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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- House Republicans Move Solar, Wind Bonding Bill; Fail To Plug The $1.8 Billion Hole In Conventional Oil & Gas Well Bonding; Opposed Regs Making Natural Gas Pipelines Safer, Reducing Methane Emissions  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square: Surface Drilling On State Lands In PA Could Spur Hundreds of Millions In Royalties [No, 65% Of Current Shale Gas Leases On State Forest Land Are Undeveloped]

-- PennLive - Charles Thompson: Democratic Candidates For U.S. Senate Divide On Energy, Government Reforms, More In Debate

-- WHYY: Republican Candidates For Governor Want Lots Of Fracking

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: State Republican Candidates Reassuring On Energy Policies

-- LancasterOnline Editorial: Everyone, Especially Lawmakers, Should Be For Cleaner Air In Lancaster County

-- PA Business Report: Lawmakers Visit Eco Material’s Danville Plant To Celebrate Removal Of 150,000 Tons Of Landfill Ask Recycled Into Concrete

Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else- 

-- Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week  [PaEN]

On The Governor’s Desk

The following bill was given final action by the Senate and House and now is on the Governor’s desk for his action--

Open Space Maintenance Funding: House Bill 221 (R-Monroe) authorizes use of a portion of open space funding for maintenance purposes [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary]. 

Senate, House Bills Moving Last Week

The following environmental and energy bills saw movement last week- 

House 

-- Solar/Wind Facility Bonds: House Bill 2104 (Rapp-R-Forest) setting statewide bonding and decommissioning requirements for solar and wind energy facilities.  The bill also preempts local governments from adopting their own regulations.  The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled.  Read more here.

-- Wind Energy Facility Interference:  House Bill 2367 (Mako-R-Northampton) prohibiting the construction of wind energy facilities that negatively affect military installation’s airspace, flight paths or training.  The bill was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled.  Read more here.

-- New Susquehanna River Basin Commission Staff: House Bill 811 (Cox-R-Berks)  removing future employees of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission from the state employees retirement system was reported out of the House State Government Committee and Tabled.

-- Flood Hazard Map Changes: House Bill 1462 (T.Davis-D-Bucks) requiring municipalities to notify property owners of changes in FEMA special flood hazard area maps was reported out of the House Local Government Committee and Tabled.

Bill Calendars

House (May 23): House Bill 1161 (Mizgorski-R- Allegheny) authorizing the establishment of a local solar energy subscriber program [not preferred by clean energy advocates 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 Resolution 74 (Daley-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of wildlife conservation corridors  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (May 23): Senate Resolution 229 (Dush-R-Jefferson, Yudichak-I-Luzerne, Flynn-D-Lackawanna) was introduced directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the economic, environmental and health impacts related to the development of a critical and rare earth mineral industry in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

May 3-- House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on dirt bikes and other illegal street vehicles.  Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. 7th St., Allentown.  2:00 p.m.

<>  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--

Senate

May 23, 24, 25

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

House

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

[Posted: May 1, 2022]

5/2/2022