Weekly Wrap
With both chambers in session this week, there’s a lot to report on from Harrisburg. Most notably, the House of Representatives passed another budget bill, as the budget due date passed 100 days ago.
SB 160 (Martin, R-Lancaster) was amended in the House Appropriations Committee and passed on the House floor, with three Republicans voting with the Democrats in favor of the $50.3 billion budget proposal. This version, which is not agreed to by the Senate Republicans, is $.3 billion less than what the House passed in July. In August, the Senate passed a $47.6 billion plan. Governor Shapiro’s original budget proposal presented to the Legislature in February was for $51.5 billion.
Along with the budget bill, the House also passed SB 315 (Culver, R-Northumberland), which is an omnibus Public School Code bill that provides for funding distributions and numerous policy changes. The bill faces similar opposition in the Senate.
Switching gears to other session news, on Monday, the House Energy Committee held a public hearing on HB 1260 (Siegel, D-Lehigh), which would: (1) require all new warehouses and distribution centers be constructed so that they are solar-ready; and (2) provide a tax credit for existing warehouses and distribution centers to make any retrofits necessary to be solar-ready. The Senate Communications and Technology Committee and Senate Education Committee held a joint public hearing on artificial intelligence in education and workforce development.
The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee reported HB 1894 (Madden, D-Monroe), which would enhance educational efforts for long-term care options.
Tuesday, the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee reported out SB 731 (Farry, R-Bucks), which would extend the moratorium on the inclusion of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment when determining eligibility for benefits under the PACE and PACENET programs until December 31, 2027.
The House Communications and Technology Committee reported out:
- HB 1063 (Malagari, D-Montgomery), which would prevent scalpers from using software to purchase items over the internet in bulk for the purpose of resale and not personal use; and
- SB 377 (Phillips-Hill, R-York), which would require contractually procured “end point devices” and related services to meet the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines or industry best practices for computer security.
HR 244 (Burgos, D-Philadelphia) was reported from the House Health Committee. The resolution would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a performance audit of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Tobacco Policy and Control Program.
The House Insurance Committee reported out:
- HB 1123 (Gallagher, D-Philadelphia), which would reduce the age when colorectal cancer screenings are covered to 45 from 50, update guidelines to the most recent edition, and update the tests covered by insurance; and
- HB 1828 (Venkat, D-Allegheny), which would require private insurance coverage of vaccines without cost-sharing that are FDA-approved and recommended by physician groups.
The House Labor and Industry Committee reported out two bills that would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The first, HB 1825 (Madden, D-Monroe), would ensure employers have written policies and procedures for preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation against employee. The second, HB 1826 (Madden, D-Monroe), would provide protections for employees working in agriculture and domestic service and for workplaces with less than four employees.
HB 145 (Krajewski, D-Philadelphia) passed finally in the House and will go to the Senate for consideration. The bill would allow employees to collect unemployment compensation benefits if their unemployment is due to a stoppage of work that is a result of a labor dispute. SB 246 (Coleman, R-Lehigh) also passed finally and will go back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. The bill would require parents and employees to be notified of weapons incidents in schools.
On Wednesday, the House Finance Committee held a public hearing on HB 1556 (Fiedler, D-Philadelphia), which would establish an Advanced Clean Manufacturing Tax Credit for facilities that produce clean steel, clean aluminum, clean cement, clean glass, electric grid modernization equipment, energy-efficient heat pumps, energy-efficient turbines or hydrogen electrolyzers.
The House Human Services Committee held an informational meeting on performance-based contracting for residential and supports coordination services for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.
Two bills of note were reported from the House Professional Licensure Committee:
- HB 980 (Venkat, D-Allegheny), which would add a pharmacy technician and a second acute care institutional pharmacist to the State Board of Pharmacy; and
- HB 1881 (Venkat, D-Allegheny), which would guarantee that pharmacists’ practice authority to provide vaccines can also come from recommendations of Pennsylvania’s health authorities.
The full House adopted HR 271 (Benham, D-Allegheny), which would direct the Joint State Government Commission to assemble an advisory committee and conduct a study on indoor air quality for children and senior citizens.
Two bills of note passed finally and will go to the Senate for consideration:
- HB 1701 (Fiedler, D-Philadelphia), which would require the Department of Education to create and maintain a public school facility inventory, facilitate a statewide facility condition assessment, and establish a Public School Facility Advisory Committee; and
- HB 1874 (Powell, D-Allegheny), which would provide flexibility for redevelopment authorities located in a Transit Revitalization Investment District.
Lastly, the Senate finally passed SB 1040 (Ward, R-Westmoreland), which would authorize the State Treasurer to waive interest on budgetary impasse investment loans. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
The Week Ahead
There is no session scheduled next week. The Senate is scheduled to be back in Harrisburg on October 20, while the House returns on October 27.
However, the House Judiciary Committee will meet on Wednesday to consider bills, including SB 65 (Baker, R-Luzerne), which would establish new traffic rules and strengthen penalties for overtaking a school bus.
A full list of committee meetings can be found here:
In Other News
- PUC Chairman Stephen DeFrank was elected Vice President of the Organization of PJM States, Inc. (OPSI).
- Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) announced the first systemwide increase in enrollment in more than a decade and that student retention reached its highest point on record.
- Governor Shapiro was elected Chair of the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP).
