Weekly Wrap

The week began with Governor Tom Wolf signing a second renewal of his 90-day disaster declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic (initially issued on March 6 and renewed on June 3). The emergency disaster declaration provides for increased support to state agencies, including expediting supply procurement and lifting certain regulations. It has also: (1) allowed for waivers and extensions to continue to provide for individuals and businesses; (2) provided relief from charges for employers; and (3) allowed the state to suspend numerous training requirements and certification and licensure renewals.

Later in the week, the House of Representatives unsuccessfully tried to end the disaster declaration with a veto override of H.R. 836 (Diamond, R-Lebanon). Governor Wolf vetoed the resolution on July 14. The vote was Y:118/N:84, 16 votes short of the necessary two-thirds of the full House.

In other legislative news, on Tuesday the House Consumer Affairs Committee held a public hearing on H.B. 531 (Kaufer, R-Luzerne), which would enable community solar projects in the Commonwealth.

Wednesday, the House Finance Committee reported out H.B. 2420 (Jones, R-York), which would allow a net loss of taxable income to be carried over indefinitely. 

The following bills passed finally in the House, were referred to their respective Senate committee, and reported from committee on Thursday. Both bills are on the Senate Appropriations Committee agenda for Tuesday.

  • H.B. 2626 (Moul, R-Adams), which would make numerous changes to the Election Code;  and
  • H.B. 2787 (Reese, R-Westmoreland), which would give each school board the exclusive authority to determine whether to hold high school sports activities and other in-person extracurricular activities during the 2020-21 school year.

Two other bills passed in the House and will go to the Senate for consideration:

  • H.B. 1566 (Kortz, D-Allegheny), which would: (1) give boards and commissions under the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs the authority to issue advisory opinions concerning the meaning or interpretation of an act or regulation; and (2) prohibit a board or commission from issuing a penalty solely because of an action taken by a licensee contrary to the disaster declaration; and
  • H.B. 2788 (Topper, R-Bedford), which would allow a parent, for the 2021-22 school year, to elect to have their child repeat a grade level.

On Thursday, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out:

  • S.B. 950 (Pittman, R-Indiana) and H.B. 2025 (Struzzi, R-Indiana), which would require legislative approval before the state can impose a carbon tax, including joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI);
  • S.B. 1173 (Yaw, R-Lycoming), which would update the make-up of the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee; and
  • H.B. 1808 (Mackenzie, R-Lehigh), which would classify post-use plastics as raw materials for manufacturing following the utilization of advanced recycling technologies.

The Week Ahead

Both chambers will celebrate the Labor Day holiday on Monday, but only the Senate will return to Harrisburg on Tuesday for session. Two session days are on tap, with a mix of voting meetings and public hearings.

Tuesday, the Senate Communications and Technology Committee will hold a public hearing on the Department of Health’s COVID-19 contract tracing mobile app. Secondly, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing to review the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee’s report titled “A Study of the Impact of Venue for Medical Professional Liability Actions”. Last but not least, the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee will hold a public hearing on the status of the Pennsylvania Housing Financing Agency mortgage and rental assistance.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has a full agenda, scheduled to consider the following bills:

  • S.B. 5 (DiSanto, R-Dauphin), which would require the General Assembly to approve regulations with an economic impact or cost exceeding $1 million;
  • S.B. 254 (Phillips-Hill, R-York), which would amend the Constitution by requiring any mandate establishing a new education program shall provide the necessary funding for the implementation of the program;
  • S.B. 835 (Langerholc, R-Cambria), which would establish the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Pilot Program;
  • H.B. 1439 (Kaufer, R-Luzerne), which would require insurers to attest to their efforts to comply with federal laws and regulations relating to mental health and substance use disorder parity; and
  • H.B. 1696 (Murt, R-Montgomery), which would require insurers to attest to their efforts to comply with federal and state laws concerning mental health parity and substance use disorder treatment benefits.

On Wednesday, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed rulemaking: Water Quality Standards for Manganese and Implementation. Also, the House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on H.B. 2275 (Flynn, D-Lackawanna), which would provide for utility billing methods for renters.

The Senate Communications and Technology Committee will hold a voting meeting to consider S.B. 487 (Laughlin, R-Erie), which would require agencies to report breaches involving personally identifiable information to those affected and designated authorities, and H.B. 2348 (Causer, R-McKean), which would establish the Unserved High-Speed Broadband Funding Program. In addition, the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee will consider H.B. 777 (Klunk, R-York), which would allow clubs to use the 60 percent of small games of chance money to cover general operating expenses during an emergency disaster.

In Other News

  • The Revenue Department released August 2020 collections.
  • The Gaming Control Board announced the winner of the Category 4 casino auction.
  • The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission is accepting applications for cultural and historical grants to museums and county historical societies.
  • The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board reported a record net income in 2019-20.
  • The Departments of Agriculture and Health announced new partnership to make six medical marijuana testing laboratories available for testing hemp crops for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels.
  • The Department of Health updated COVID-19 screening, testing, and visitation guidance in skilled nursing facilities.