June 26, 2015

With both the House and Senate scheduled for session days from now through June 30, it’s hard to say when one week ends and another begins. And an unusual week warrants a different kind of wrap up, as we highlight movement on major initiatives and attempt to give you a budget update without the help of a magic eight ball.

Weekly Wrap: 

The following notable bills saw some action this week:

  • S.B. 875 (Bartolotta, R-Beaver) was reported form the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and passed in the Senate in short order this week. The bill provides for the beneficial use of mine water in oil and gas operations.
  • Speaking of oil and gas, Rep. Garth Everett announced the introduction of his guaranteed minimum royalty act legislation; the bill – H.B. 1391 – has not yet been referred to a standing committee.
  • S.B. 352 was passed by the Senate and is now in the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver), would update the Horse Race Industry Reform Act.
  • Two bills related to property tax assessments advanced this week: S.B. 877 (Argall, R-Berks) was reported from the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee and is now before the full Senate, and H.B. 1331 (Ross, R-Chester) was reported from the House Local Government Committee and was re-referred to the House Rules Committee.
  • H.B. 1319 (Marshall, R-Beaver) was passed by the House of Representatives. The bill, which would allow for tax-free savings accounts for housing, transportation and education expenses for persons with disabilities, now heads to the Senate for consideration.
  • The Senate advanced H.B. 857 (Pickett, R-Bradford), which would extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) until 2017. The bill was reported from the Banking and Insurance Committee and is now on second consideration.
  • The Senate Banking and Insurance also sent two bills addressing insurance coverage for oral chemotherapy to the Senate floor for consideration; those bills are H.B. 60 (Baker, R-Bradford) and S.B. 537 (Tomlinson, R-Bucks).
  • The Senate amended and passed H.B. 189 (Sonney, R-Erie), providing for the direct shipment of wine in the commonwealth. Since the bill was amended, it will now go back to the House for a concurrence vote.
  • H.B. 1276 (Watson, R-Bucks) was voted favorably from the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee with amendments and is now before the Senate for consideration.

While it didn’t move any further along in the legislative process, S.B. 3, Sen. Mike Folmer’s medical marijuana legislation, was in the spotlight this week. Rep. Nick Miccarelli (R- Delaware) announced his intention to file a discharge resolution to have the bill released from the House Health Committee and brought to the House floor for a vote. Meanwhile, House Judiciary Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) has announced his intention to introduce his own medical marijuana legislation. Read more here: http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20150623/miccarelli-seeks-full-house-debate-on-medical-marijuana and here: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015062463.HTM

Also, two of the governor’s nominees for high-ranking positions advanced this week. The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee favorably reported the nomination of Ian Harlow as Commissioner of the Department of State’s Bureau of Occupational Affairs to the full Senate, and the Senate Finance Committee favorably reported the nomination of Timothy Reese to serve as State Treasurer to the full Senate as well.

On the budget front, there was very little action on the General Appropriations bill, but there was some movement on the preferred and non-preferred appropriations bills. Preferred appropriations bills, transferring money to self-funded agencies, passed in the Senate and have been sent to the House for consideration. Versions of the non-preferred appropriations bills – those appropriating money to the commonwealth’s state-related institutions of higher education –will soon be ready for third consideration in each chamber.

While it’s difficult to say what the General Appropriations bill might contain, and what other legislation might be part of a full budget package, we do know what’s not a deal breaker. House Republican Leader Dave Reed announced this week that privatization of the state’s liquor stores (an issue championed by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai) isn’t a lynchpin in budget discussions. More on that can be found here: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150624_Wolf_to_GOP__Drop_push_for_pension__liquor_reform.html

A Look Ahead:

Neither tarot cards nor tea leaves can show us what’s to come in the state capitol over the next few days. However, we do know that the work of the committees in both the House and Senate is scheduled to continue until the June 30 budget deadline. Over the weekend and through Tuesday, plan for Rules Committee and Appropriations Committee meetings to be called from the House and Senate floor at any time. As for the other standing committees, postings and updates can be found here: www.legis.state.pa.us

In Other News: