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

Environment & Energy NewsClips--

-- House Republicans Pass Bill Making Fundamental Changes In Clean Streams Law, Letting Companies Decide When To Report Spills  [PaEN]

-- AP: House Republicans Send Resolution Killing RGGI Regs To Gov. Wolf To Veto, Lack Votes For Override

=-- PG - Laura Legere: House Votes To Reject Gov. Wolf’s Climate Plan For Power Plants; Resolution Headed For Veto

-- WITF - Rachel McDevitt: House Votes To Stop State’s Entrance To Cap-And-Trade Program, But Wolf Veto Likely

-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: House Votes To ‘Disapprove’ Entering Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Defying Gov. Wolf

-- Guest Essay: RGGI Fails Pennsylvania On Its Most Basic Promise - Sen. Gene Yaw (R), Majority Chair, Senate Environmental Committee 

-- AP: Governor’s Carbon-Pricing Plan Encounters Hurdle In Final Publication  [RGGI]

-- PA Conservative Energy Forum Supports Solar Energy Development As Economic Driver And Benefit To Landowners [PaEN]

-- YorkDR Guest Essay: Appliance Standards, A Bipartisan Way To Cut Energy Costs And Reduce Air Pollution In PA - Sen. Lindsey Williams (D), PennEnvironment

-- WBTimes: Bipartisan Bill To Help Protect Children From Lead Poisoning Advances In Senate

-- Senate, House Appropriations Committees Set 2022 State Budget Hearing Schedule  [PaEN]

PA Capitol News: Top 10 Stories From Harrisburg Last Week--

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- PA Capitol News: Top 10 Stories From Harrisburg Last Week  [PaEN]

House And Senate Bills Moving Last Week

House

Fundamental Changes To Clean Streams Law: House Bill 1842 (Zimmerman-R-Lancaster) makes fundamental changes to the Clean Streams Law related to defining when a discharge is considered water pollution and should be reported by companies was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 108 - 95 (Republicans supporting).  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.   Read more here.

Abrogating California Heavy-Duty Truck Air Reg In PA:  House Bill 2075 (Knowles-R- Schuylkill)  abrogating DEP’s air pollution control regulations covering heavy-duty trucks [Note: DEP already suspended enforcement of these regulations November 6 - Read more here.]

The bill was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee and passed by the House 152 - 48 -- Republicans supporting.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Opening Lands To Recreation: House Bill 1694 (Struzzi-R-Indiana) providing liability protection for landowners who open their lands for recreational purposes to volunteers and volunteer organizations (sponsor summary) was passed by the House and now goes to the Senate for action. 

Prohibit Local Governments From Promoting Clean Energy:  House Bill 1947 (O’Neal-R- Washington) would prohibit local governments from promoting clean energy and energy efficiency was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.  Read more here.

Expansion Of C-PACE: House Bill 1760 (Heffley-R-Carbon) expanding the local clean energy, energy conservation and water efficiency program C-PACE to include multifamily buildings, indoor air and resiliency improvements was reported out of the House Commerce Committee and Tabled.

Impact Of DEP’s Biosolids Permit Changes: House Resolution 149 (Rigby-R-Cambria) directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the impact of proposed changes to DEP’s General Permits PAG-07, PAG-08 and PAG-09 related to regulating biosolids was passed by the House 119 -81-- Republicans supporting.  No action is required in the Senate 

Senate

Expanding C-PACE: Senate Bill 635 (Yudichak-I-Luzerne) expanding the local clean energy, energy conservation and water efficiency program C-PACE to include multifamily buildings, indoor air and resiliency improvements was reported out of the Senate Appropriations Committee and passed by the Senate 42 - 8.  The bill now goes to the Senate for action.

Membership On Air Advisory Committee: Senate Bill 301 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) eliminating appointment of DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee members by the Governor and changing it to appointments made by the House, Senate and the Governor was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Lead Testing For Children: Senate Bill 522 (Baker-R-Luzerne, Yudichak-I-Luzerne) further providing for the testing of blood lead levels in children was reported from the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is now on the Senate Calendar for action.

Garage Floors: Senate Bill 776 (Laughlin-R-Erie) to amend Act 537 to allow garage floor drains to be discharged to an on-lot sewage system was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Bill Calendars

Senate (January 4): Senate Bill 284 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would load up renewable energy projects, energy efficiency products and high-efficiency locomotives with bonds to prevent their development [Read more here]; Senate Bill 522 (Baker-R-Luzerne, Yudichak-I-Luzerne) further providing for the testing of blood lead levels in children; Senate Bill 597 (Stefano-R-Fayette) would impose conflicting and expensive requirements on small water and wastewater systems for no benefit to their customers and if they can’t comply they would come under the regulation of the Public Utility Commission Read more here];  House Bill 598 (Oberlander-R-Clarion) would limit actions to create prescriptive easements to public entities like state agencies and local governments, not private entities.  <> Click Here for full Senate Bill Calendar.

House (January 4): House Bill 2069 (Cutler-R- Lancaster) Amend Article III, Section 9, to exempt the disapproval of a regulation by the General Assembly from the presentment requirement for the governor’s approval or disapproval [Read more here]; House Bill 2070 (Cutler- R-Lancaster) Amend Article IV, to add a new section providing that any executive order or proclamation issued by the governor, which purports to have the force of law, may not be in effect for more than 21 days, unless extended by concurrent resolution of the General Assembly [Read more here]. <> Click Here for full House Bill Calendar.

Committee Meetings

House   

February 15-- House Appropriations Committee state budget hearings begin. 10:00-Dept. Of Revenue.  House Floor.  Click Here to watch live.

February 28-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearing: 10:00- Department of Environmental Protection.  House Floor.  Click Here to watch live.

March 2-- House Appropriations Committee budget hearing: 10:00- Department of Agriculture.  House Floor.  Click Here to watch live.

-- Click Here for full House Budget Hearing Schedule

<>  Click Here for full House Committee Schedule.

Senate

February 22 - Senate Appropriations Committee state budget hearings begin. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

March 2 - Senate Appropriations Committee state budget hearings: 10:00 - Department of Conservation & Natural Resources; 2:30 - Department of Environmental Protection. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

March 3 - Senate Appropriations Committee state budget hearings: 10:00 - Department of Agriculture. Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. 10:00 a.m.  Click Here to watch live.

-- Click Here for full Senate Budget Hearing Schedule.

 <>  Click Here for full Senate Committee Schedule [including budget hearings]. 

Bills Introduced

Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones:  House Bill 2167 (Rabb-D-Philadelphia) establishing Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones (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

January 4 (NV), 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26

February 7, 8, 9

March 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30

April 11, 12, 13, 25, 26, 27

May 23, 24, 25

June 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

September 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21

October 24, 25, 26

November 14, 15, 16

Senate

January 4, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

February 7, 8, 9

March 28, 29, 30

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13

12/20/2021