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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- Bipartisan Group Of Lawmakers, Hunters, Anglers, Farm, Environmental, Recreation Groups All Working Together, Down To The Wire, To Bring Home A Win On Growing Greener III Funding [PaEN]

-- Governor's Adult, Youth Advisory Councils For Hunting, Fishing & Conservation Urge Lawmakers To Support Growing Greener III Environmental Funding [PaEN]

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: How To Fund Public Parks And Wild Places In PA [Growing Greener III Funding] - By Suzanne Biemiller, Audubon Mid-Atlantic

-- LancasterOnline Guest Essay: It’s Time For Historic Investments In PA Parks, Trails, Forests, Clean Water - By Steve Stroman

-- Post-Gazette - Salena Zito: Families Priced Out Of Making Vacation Memories [But PA State Parks Are There, Free, Close To Home For Recreation]

-- Bicycle Coalition Of Greater Philadelphia: Call To Action - Advocate For Growing Greener III Funding

-- Most UNwanted List: Lookout For Bad Environmental, Energy Provisions During Final Budget Week [PaEN]

-- Who’s Protecting Taxpayers?  House Republicans Pass Bill Exempting Conventional Oil & Gas Wells From Plugging Bonds Sticking Taxpayers With $5.1 Billion In Cleanup Liability [PaEN]

-- New General Assembly-Mandated General Permit Allows Unconventional Oil & Gas Liquid Waste Processing Facilities To ‘Pop-Up’ Within 300 Feet Of You Without Notice  [PaEN]

-- House Republicans Pass Bill Giving IRRC Veto Over Final Regulations; Stacking The IRRC  [PaEN]

-- House Republicans Move Bill Conflicting With Federal Stormwater Requirements, Could Cost PA $7 Million In Federal Funding  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: We Need Smart Policy To Bring Down Inflation, Reduce Energy Costs - House Republican Leader  [Refers To Energy Bills That Only Pretend To Increase Natural Gas Supplies, Do Not Address Gasoline/Diesel.  Read Them]

-- PA Capital-Star: House Democrats Pitch Bills To Take On Price-Fixing, Price-Gouging At Gasoline Pump

-- PennLive: PA Senate Democrats Demand Republicans Pass Gasoline Tax Holiday: ‘It’s time To Free The Funds’

-- Post-Gazette: PA Democrats Push Gasoline Tax Holiday, Strengthening State Price Gouging Laws To Help Alleviate Impact Of Inflation

-- PennLive Guest Essay: End Corporate Greed And Price Gouging To Protect The People - PA House Democrats

-- Fox Business: Why Restarting Pennsylvania’s Oil Production Is Dr. Oz’s ‘Top Priority’ [Note: PA Oil Production Has Always Been Small, Is For Lubrication Products, Not Gasoline/Diesel, No Limits On Drilling In Allegheny National Forest; Shouldn’t He Know PA By Now?]

-- Energy Wire: PA Governor’s Race Portends Energy Future In Fossil-Fuel Heavy PA

-- Inquirer - Will Bunch: The Planet’s Alarm Clock Is Blaring But PA Politicians Hit The Snooze Button

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]

Senate, House Bills Moving Last Week

The following environmental and energy bills saw movement last week--

Senate

Insurance Coverage For Tick-borne Diseases:  Senate Bill 1188 (Brooks-R-Crawford) requiring insurance coverage for Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses was reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary] and was passed unanimously by the Senate.  The bill now goes to the House for action.

Recycling Study: Senate Resolution 285 (Gordner-R-Columbia) would direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct an assessment and analysis of public and private recycling infrastructure and operations across the state (sponsor summary) was adopted by the Senate.  [Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) was the only no vote.]

Storage Tank Cleanup Programs: House Bill 1780 (Armanini-R-Clearfield) extending the sunset dates for underground storage tank cleanup program from June 30, 2022 to December 31, 2027 was amended and reported out of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

House 

Prevent DEP From Increasing Conventional Oil & Gas Bond Amounts: House Bill 2644 (Causer-R-Cameron) was introduced to head off a proposal accepted for study by the Environmental Quality Board in November to increase the well plugging bonding amounts for both conventional oil and gas and unconventional shale gas drillers to what it now costs taxpayers to plug a well when operators walk away from their obligations was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House.  The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.  Read more here.

Mandate Award Of Plugging Contracts To PA Companies Regardless Of Cost: House Bill 2528 (Struzzi-R-Indiana)-- would mandate DEP award oil and gas well plugging contracts to Pennsylvania contractors, with no regard for cost to taxpayers reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House.  The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.  Read more here.

Decommissioning Solar/Wind Facilities: House Bill 2104 (Rapp-R-Forest) which set minimum statewide bonding and decommissioning requirements for solar and wind energy facilities to make it more restrictive and preempts local governments from adopting their own requirements was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed the House 121 to 79, Republicans supporting.  The bill goes to the Senate for action.  Read more here.

Giving IRRC Veto Power/Stacking The Commission:  House Bill 2649 (Grove-R-York) would amend the Regulatory Review Act to add two more legislative appointments by the Senate and House Majority Leaders to the five member Independent Regulatory Review Commission giving a majority of appointments to the Senate and House.

            The existing five positions on the IRRC are appointed by the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate and House and the Governor.

