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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- Inquirer - Andrew Maykuth: Gov. Wolf, Republicans Agree To Fill 3 Seats On 5 Member Public Utility Commission

-- Senate, House Climate Caucus Calls On General Assembly To Act On Meaningful Climate Legislation, Protect Public Health  [PaEN]

-- Landowners Urge Lawmakers To Pass Real Community Solar Energy Bills To Give $1.8 Billion Boost To PA Economy, Help Farmers As Senate Committee Meets Sept. 20  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Real Community Solar Legislation Could Ease Economic Pressures - David McKenzie, Operating Engineers Local 66

-- House Committee Fails To Address $70 Million In Penalties On Natural Gas Pipelines Or Real Concerns Of People Living Near Gas Production & Distribution Facilities  [PaEN]

-- PA Environmental Council: Clean Hydrogen & Carbon Capture Can Be Part Of A Comprehensive Decarbonization Strategy: Responsibly Deployed With Environmental Integrity, Accountability And Equity  [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw Info. Meeting: Carbon Capture, Utilization And Storage Shows Promise In PA

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Changes Needed To Make A PA Hydrogen Hub Work

-- Inquirer: Constitutional Amendments Bill Could Undermine Climate Rules, Advocates Fear

-- House Republicans Ask IRRC To Review Hundreds Of Regulations For Need, Effectiveness

-- If You Missed It: PennEnvironment, PA Resources Council Webinar On A Plan To Reduce Waste, Improve Recycling Efforts, And Meet Modern Waste Challenges [Via Facebook]

-- ABC27: Lawmakers Seek To Ban Balloon Releases

-- Financial Times: U.S. Lawmakers Investigate ‘Deceptive’ PR Tactics On Behalf Of Oil And Gas

-- Rodale Institute CEO Urges U.S. House Agriculture Committee To Give Farmers More Choice In Farming Methods Like Regenerative Organic Agriculture  [PaEN]

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--

House

Testing Children For Lead: Senate Bill 522 (Baker-R-Luzerne) providing for the testing of lead levels in children and pregnant women was amended and reported out of the House Children and Youth Committee and Tabled.

Firefighting Foams With PFAS: Senate Bill 302 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) restricting some uses of firefighting foams with PFAS chemicals was Tabled. 

Senate

Mining Equipment Oil Changes: Senate Bill 1255 (Pittman-R-Indiana) further providing for mining equipment oil changes was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action [Senate Summary & Fiscal Note] 

Bill Calendars

Senate (October 17): Senate Bill 1249 (Comitta-D-Chester) establishing a Pollinator Habitat Program Fund and Program in PennDOT.  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (October 24): 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.

Committee Meetings

House   

September 26-- House Democratic Policy Committee roundtable/tour on coal site reclamation and bitcoin.  Earth Conservancy, 101 S. Main St., Ashley, Luzerne County.  1:00 p.m.

September 27-- House Democratic Policy Committee roundtable on flood mitigation efforts. Jermyn Borough Office, 440 Jefferson Ave., Jermyn, Lackawanna County.  10:00 a.m.

October 3-- House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on stormwater management, infrastructure impact.  Upper Providence Twp. Building, 1286 Black Rock Road, Phoenixville, Chester County. 1:00 p.m.

October 5-- House Democratic Policy Committee hearing with PA Legislative Black Caucus on environmental justice.  Room 418 Main Capitol. 10:00 a.m.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule. 

Senate

September 27-- Senate Community, Economic & Recreation Development Committee hearing on environmental and economic impacts of the anthracite coal industry and coal refuse energy and reclamation tax credit.  Hazleton City Hall, 40 N. Church St., Hazleton, Luzerne County. 1:30 p.m.  Click Here to watch live.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Climate Week: Senate Resolution 340 (Comitta-D-Chester) Designating the week of September 18-24 as Climate Week in Pennsylvania (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

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

November 15 [All Bills Die]
House

October 24, 25, 26

November 14, 15, 16  [All Bills Die]

[Posted: September 25, 2022]

9/26/2022