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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- Republican Senators Introduce Bill To Deregulate Oil & Gas Industry, Coal-Fired Power Plants, Open State Forests To Drilling, Withdrawn From RGGI [PaEN]

-- Capital & Main: PA Oil Lobby Keeps Abandoned Wells Unplugged

-- Republican ‘Sandbox Permit’ Legislation Would Allow Agencies, Permit Applicants To Permanently Waive And Replace Any Regulatory Requirement With Minimal Public Review  [PaEN]

-- The Center Square: Governor’s Election Will Decide PA’s Membership In RGGI

-- Warren Times: Sen. Gordner Introduces Resolution Proposing Study Of State Recycling Program

-- MCall: PA Lawmakers Consider Increased Penalities On ATV, Dirt Bikes ‘Terrorizing’ Streets

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]

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   

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

“Sandbox Permits”:  House Bill 2385 (Labs-R-Bucks)establishing a broad, new Regulatory Sandbox Program that allows state agency heads and individual permit applicants to permanently waive and replace any requirement in regulation for any permit to provide “relief from needlessly cumbersome regulations.”   Read more here. 

Deregulating Oil & Gas Industry, Coal Power Plants: Senate Bill 1219 (Mastriano-R-Adams) deregulate the oil and gas industry, attempt to prevent federal regulation of the coal industry and power plants, deny critical funding to DEP to regulate oil and gas drilling, withdraw Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and reopen state forest land for oil and gas leasing.  Read more here.

Recycling Infrastructure Study: Senate Resolution 285 (Gordner-R-Columbia) directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct an assessment and analysis of public and private recycling infrastructure and operations across the state (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--

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 8, 2022]

5/9/2022