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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- PA Cap-Star: Multiple Efforts Continue In The General Assembly To Block DEP’s Regulation Reducing Carbon Pollution From Power Plants

-- Williamsport Sun: Senate Environmental Committee Hearing Finds Audience Divided On ATV Pilot Program’s Possible Expansion

-- Guest Essay: Balance Of Power In Government Means More Power For The People [As Defined By The General Assembly And Only The General Assembly] - Sen. Aument (R-Lancaster) + House Speaker Cutler (R-Lancaster)

-- Citizens Voice Editorial: Gas Industry Has Succeeded Coal & Railroad Industries In Making PA General Assembly A Nearly Wholly-Owned Subsidiary  [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.

-- NEW. House Republican Summary Of Expected Floor Activity

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 13-- House Education Committee meets to consider House Bill 465 (Boback-R- Luzerne) further providing for lead testing and remediation of lead contamination in schools.  Room 523 Irvis Building. 11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

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.

December 15-- House Commerce Committee meets to consider House Bill 1760 (Heffley-R-Carbon) expanding the C-PACE local clean energy/energy efficiency funding program to include multifamily dwellings, resiliency improvements and indoor air improvement [companion to Senate Bill 635 (Yudichak-I-Luzerne).  Room B-31 Main Capitol. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.  Read more here

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

December 14-- Senate Health & Human Services Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 522 (Baker-R-Luzerne) requiring health insurance policies to cover blood lead tests for children.  Room 8E-B East Wing.  11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Expanding Spill Notification: Senate Bill 971 (Muth-D-Chester) expending drinking water spill notification requirements to private well owners related to oil and gas operations.

Prohibiting Use Of Bottles: House Bill 2140 (Shusterman-D-Chester) prohibiting the use of small plastic bottles in lodging establishments.

Direct ARP Funds To Stormwater:  House Bill 2153 (Boback-R-Luzerne) directing the use of $300 million from federal American Rescue Plan funding to help communities with MS4 stormwater management compliance.

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

12/13/2021