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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- Senate Republicans List Legislative Accomplishments This Session: Of 112 Bills, 3 Positive Environmental Bills Are On The List  [PaEN]

-- TribLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Corman Lays Out Platform In Pittsburgh Stop

-- PG: Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Corman Visits Hazelwood Green As He Begins Campaign

-- House Committee Holds Dec. 15 Hearing On Bonding & Decommissioning Solar, Wind Energy Facilities  [PaEN]

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 (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.

December 15-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing on bonding and decommissioning solar and wind energy facilities-- Senate Bill 284 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) and House Bill 2104 (Rapp-R-Warren). Room G-50 Irvis Building. 9:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch the hearing live online.  Read more here.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

December 8-- Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee information meeting on Tiadaghton State Forest ATV Pilot Connector. DCNR Tiadaghton State Forest Office, 10 Lower Pine Bottom Road, Waterville, Lycoming County. 10:00 a.m.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Original Enforcement Jurisdiction For Attorney General: House Bill 2117 (Howard-D- Chester) establishing original enforcement jurisdiction for crimes related to the Solid Waste Management Act for the Attorney General; House Bill 2118 (Howard-D-Chester) establishing original enforcement jurisdiction for crimes related to the Clean Streams Law; House Bill 2119 (Howard-D-Chester) establishing original enforcement jurisdiction for crimes related to the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Stopping Habitat Loss:  House Bill 2128 (Howard-D-Chester) protecting additional impacts to rare or endangered species from construction activities.

Study Zero-Emission Vehicle Program: House Resolution 161 (Webster-D-Montgomery) directing the Joint State Government Commission to study feasibility of establishing a low-emission, zero-emission vehicle program.

Stopping Emergency Actions By Agencies: Senate Bill 959 (Martin-R-Lancaster) proposes a constitutional amendment to stop emergency actions taken by state agencies under a Governor’s emergency declaration that has not been extended by the General Assembly.

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

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

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

12/6/2021