting carbon emissions from power plants consistent with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  Room G-50 Irvis Building.  Call of the Chair. Click Here to watch online.  Click Here for background.

November 10-- House Tourism & Recreational Development Committee meets to consider House Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors.  Room G-50 Irvis Building. Off the Floor.  Click Here to watch online.  Click Here for background.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

ARP Water Infrastructure Grants: Senate Bill 916 (L.Williams-D-Allegheny) allocating $350 Million in federal American Rescue Plan funding for clean water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure projects (sponsor summary).

Requiring Environmental Impact Reports: House Bill 2043 (Bullock-D-Philadelphia) would require applicants of electric generating, waste disposal, processing and recycling, sewage treatment plant or a major source of air pollution to prepare an environmental impact report on facilities located in census tracts ranked in the bottom 33 percent for median annual household income.  The report would be subject to a public hearing and comment period (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--

House

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

November 8, 9, 10

December 13, 14, 15

11/8/2021