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

Reauthorizing PA One Call: House Bill 2189 (Matzie-D-Beaver) reauthorizing PA One Call underground utility safety program [still exempts most conventional natural gas, oil pipelines] [House Fiscal Note & Summary] was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by a vote of 120-82.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Utility Consumer Protections: House Bill 1077 (Matzie-D-Beaver) amending Title 66 related to utility consumer protections [House Fiscal Note & Summary] was reported from the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the 111-91.  The bill now goes to the Senate For action.

PFAS In Firefighting Equipment:  House Bill 1541 (Harkins-D-Erie) banning PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in firefighting equipment and House Bill 1571 (Scott-D-Montgomery) require labeling of firefighting equipment containing PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ (amended) were reported from the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and are now on the House Calendar for action.

PFAS Labeling Standards: Senate Bill 144 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) prohibiting the purchase of firefighting foams containing PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ after 2026 and providing for labeling was removed from the Table and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Solar Decommissioning:  Senate Bill 211 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) setting decommissioning requirements for solar energy facilities [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary] was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled.  Read more here.

Food Processing Waste Land Disposal: House Bill 2393 (Friel-D-Chester) setting standards for the storage or land application of food processing residual waste on farms and  House Bill 2594 (Friel-D-Chester) providing for the certification of food processing residual waste haulers and brokers were amended and reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and Tabled.

Block Solar Energy Facilities:  House Bill 1759 (Hanbidge-D-Montgomery) preventing homeowners associations from block solar energy facilities was amended and reported out of the House Local Government Committee and Tabled.

Prohibiting ‘Greenwashing:’ House Bill 2525 (Rabb-D-Philadelphia) prohibiting the practice of “greenwashing” was reported out of the House Judiciary Committee and Tabled.

Providing For Sale Of Publicly-Owned Water Utilities: House Bill 1862, House Bill 1863 and House Bill 1864 sponsored by Matzie (D-Beaver) further providing for the acquisition of municipal water and wastewater systems were Tabled.

Release Of Exotic Animals: House Bill 1894 (Major-R-Allegheny) further providing for restrictions on release of nonnative, exotic animals was reported from the House Game and Fisheries Committee and Tabled.

Right To Repair: House Bill 2535 (Mullins-D-Lackawanna) providing for the right to repair electronic products was amended and reported from the House Commerce Committee and Tabled.

Rail Safety Week: House Resolution 511 (Matzie-D-Beaver) designating September 23 to 29, 2024 as Rail Safety Week was passed by the House 201 to 1.

Bird Migration Month: House Resolution 359 (Barton-R-Schuylkill) designating October as Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Bird Migration Month was passed by the House 201 to 1.

Geocaching Day: House Resolution 491 (Cooper-R-Westmoreland) designating August 17, 2024 as International Geocaching Day was reported from the House Tourism and Economic and Recreational development Committee and is now on the House Calender for action.

Senate

Reauthorizing PA One Call: Senate Bill 1237 (Baker-R-Luzerne) reauthorizing the PA One Call underground utility safety program [that excludes almost all conventional oil and gas pipelines] was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, amended on the Senate Floor and passed 48 to 9.  The bill now goes to the House 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

Senate (October 7): Senate Bill 1237 (Baker-R-Luzerne) reauthorization of the PA One Call underground utility notification program [Almost all conventional natural gas, oil gathering pipelines are still excluded];  House Bill 1409 (Kulik-D-Allegheny) reauthorizing authority for Fish and Boat Commission to set its own fees was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary].  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (October 7): House Bill 1541 (Harkins-D-Erie) banning PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in firefighting equipment; House Bill 1571 (Scott-D-Montgomery) require labeling of firefighting equipment containing PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’;  Senate Bill 144 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) prohibiting the purchase of firefighting foams containing PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ after 2026 and providing for labeling; House Resolution 491 (Cooper-R- Westmoreland) designating August 17, 2024 as International Geocaching Day.  <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

October 7-- Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee meets to consider House Bill 2189 (Matzie-D-Beaver) reauthorizing PA One Call underground utility safety program [still exempts most conventional natural gas, oil pipelines] [House Fiscal Note & Summary].  Rules Room [no video coverage].  Off the Floor. 

<>  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

October 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23

November 13, 14

House

October 7, 8, 9, 21, 22, 23

November 12, 13

[Posted: October 6, 2024]

10/7/2024