PA Environment Digest

Flood Insurance Task Force: House Bill 735 (Warren-D-Bucks) establishing the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee [House Fiscal Note & Summary] and passed by the House. The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Flood Hazard Maps: House Bill 246 (T.Davis-D- Bucks) requiring municipalities to notify property owners of changes to FEMA special flood hazard area maps was reported out of the House Local Government Committee and Tabled.

Native Plants Along Highways: House Bill 797 (B.Miller-R-Lancaster) providing for the use of native plants along highways by PennDOT was removed from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Conservation Corridors Study: House Resolution 87 (Daily-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the benefits of wildlife conservation corridors was reported out of the House Tourism, Economic and Recreational Development Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Senate

Lyme Disease, Tick-borne Disease Coverage: Senate Bill 100 (Brooks-R-Crawford) further providing for Lyme disease and tick-borne illness medical coverage was reported out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Vehicle Emissions Inspection Changes: Senate Bill 561 (Langerholc-R- Cambria) and Senate Bill 562 (Langerholc-R-Cambria) exempting certain counties from vehicle emissions inspections and newer vehicles were referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Train Derailment Emergency Grants: Senate Bill 508 (Mastriano-R-Adams) providing for a Train Derailment Emergency Grant Program to provide financial support for residents and small businesses impacted by the February Ohio/PA train derailment was referred to the Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee.

Bill Calendars

Senate (May 8): Senate Bill 100 (Brooks-R-Crawford) further providing for Lyme disease and tick-borne illness medical coverage. <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (May 22): House Bill 797 (B.Miller-R-Lancaster) providing for the use of native plants along highways by PennDOT; House Resolution 87 (Daily-D-Montgomery) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the benefits of wildlife conservation corridors. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House

<> Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

May 8-- Senate Appropriations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 188 (DiSanto-R- Dauphin) authorizing the General Assembly to kill regulations by doing nothing [Read more here]; Senate Bill 190 (Brooks-R-Crawford) requiring an automatic three-year review of economically significant regulations in a process similar to what was called “sunset reviews” decades ago. That process was abandoned by the General Assembly because it became a costly, time-consuming exercise with little benefit [Read more here]. Rules Room. Off the Floor. No video coverage. Read more here.

May 8-- Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee meets to consider Senate Bill 350 (Phillips-Hill-R-York) requires all state agencies to establish a program to require the review of permit applications by private contractors for applications that have been “delayed,” eliminating agency review of permit applications on behalf of the public and adding more state bureaucracy and cost on taxpayers [Read more here]; Senate Bill 633 (Coleman-R-Bucks) establishing a Regulatory Relief Office in the Governor’s Office with the authority to waive or replace any regulatory requirements proposed by permit applicants with minimal public review [Read more here] about similar legislation last session. Room 8E-A East Wing. 12:30 p.m. Click Here to watch live. Read more here.

May 10-- Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee meeting to consider Senate Bill 198 (Bartolotta-R-Washington) which would create a new standard for the review for appeals of DEP permit actions before the Environmental Hearing Board by limiting parties appealing permit decisions-- a company or a citizens group-- to issues raised in and information contained in a record of decision of a permit prepared by DEP. This would prevent a citizens group or anyone else from raising issues DEP missed or misinterpreted [Read more here]; Senate Bill 199 (Bartolotta-R- Washington) requires members of the Board whose terms have expired to be reappointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; Senate Bill 689 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) would authorize DEP to issue a 10-year “stream cleaning” permits to local governments or PennDOT without need for further preapprovals for actions in the stream regardless if stream conditions changes within their jurisdictions [Read more about DEP’s less complex program to authorize stream maintenance to avoid flooding]; Senate Bill 690 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would authorize county conservation district to develop a complex and expensive program related to “reconstruction emergency permit authorizations” to conduct “stream cleaning” operations; Senate Bill 691 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would rename the Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Environmental Services. The bill also opens up Act 18 of 1995 creating DEP and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to any and all amendments. Room 8E-A East Wing of the Capitol. 10:30 a.m. Click Here to watch online. Read more here.

May 19-- Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing on unsafe practices in the railroad industry. Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, 10 S. 19th Street, Pittsburgh. 11:00 a.m.

<> 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--

House

May 22, 23, 24

June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Senate

May 8, 9, 10

June 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

[Posted: May 7, 2023]

5/8/2023

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