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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

Gov. Shapiro

-- PA Capital-Star: Top 5 Stores From Gov. Shapiro’s First Year In Office

Train Derailments

-- WTAE: East Palestine Residents Continue To Cope With Struggles After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- NYT: Victims Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Wait For A Presidential Visit: ‘I Feel Like I Don’t Matter’

PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- AAA Gasoline Prices: PA- $3.40  National- $3.11  Ohio- $2.81

-- Baker Hughes: Number Of PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Same As Last Week- 19; PA Had 22 Rigs On Dec. 30, 2022

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Surge On Risk Of Widening War In Middle East

-- Reuters: Oil Prices Shed 10% In 2023 As Supply, Demand Concerns Weigh

-- Reuters: US Oil Output Fell In October For First Time Since April: US EIA

Environment/Energy Issues

-- 4,258 Stories In 2023 - Environmental & Conservation Leadership, Significant Events In PA  [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]

Bill Calendars

House (January 2):  House Resolution 196 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating the week of September 18-24 Rail Safety Week; House Resolution 228 (Otten-D-Chester) designating the week of October 1 through 7, 2023, as "Climate Week" in Pennsylvania. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (January 2): Senate Bill 265 (Laughlin-R-Erie) amending the Sewage Facilities Act to allow garage floor drains to discharge into on-lot septic systems;  Senate Bill 831 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) would direct the state to apply for primary authority to regulate Class VI carbon dioxide underground injection wells from the US Environmental Protection Agency and establish a legal and regulatory framework for potential carbon dioxide capture, utilization and sequestration in Pennsylvania; House Bill 95 (Bullock-D- Philadelphia) increasing penalties for scattering rubbish <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

January 16-- House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee hearing on House Bill 1842 (Schweyer-D-Lehigh) authorizing community solar programs.  Room G-50 Iris Building. 11:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

January 17-- House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee hearing on House Bill 1077 (Matzie-D-Beaver) reauthorization of Chapter 14 water, gas, electric customers billing and shut-off requirements.  Room 140 Main Capitol.  10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

<>  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 [Updated]

January 2, [16, 17 canceled]

February 5, 6, 7

Budget Hearings: February 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29; and March 5, 6, 7 

Click Here for Senate Agency Budget Hearing Schedule.

March 18, 19, 20

April 8, 9, 10, 29, 30

May 1, 6, 7, 8

June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

House

January 2 (non-voting)

February 6

House Agency Budget Hearing Schedule

March 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

April 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 29, 30

May 1, 6, 7, 8, 20, 21, 22

June 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

[Posted: December 31, 2023]

1/1/2024