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

Senate/House Bills Moving

Senate

Eliminating Carbon Pollution Program Covering Power Plants: Senate Bill 186 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) abrogates Pennsylvania's carbon pollution reduction program covering power plants consistent with RGGI was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by a party-line vote of 7 to 4, Republicans supporting, referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary]  and is now on the Senate Calendar for action. Read more here.

Independent Energy Office: Senate Bill 187 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing an Independent Energy Office like the Independent Fiscal Office was reported from the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee by a party-line vote of 7 to 4, Republicans supporting, referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary]  and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.  Read more here.

Utility Terminations: Senate Bill 154 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) reenacting “Chapter 14” utility protections related to utility termination for unpaid bills was reported from the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee unanimously, referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary]  and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Exclude Counties From Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program: Senate Bill 35 (Langerholc-R- Cambria) require DEP to start the process for removing Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, and Westmoreland counties from the vehicle emission inspection program was amended and reported from the Senate Transportation Committee, referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary] and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Exempting Certain Vehicles From Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program:  Senate Bill 149 (Langerholc-R-Cambria) exempting exempting vehicles for up to five years from the date of manufacture from the vehicle emissions inspection program was reported out of the Senate Transportation Committee, referred into and out of the Senate Appropriations Committee [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary] and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

House

Protecting Bike Lanes: House Bill 291 (Daley-D-Montgomery) authorizing municipalities to create parking-protected bike lanes between curbs and parked vehicles to improve bike safety was unanimously reported out of the House Transportation Committee and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

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 (February 3 ): <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Senate (February 3): <> Senate Bill 35 (Langerholc-R- Cambria) require DEP to start the process for removing Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, and Westmoreland counties from the vehicle emission inspection program [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary]; Senate Bill 149 (Langerholc-R-Cambria) exempting exempting vehicles for up to five years from the date of manufacture from the vehicle emissions inspection program [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary]; Senate Bill 154 (Boscola-D-Lehigh) reenacting “Chapter 14” utility protections related to utility termination for unpaid bills [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary]; Senate Bill 186 (Yaw-R- Lycoming) abrogates Pennsylvania's carbon pollution reduction program covering power plants consistent with RGGI [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary]; Senate Bill 187 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) establishing an Independent Energy Office like the Independent Fiscal Office [Senate Fiscal Note & Summary] ;  Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House

February 3-- House Republican Policy Committee hearing on stopping new energy taxes. Room 418 Main Capitol.  9:30 a.m.

February 3-- House Game & Fisheries Committee informational meeting on Game Commission deer hunting season changes.  Room 523 Irvis Office. 9:00 a.m.   Click Here to watch online.

February 4-- House Energy Committee hearing on House Bill 362 (Fiedler-D- Philadelphia) authorizing the PA Energy Development Authority to establish a $156 million federally-funded Solar For All Program (sponsor summary) now prohibited by Fiscal Code bill passed last year with the state budget [Read more here.].  Room B31 Main Capitol. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch online.

February 5-- House Local Government Committee meets to consider House Bill 388 (Cerrato-D-Montgomery) authorizing municipalities to replace water and sewer laterals serving residences.  Room 205 Ryan Building. 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 Introduced

Developing Pollinator Habitats: House Bill 426 (Pielli-D-Chester) encourages any new construction of a garden, lawn, or green space at a state facility to include insecticide-free native plants and flowers to help develop pollinator habitats.   Click Here for a fact sheet.

Responsibility for Monitoring, Protecting Insects: House Bill 441 (Pielli-D-Chester) adding a requirement to the Wild Resource Conservation Act to monitor and protect pollinators and insects in Pennsylvania (sponsor summary).

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

February 3, 4, 5

Budget Hearings February 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, March 3, 4, 5, 6

March 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

April 7, 8, 9, 22, 23, 24

May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 24

June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30

September 22(NV*), 23(NV), 24(NV), 29, 30

October 1, 6, 7, 8, 27, 28, 29

November 17, 18, 19

December 8(NV), 9(NV), 10(NV, 15, 16, 17

*non-voting

Senate

February 3, 4, 5

Budget Hearings February 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, March 4, 5,  6

March 24, 25, 26, 31

April 1, 2

May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13

June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

[Posted: February 1, 2025]

2/3/2025