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

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Gov. Shapiro Has Done An About-Face On Fracking By Aligning Himself With CNX After Charging Them With Environmental Crimes - By Karen Elias, Climate Reality Project, Better Path Coalition

-- AP: In 2024, Shapiro Faces Calls For Billions For Schools, A Presidential Election And Wary Lawmakers

-- Politics PA: Shapiro Talks Property Tax Rebates, Divided Legislature, Ex-President And The Eagles

-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro Signed Nearly 3 Dozen New Laws You May Have Missed

Budget

-- Gov. Shapiro: PA Receives Over $44.4 Million In Federal Funding To Plug Active Conventional Gas Wells To Reduce Methane Emissions

Oil & Gas Health Impacts

-- AP: New Mexico Considers 1 Mile Safety Zone Around Gas, Oil Wells For Schools, Day Care Centers

Gas Explosions

-- TribLive: Senior Citizen Apartments Evacuated In Allegheny County After Natural Gas Leak Reported, No Injuries

-- PUC Offers Safety Tips On Power Outages, Natural Gas Appliances To Prepare For Winter Storms

-- UGI’s Storm Team Urges Customers To Practice Natural Gas Safety As Weekend Snowstorm Approaches

PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- AAA Gasoline Prices: PA- $3.37  National- $3.08  Ohio- $2.68

-- WNEP: Does The 4 Cent PA Oil Franchise Gasoline Tax Change Make A Difference? Drivers Say Yes

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Moderate-Income Luzerne County Households Urged To Seek Heating Aid

-- Reuters: Oil Prices Settle Higher On Middle East Tensions

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Same As Last Week- 19

-- WSJ: Southwestern Energy, Chesapeake Energy Natural Gas Producers Near $17 Billion Merger

-- Bloomberg: A No-Show Winter Is Upending The US Natural Gas Market Pulling Down Prices By About 35%

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Producers Seek To Balance Production Cuts, Demand Rebound

-- Financial Times: ‘We’re The Good Guys’ In Energy Transition, Says US Exporter Of LNG Natural Gas

-- Reuters: Germany Cut Natural Gas Imports From All Sources By A Third In 2023

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Prices Jump On Freezing Weather, Middle East Concerns

-- WSJ: US Shale Drillers Keeping World Awash In Oil, Natural Gas As Conflicts Abound

Environment/Energy Issues

-- DEP Announces Over $12 Million In Watershed Restoration, Stormwater Infrastructure Grants Funded In-Part By Mariner East Pipeline Penalties, Federal American Rescue Plan Funding  [PaEN]

-- WFMZ: Sen. Boscola Announces $475,000 In Lehigh Valley Stormwater Management Grants

-- Sen. Tartaglione Announces $350,000 In Growing Greener Grants For Philadelphia Water Department

-- Rep. Freeman Announces $175,000 In Growing Greener Grants In Northampton County

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

February 6-- Governor’s Budget Address

House (February 6):  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 (February 5): 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 10-- House - Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committees joint informational meeting on 5 years of PA Farm Bill.  PA Farm Show Building, Monongahela Room, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. 9:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

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

January 10-- House - Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committees joint informational meeting on 5 years of PA Farm Bill.  PA Farm Show Building, Monongahela Room, 2300 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. 9:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

<>  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

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

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: January 7, 2024]

1/8/2024