            The bill would also give the IRRC new authority to block promulgation of final regulations if a simple majority of the Commission votes to disapprove a regulation.

            If the IRRC approves a final regulation, the Senate and House have the opportunity to block publication by passing a concurrent resolution and presenting it to the Governor for action under the existing process.

            The bill was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 110 to 89.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.  Read more here.

Expanding C-PACE Energy Efficiency Funding: Senate Bill 635 (Yudichak-I-Luzerne) which expands the C-PACE energy conservation, water reduction funding program tied to property taxes was reported out of the House Commerce Committee and Tabled.  Read more here.

Fertilizer Regulation: Senate Bill 251 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) which sets standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, provides for the certification of professional fertilizer applicators and for labeling and an education program was removed from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action.  Read more here. 

Protecting Military Airspace From Windmills: House Bill 2367 (Mako-R-Northampton) would prohibit the construction of wind turbines that negatively affect military installations (sponsor summary) was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Rules Committee.

Federal MS4 Stormwater Program: House Bill 2331 (Gleim-R-Cumberland) that conflicts with federal MS4 Stormwater Program requirements and could risk $7 million in much needed funding to support DEP’s water quality permitting program was amended and reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to the full House.  Read more here.

Electromagnetic Pulse Attacks/Solar Flares:  House Resolution 213 (Metcalfe-R-Butler) urging Congress to fund measures to protect the power grid from electromagnetic pulse attacks and solar flare incidents (sponsor summary) was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee to the full House.  Read more here.

Bill Calendars

Senate (June 27): Senate Bill 692 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) which makes fundamental changes in the erosion and sedimentation permitting requirements for conventional and unconventional oil and gas activities, including well pads, pipelines, processing and treatment facilities; Senate Bill 718 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) limiting scope of DEP permit appeals [Read more here]; House Bill 1947 (O’Neal-R- Washington) which prohibits counties, local governments and authorities from promoting clean, cheaper energy sources to reduce climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions; House Bill 2075 (Knowles-R-Schuylkill) would suspend DEP’s regulations setting heavy-duty diesel emissions standards based on California standards.  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

NEW. House Republican The Week Ahead Floor Action Summary

House (June 27): 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; Senate Bill 251 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) which sets standards for the application of fertilizer to turf, provides for the certification of professional fertilizer applicators and for labeling and an education program.  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

June 28-- House Consumer Affairs Committee meets to consider House Bill 2691 (Matzie-D- Beaver) requires Dept. of Human Services to expend all federal LIHEAP money annually. Room 205 Ryan Building.  Off the Floor.  Click Here to watch online.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

June 27-- Senate Transportation Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 1249 (Comitta-D- Chester) establishing a Pollinator Habitat Program Fund and Program in PennDOT [Read more here.].  Room 461 Main Capitol.  12:30 p.m.  Click Here to watch online.

June 27-- Senate Appropriations Committee meets to consider House Bill 1780 (Armanini-R-Clearfield) extending the sunset dates for underground storage tank cleanup program from June 30, 2022 to December 31, 2027, House Bill 1598 (Boback-R-Luzerne) reassigning floodplain management responsibilities to PEMA from DCED,  Off the Floor.  Click Here to watch online.

July 7-- Joint Hearing by Senate Labor & Industry and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees on the importance of PA waterways to energy and economic development.  Point Park University, Lawrence Room, Pittsburgh. 10:00 a.m.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

LIHEAP Modernization Package: House Bill 2691 (Matzie-D-Beaver) require DHS to expend all federal LIHEAP money annually; House Bill 2692 (Matzie-D-Beaver) codify make-up of LIHEAP Advisory Council add legislative appointments; House Bill 2693 (Matzie-D-Beaver) allocate $500 million in American Rescue Plan funding for electric, natural gas bills in arrears; House Bill 2694 (Matzie-D-Beaver) create a new LIHEAP Program open year-round to also assist with summer cooling: House Bill 2695 (Matzie-D-Beaver) codify members of LIHEAP Advisory Council and creating a state plan for leveraging other monies to assist in paying energy costs. 

RGGI Compliance Tax Credit: House Bill 2698 (O’Neal-R-Washington) establishes a Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Tax Credit equal to the full cost taxpayers would have to pay under the program.

Gasoline Price Gouging: House Bill 2697 (Bizzarro-D-Erie) prohibits changing prices in the same day, curbing abusive price increases, and cracking down on unfair or deceptive acts of price gouging; House Bill 2641 (Pisciottano-D-Allegheny) the Stop Price Fixing Act which will enhance the ability of the Attorney General to prosecute individuals and businesses that collude to artificially raise prices on any good bought or sold in Pennsylvania; House Bill 2677 (Innamorato-D-Allegheny) prohibiting anti-competitive behavior and keeping markets open and fair. In addition, this bill empowers the Attorney General to investigate companies that attempt to monopolize any part of our economy and increases penalties for antitrust violations.

40th Anniversary Of Wild Resources Program: Senate Resolution 319 (Comitta-D-Chester, Yaw-R-Lycoming) recognizing the 40th anniversary of DCNR Wild Resources Conservation Program (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

June 27, 28, 29, 30

September 19, 20, 21

October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

November 15

House

June 27, 28, 29, 30

September 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

October 24, 25, 26

November 14, 15, 16

[Posted: June 26, 2022]

6/27/2022