Here are the bills given final approval by the Senate and House that are now on the Governor's desk for his action--

Deep Mine Safety: Senate Bill 949 (Kasunic-D-Somerset) update to the Bituminous Coal Mine Safety Act was amended by the Senate Rules Committee, passed by the Senate and concurred in by the House and is now on the Governor’s desk. (See separate article)

NewsClips: Mine Safety Bill Set to Become Law

Updated Mine Safety Bill Sails Through House

Great Lakes Compact: House Bill 1705 (Harkins-D-Erie) adopting the Great Lakes Compact regulating water withdrawals was given final approval by the Senate and now goes to the Governor for his action. (See separate article)

NewsClips: Editorial: PA Has Big Stake In Its Erie Coastline

PA Environmental Ed Center: Senate Bill 356 (M.White-R-Venango) establishing the PA Center for Environmental Education in law was given final House approval, concurred in by the Senate and now goes to the Governor for his consideration.

Water Infrastructure: Senate Bill 1341 (Musto-D-Luzerne) authorizing a $400 million bond issue voter referendum for water, wastewater and stormwater projects and Senate Bill 2 (Earll-R-Erie) providing $850 million in funding for drinking water, wastewater, flood protection and high hazard dam repair projects (both part of the PA Fair Share for Clean Water Plan)were given final approval by the General Assembly and are now with the Governor for his action. (See separate article)

NewsClips: Budget to Aid Water, Sewer, Bridge Projects

Lawmakers See Opportunity to Fix Infrastructure Woes

Water, Sewer Systems In Line for Cash Infusion

Budget to Boost Infrastructure Investment

Votes Near on $800 Million for Water, Sewer Projects

Climate Change Plan: Senate Bill 266 (Erickson-R-Delaware) requiring the development of a state climate change action plan was given final approval by the House without amendment so it goes directly to the Governor’s desk. The bill is a Senate companion to House Bill 110 (Vitali-D-Delaware) which passed the House last October. (See separate article)

Renewable Energy: Special Session House Bill 1 (DePasquale-D-York) that would provide the Commonwealth Financing Authority with $500 million in bond funding and $150 million in General Fund revenues for a variety of renewable energy programs; House Bill 1202 (Gerber-D-Montgomery) establishing a state mandate for biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol use based on in-state biofuel production capacity; Special Session Senate Bill 22 (Tomlinson-R-Bucks) providing for biodiesel production incentives of 75 cents per gallon for three years ($5.3 million annually) and creating a nitrogen tire inflation system grant program were all given final approval and sent to the Governor for his action. (See separate article)

Conservation District Law Update: Senate Bill 1020 (Wonderling-R-Montgomery) updating the 1945 Conservation District Law was passed by the House and now goes to the Governor for action.

Capital Budget Bill: House Bill 1589 (D.Evans-D-Philadelphia) the 2007-08 Capital Budget itemized project bill was reported out of the House Rules Committee and the House concurred in Senate amendments. The bill now goes to the Governor for consideration.

Zoning Ordinances: House Bill 1329 (Kessler-D-Berks) and House Bill 1330 (Kessler) further providing for appeals and challenges to zoning ordinances were passed by the Senate, concurred in by the House and the bills now go to the Governor for his action.

7/4/2008