The following Senate and House bills of interested were moving this week—

Senate

Capital Budget: House Bill 1589 (Evans-D-Philadelphia) Capital Budget for 2007-08 was amended, reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee, passed by the Senate and now returns to the House for a concurrence vote.

Appalachian Trail: House Bill 1281 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) requiring municipalities to take steps to protect the Appalachian Trail was amended on Second Consideration and tabled.

Zoning Ordinances: House Bill 1329 (Kessler-D-Berks) further providing for appeals and challenges to zoning ordinances was tabled by the Senate.

Conservation Districts: Senate Bill 1020 (Wonderling-R-Montgomery) updating the County Conservation District law was amended, reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for final action.

House

State Energy Office: Special Session House Bill 16 (King-D-Bucks) establishing a State Energy Office was passed by the House and now goes to the Senate for action.

Elm Street: House Bill 2233 (Freeman-D-Lehigh) extending grants under the Elm Street Program beyond the original five year term was passed by the House and now goes to the Senate for action.

Deer Audit: House Resolution 642 (Levdansky-D-Allegheny) which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to do an audit of the Game Commission’s Deer Management Program was reported from the House Game and Fisheries Committee and is now on the House Calendar for action.

Geospatial Council: the House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee amended and reported out House Bill 1304 (Fairchild-R-Mifflin) to establish a Geospatial Coordinating Council. The bill was then tabled.

PA Heritage: House Bill 2035 (Seip-D-Berks) establishing the Pennsylvania Heritage Area Development Program was amended and reported from the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee and referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

ATVs: House Bill 2043 (Haluska-D-Cambria) establishing the Snowmobile and All-Terrain Vehicle Act was reported from the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee and referred to House Appropriations Committee.

SE PA Transit Needs: House Resolution 567 (Petri-R-Bucks) directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study intermodal transit in southeastern PA was reported from the House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee with a request it be re-referred to the House Transportation Committee. The bill was referred.

4/4/2008