Here’s the current status of the budget-related bills that have been in-play in the Senate and House since July 1.  Note: Future action on the budget may include other legislative vehicles for one or more of these issues --

House

“Agreed-To” General Fund Budget*: Senate Bill 1073 (Browne-R-Lehigh) includes the “agreed-to” $30.8 billion General Fund budget and remains on the House Calendar in position for a final vote. If the House passes the bill as is, it will go directly to the Governor.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

“Agreed-To” Fiscal Code Bill*: House Bill 1327 (Peifer-R-Pike), the Fiscal Code vehicle includes the “agreed-to” language, plus one or two extras.  It remains on the House Calendar for a vote on whether to return it to the Senate for a concurrence vote.  The basic provisions include giving the General Assembly extra time to review Pennsylvania’s plan for meeting EPA’s Clean Power Climate Rule, killing the conventional oil and gas regulations on the verge of being finalized by DEP, a $12 million Natural Gas Infrastructure Development Fund and $22 million for small water and wastewater project funding for the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

“Agreed-To” Pension Reform Bill*: Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh), the “agreed-to” pension reform bill remains on the House Calendar after the House failed to pass the bill 52 to 149 December 19 and a motion to reconsider the vote was made.  If the House passes the bill as is, it goes straight to the Governor.

“Agreed-To” Education Code Bill*: House Bill 530 (Reese-R-Somerset), the Education Code “agreed-to” language was amended by the House and remains on the House Calendar for a vote on whether to send it back to the Senate for a concurrence vote on House amendments.

Tax Code Bill: House Bill 1198 (Dunbar-R- Westmoreland), the Tax Code vehicle, was non-concurred in by both the Senate and House and can be put in a House-Senate conference committee if needed to carry whatever provisions are necessary to fund whatever General Fund budget they want to.

“Agreed-To” Liquor Privatization Bill*: Liquor Privatization: House Bill 1690 (Turzai-R-Allegheny) with the “agreed-to” version of liquor privatization remains in the House Rules Committee.

Senate Non-Preferred Appropriations: Senate Bills 912 to 916, non-preferred appropriations bills for state-related universities, remain on the House Calendar for action.

House Non-Preferred Appropriations: House Bills 1385 to 1389, non-preferred appropriations bills for state-related universities, were passed by the House on June 28, but remain in the House.

2015-16 Capital Budget: Senate Bill 811 (Hughes-D-Philadelphia) FY 2015-16 Capital Budget bill is now on the House Calendar for action.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

Senate

Not Quite “Agreed-To” Administrative Code*: House Bill 941 (Regan-R-Cumberland) Administrative Code vehicle remains in the Senate Rules Committee on concurrence.  A House Fiscal Note and summary is available.

*“Agreed-To” is a reference to the “agreed-to” $30.8 billion budget framework arrived at the day before Thanksgiving by all four Caucuses and the Governor that is now “mostly dead.”

1/4/2016