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

House/Senate Bills Moving

House

Lithium Battery Recycling: House Bill 2241 (Siegel-D-Lehigh) providing for the recycling of lithium batteries (sponsor summary) was amended and reported from the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and referred to the House Rules Committee as all bills are this time of year.

Requiring Municipal Approval Of The Sale Of Water/Sewer Systems: House Bill 1423 (Kazeem-D-Delaware) requiring municipal approval before the sale of municipal water or sewage systems was reported from the House Local Government Committee and referred to the House Rules Committee as all bills are this time of year.

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week: House Resolution 429 (Sturla-D-Lancaster) designating Jun 2-8 Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week was adopted by a vote of 199 to 3-- Republicans opposing.

Bike To Work Week: House Resolution 444 (Bullock-D-Philadelphia) designating May 13-19 as Bike To Work Week adopted June by a vote of 163 to 39-- Republicans opposing.

Senate

Rural PA Revitalization Commission: Senate Bill 277 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing a Rural Population Revitalization Commission was concurred in by the Senate (House Fiscal Note & Summary)  and now goes to the Governor for his action. [Note requires reporting on statutory and regulatory costs and impacts on rural governments, businesses and communities.]

Taxes On Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Victims: Senate Bill 1149 (Mastriano-R- Adams) providing for tax deduction for Norfolk Southern train derailment relief payments (Senate Fiscal Note & Summary) was passed by the Senate and now goes to the House for action.

Sunday Hunting: Senate Bill 67 (Laughlin-R-Erie) repealing Sunday hunting prohibition, making changes to the Game Commission Board, trespassing while hunting provisions, hunting permits and more was removed from the Table and passed by the Senate 43 to 7 and now goes to the House for action.

Reauthorization Of State Geospatical Board: Senate Bill 1138 (Culver-R-Columbia) reauthorizing the State Geospatical Coordinating Board (sponsor summary)was reported from the Senate State Government Committee and referred to Senate Appropriations Committee..

Changing Bottled Water Industry Regulation: Senate Bill 1203 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) transferring the regulation of the bottled water industry from DEP to the Department of Agriculture (sponsor summary) was reported out of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

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 (June 10):  House Resolution 196 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating the week of September 18-24, 2023 Rail Safety Week; House Resolution 228 (Otten-D-Chester) designating the week of October 1 through 7, 2023, as "Climate Week" in Pennsylvania; House Resolution 359 (Barton-R- Schuylkill) designating October Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Bird Migration Month (sponsor summary); House Resolution 400 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating the week of June 17-23 Pollinator Week in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary); House Resolution 411 (Fleming-D-Dauphin) designating July as Park and Recreation Month;  Senate Bill 656 (Rothman-R-Cumberland) setting electric vehicle fees. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (June 10): Senate Bill 1058 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) abrogating the final regulation reducing carbon pollution from power plants [RGGI]; Senate Bill 1203 (Argall-R-Schuylkill) transferring the regulation of the bottled water industry from DEP to the Department of Agriculture (sponsor summary). <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House

June 10-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hearing on Road Dumping Oil & Gas Waste and House Bill 2384 (Vitali-D-Delaware) banning road dumping oil and gas wastewater.  Room G-50 Irvis Building.  10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.  Read more here.

June 11-- House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee holds voting meeting on House Bill 2384 (Vitali-D-Delaware) banning road dumping oil and gas wastewater; House Bill 2238 (Scott-D-Montgomery) banning certain common consumer products from containing PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals.’  Room 205 Ryan Building.  10:00 a.m. Read more here.

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

<>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule.

Bills Introduced

Barring Road Spreading Of Oil & Gas Wastewater: House Bill 2384 (Vitali-R-Delaware) barring the road spreading of oil and gas wastewater and preventing its consideration for co-product status under DEP’s regulations.  Read more here.

DEP Permitting Study: House Resolution 468 (Struzzi-R-indiana) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study to comprehensively review all the permits issued by DEP and make recommendations on streamlining and improving their review (sponsor summary).  Read more here.

Park & Recreation Professionals Day: House Resolution 460 (Fleming-D-Dauphin) designating July 19, 2024 Parks and Recreation Professionals Day.

Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday: House Resolution 470 (Haddock-D-Luzerne) designating August 9, 2024 Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary).

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week: Senate Resolution 305 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) designating June 2-8 Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week.

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

June 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

Senate

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

[Posted: June 9, 2024]

6/10/2024