The state House returns to session on Monday, Sept. 20, to vote on a number of bills of importance and interest to the people of Pennsylvania.
Coordinated emergency response to aftermath of Tropical Storm Ida
With the disaster emergency declaration relative to the flooding and other aftereffects of Tropical Storm Ida set to expire, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will consider legislation to extend the disaster declaration to aid in ongoing recovery efforts.
Managing the opioid addiction epidemic
When the opioid addiction disaster emergency declaration expired in August, Gov. Tom Wolf identified an outstanding legislative fix that could help with better information sharing that was conducted during the disaster emergency period. This week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is scheduled to take up legislation to provide that fix referenced by the Wolf administration as we continue to explore additional legislative solutions to manage the opioid epidemic.
Regulatory reform following waived and suspended regulations
Stemming back to the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, nearly 500 regulations were waived and/or suspended in order to help Pennsylvanians and state government manage the practical effects of the pandemic. With those waivers and suspensions set to expire on Sept. 30, 2021, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will begin the ongoing process of deciding which regulations should be brought back, modified, permanently terminated, or have their waiver and/or suspension continued.
Restoring local control in public health management
Since the beginning of the pandemic it has been clear that local decision-making with a dynamic virus that impacts different geographical areas with disparate effects is preferred by Pennsylvanians to one-size-fits-all statewide mandates. This week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will take up legislation to restore local control in those decisions in the face of continuing statewide mandates from the Wolf administration.
The Weekly Schedule
Bill numbers will be used to identify the legislation being considered either in committee or on the House floor. Research bills online here.
Monday, Sept. 20, 2021
Committee Meetings/Hearings
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 9:45 a.m., Room 515, Irvis Office Building
• HB 1849 (Rep. Todd Polinchock, R-Bucks): Amends the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act to ensure that real estate schools that have been approved to provide a course via traditional in-person instruction may also livestream that course to remotely located students.
• SB 397 (Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Armstrong): Amends the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act to update and modernize the practice of physician assistants.
• SB 398 (Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Armstrong): Amends the Medical Practice Act to update and modernize the practice of physician assistants.
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, 10 a.m., Room 515, Irvis Office Building
• Informational meeting to discuss the pharmacy-related regulatory waivers and suspensions issued by the Department of State during the COVID-19 pandemic.
STATE GOVERNMENT, 11 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
• HB 1861 (Rep. Andrew Lewis, R-Dauphin): Amends the Administrative Code to provide for regulatory flexibility.
VETERANS AFFAIRS & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, 11 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
• HR 139 (Rep. Shelby Labs, R-Bucks): Concurrent resolution extending in whole or approving the issuance of a new disaster emergency declaration in response to the aftereffects of Hurricane Ida.
HEALTH, Call of the Chair, Room 205, Ryan Office Building
• HB 1774 (Rep. Ann Flood, R-Northampton): Amends the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program (ABC-MAP) Act to extend the sunset date for the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program until Dec. 31, 2028.
Session
On Monday, the House will meet at noon for legislative business.
Votes on Second Consideration
• HR 141 (Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin): A resolution providing for temporary rules of the House to provide for voting by designation and other rules.
Votes on Third Consideration
• HB 1650 (Delozier)
• HB 1657 (Mackenzie, M.)
Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021
Committee Meetings/Hearings
LEGISLATIVE REAPPORTIONMENT COMMISSION, 5 p.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Building
• Public hearing on the commission's special interest in learning more about issues requiring attention because of their impact on particular regions or communities of the Commonwealth.
Session
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.
Votes on Second Consideration
• HB 1660 (Rep. Curt Sonney, R-Erie): Amends the Public School Code limiting a school district board (school board) of director’s temporary emergency powers from up to four years to 60 days.
• HB 1774 (Rep. Ann Flood, R-Northampton): Amends the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program (ABC-MAP) Act to extend the sunset date for the Achieving Better Care by Monitoring All Prescriptions Program until Dec. 31, 2028.
• HB 1849 (Rep. Todd Polinchock, R-Bucks): Amends the Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act to ensure that real estate schools that have been approved to provide a course via traditional in-person instruction may also livestream that course to remotely located students.
• HB 1861 (Rep. Andrew Lewis, R-Dauphin): Amends the Administrative Code to provide for regulatory flexibility.
Votes on Third Consideration
• HR 139 (Labs)
Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021
Committee Meetings/Hearings
HUMAN SERVICES, 9:30 a.m., Room 515, Irvis Office Building
• Informational meeting on opioid litigation settlements.
Session
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 11 a.m. for legislative business.
Votes on Second Consideration:
• TBA
Votes on Third Consideration:
• TBA
All of House session and most committee meetings will stream live on PAHouseGOP.com/livestreams.