Weekly Wrap

Welcome back! After an extended holiday break, both the House of Representatives and the Senate will return to Harrisburg for voting session next week. While it’s been quiet under the dome the last few weeks, there are a few noteworthy items to report.

In continued efforts to combat the Commonwealth’s growing opioid epidemic, Governor Tom Wolf declared the first-ever statewide public health-related emergency. The declaration includes 13 initiatives that rely on collaboration among state agencies and first responders, which are designed to seek long-lasting solutions to the opioid crisis.

Meanwhile, House Republicans have been busy setting priorities and developing legislative initiatives for the second half of this session. Led by Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) and Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill), the caucus announced a package of about 20 bills that would reform Pennsylvania’s welfare system, as well as a five-bill regulatory reform package based on the House State Government Committee’s Regulatory Overreach Report.

Not only do we expect new initiatives this year, but some new members as well. A special election has been set for May 15 (primary election day) for seats vacated by Rep. Brandon Neuman (D-Washington) and Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks). Neuman resigned from the House to take a seat on the bench of the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas, and Petri resigned to take a position as the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Petri’s departure opened up a chairmanship as well. Rep. Jeff Pyle (R-Armstrong) will be the new Chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee.

Speaking of gaming, you’ll remember that the General Assembly passed a bill to expand gaming in the Commonwealth last fall. That legislation allows for the licensure of 10 new “mini-casinos” throughout the state. This month, Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, LLC, which operates Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, was the highest bidder for the first Category 4 casino license. With a bid of $50.1 million, the slot machine license would permit the operation of between 300 and 750 slot machines and initially up to 30 table games at the future location in the Borough of Yoe (York County).

And finally, some news from Buchanan. We are pleased to announce that Joe Murzyn has joined us as the newest member of the firm’s Pennsylvania government relations practice. A Steel City native, Joe brings both public and private sector experience to his new role.

A Look Ahead

It’s back to the grind next week, with several committee meetings and hearings already scheduled. On Monday, the House and Senate Local Government Committees will hold a joint public hearing on municipal pensions. The House Labor and Industry Committee will vote on S.B. 936 (White, R-Indiana), which would establish a worker’s compensation drug formulary.

Then on Tuesday, the House Finance Committee will consider H.B. 994 (Grove, R-York), which would update the definition of “mobile telecommunications” to clarify what is subject to the state’s gross receipt tax, and H.B. 1098 (Peifer, R-Pike), which would make reforms to local tax collection. The House Transportation Committee will meet to consider bills: among them is H.B. 1958 (Rothman, R-Cumberland), which would allow for the use of automated vehicles in work zones, and H.R. 385 (Heffley, R-Carbon), which would direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the feasibility of additional rail trips between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

On Wednesday, the House Professional Licensure Committee will have an informational meeting on nurse practitioner collaborative agreements. In addition, the House State Government Committee will hold a public hearing on H.B. 1849 (Bloom, R-Cumberland), which would address the use of project labor agreements in publicly funded construction projects.

Also on Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing on special funds related to the Department of Community and Economic Development, and then a similar hearing on Thursday on special funds related to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

A full list of committee meetings can be found here:

Looking even further ahead, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees announced their budget hearing schedule for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Hearings begin after the Governor delivers his annual budget address, scheduled for February 6.

In Other News

  • Three Republican House members announced this week that they will not be running for reelection: Rep. Bob Godshall (R-Montgomery), Chairman of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Katharine Watson (R-Bucks), Chairman of the House Children and Youth Committee will all retire at the end of this session.
  • Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks) announced this week that he will not seek reelection at the end of his term in 2018. Sen. McIlhinney is currently the Chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee.
  • Just in case you need a reminder, House Democratic Appropriations Chairman Joe Markosek issued a budget process primer.
  • Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program looks promising so far; 10,000 patients registered for participation.
  • Gov. Wolf appointed a new Chair of the State Board of Education.
  • Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced an audit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
  • Pennsylvania’s Every Student Succeeds Act Plan was given final approval from the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Philadelphia and Pittsburgh made the short list for Amazon’s HQ2.