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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- PennLive - Guest Essay: Support Bipartisan SB 525 To Protect Our Parks & Forests - PA Parks & Forests Foundation

-- House Republicans Move Bills Amending State Constitution To Invalidate Actions By The Executive Branch To Cement One-Party Rule Of State Government  [PaEN]

-- Senate Environmental Committee Hearing On Philadelphia Refinery Cleanup Efforts

-- The Center Square: Senate Environmental Committee Hearing Focuses On Philadelphia Refinery Cleanup Efforts

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 Last Week

House

-- Unilateral Override Of Regulations By General Assembly: House Bill 2069 (Cutler-R- Lancaster) Amend Article III, Section 9, to exempt the disapproval of a regulation by the General Assembly from the presentment requirement for the governor’s approval or disapproval was reported out of the House State Government Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action. [Read more here.]

-- Unilateral Override Of Executive Orders By General Assembly: House Bill 2070 (Cutler- R-Lancaster) Amend Article IV, to add a new section providing that any executive order or proclamation issued by the governor, which purports to have the force of law, may not be in effect for more than 21 days, unless extended by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly was reported out of the House State Government Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action. [Read more here.]

-- Abrogating California Heavy-Duty Truck Air Reg.: House Bill 2075 (Knowles-R- Schuylkill) abrogating DEP’s air pollution control regulations covering heavy-duty trucks [Note: DEP already suspended enforcement of these regulations November 6 - Read more here.]  The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by party-line vote-- Republicans supporting-- and is now on the House Calendar for action. 

-- Exempting Lake Erie Groin Structures From Fees: House Bill 2019 (Wentling-R-Erie) exempting landowners along Lake Erie from annual submerged land fees to state for groin structure (sponsor summary).  The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by party-line vote-- Republicans supporting-- and Tabled.

-- Study Of DEP’s Proposed Biosolids Permit Revisions: House Resolution 149 (Rigby-R-Cambria) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the “harmful economic impacts” of DEP’s proposed biosolids permit revisions.  [Note: DEP is just at the beginning of the process to develop proposed permit changes.]  The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by party-line vote-- Republicans supporting-- and Tabled.

-- Redefining Water Pollution: House Bill 1842 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) redefining pollution under the Clean Streams Law and allowing companies to decide when to report spills [Read more here] was removed from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Bill Calendars

Senate (December 13): 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 301 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) eliminating appointment of DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee members by the Governor and changing it to appointments made by the House, Senate and the Governor;  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]; 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; Senate Bill 776 (Laughlin-R-Erie) to amend Act 537 to allow garage floor drains to be discharged to an on-lot sewage system. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (December 13): House Bill 1842 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) redefining pollution under the Clean Streams Law and allowing companies to decide when to report spills [Read more here]; House Bill 2069 (Cutler-R- Lancaster) Amend Article III, Section 9, to exempt the disapproval of a regulation by the General Assembly from the presentment requirement for the governor’s approval or disapproval [Read more here]; House Bill 2070 (Cutler- R-Lancaster) Amend Article IV, to add a new section providing that any executive order or proclamation issued by the governor, which purports to have the force of law, may not be in effect for more than 21 days, unless extended by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly [Read more here]; House Bill 2075 (Knowles-R- Schuylkill) abrogating DEP’s air pollution control regulations covering heavy-duty trucks Read more here.  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar. 

Committee Meetings

House   

December 6-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing on maintaining our creeks and streams to prevent flooding.  Wellsboro Fire Company Annex, 21 East Ave., Wellsboro, Tioga County.  3:00 p.m.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Decommissioning Solar/Wind Energy Facilities: House Bill 2104 (Rapp-R-Forest) providing for the decommissioning, recycling and reclamation of solar panels and wind turbines (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  [Updated]

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

House

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 [Updated]

December 13, 14, 15

January 4, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

February 7, 8, 9

March 28, 29, 30

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

May 23, 24, 25

June 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

11/22/2021