Weekly Wrap
It was the last week of May, which means the budget crunch is right around the corner. As legislators geared up for the whirlwind that awaits, the schedule was light this week.
On Tuesday, the House Communications and Technology Committee held an informational meeting on the landscape of technology in the 21st century.
Wednesday, the Senate Transportation Committee held a public hearing on rural crossroads of economy and infrastructure.
The Week Ahead
Expect things to heat up at the Capitol as the calendar flips to June.
Monday, the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1310 (Bizzarro, D-Erie), which would set a minimum Budget Adjustment Factor (BAF) floor at $.90 for nursing homes that provide care to individuals on Medical Assistance (MA).
The House Environmental and Natural Resources Committee will consider HB 501 (Otten, D-Chester), which would establish the Pennsylvania Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS), which builds on the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) by adding nuclear power and next generation technologies and incentives lower emissions for gas-fired power plants. The committee will also consider SB 349 (Yaw, R-Lycoming), which would provide for the decommissioning of solar energy facilities.
On Tuesday, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee will consider the nominations of Darryl Lawrence to the Office of Consumer Advocate and Stephen DeFrank to the Public Utility Commission.
The House Health Committee will consider:
- HB 425 (Marcell, R-Bucks), which would establish a J-1 Visa Waiver Primary Care Physician Grant Program for international medical graduates to work in underserved areas;
- HB 583 (Curry, D-Delaware), which would establish a benefit package for dental services for MA recipients 21 years of age or older; and
- HB 1460 (Borowski, D-Delaware), which would require approval from the Department of Health and Office of Attorney General before certain transactions involving health care entities.
The House Tourism, Recreation, and Economic Development Committee will consider HB 1347 (D-Berks), which would enable counties to enact tourism improvement districts (TID).
Wednesday, the House Energy Committee will consider two bills of note: HB 948 (Ciresi, D-Montgomery), which would ensure proper use of electric vehicle charging spots; and HB 1239 (Hanbidge, D-Montgomery), which would prevent homeowners associations from prohibiting or restricting the installation or use of a solar energy system on a detached roof or townhouse.
A full list of committee meetings can be found here:
In Other News
- Governor Josh Shapiro made a statement after the announcement of a partnership between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel.
- The Department of Aging Secretary launched the PA CareKit, a resource to support caregivers with training, connection to respite services, and personalized tools.
- The Shapiro Administration reminded drivers of the June 5 effective date for “Paul Miller’s Law,” which makes it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving.

























