Weekly Wrap

Today is the day. On the last day of the fiscal year, the House and Senate are still in Harrisburg working on a budget and revenue plan. The General Appropriations Act, H.B. 218 (Saylor, R-York), passed in the Senate this morning by a vote of Y:43/N:7. It is expected that the House will vote on the bill later today and send it to the Governor for his signature. The $32 billion spending plan is just short of the $32.6 billion Governor Wolf proposed.

The Senate also passed bills funding the Commonwealth’s state-related universities: Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University. All four bills now head over to the House for their consideration.

In non-budget related news, H.B. 239 (Toepel, R-Montgomery), which establishes the Rare Disease Advisory Council, passed in both chambers and is heading to the Governor’s desk. The Senate passed the controversial S.B. 383 (White, R-Indiana), which would give school boards the authority to allow certain school employees to carry firearms on school property. In the House, H.B. 1547 (Harris, D-Philadelphia), which addresses the issue of stop and go’s in Philadelphia, passed with bipartisan support.

The nomination of John Coleman was unanimously favorably reported to the full Senate from the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. Coleman is seeking a second term on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Week Ahead

The July 4th holiday is expected to be a short-lived celebration, as both chambers will come back to town for session the middle of next week to sort out how to pay for the spending plan. Expect off-the-floor Rules Committee and Appropriations Committee meetings, as bills used as vehicles to balance the budget are maneuvered through both the House of Representatives and Senate. Gaming and liquor are two hot-button issues likely to be discussed. Related Code bills are also anticipated to be voted.

In Other News

  • The Department of Health granted 27 dispensary permits for medical marijuana dispensaries.
  • Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams pleaded guilty to one count, in the middle of his federal bribery trial.
  • Governor Wolf signed “Libre’s Law” into law, providing stricter standards for the state’s anti-animal cruelty law.