The House will resume session on Tuesday July 7, 2020, for a brief two-day session week. The top items on the agenda include legislation that would ensure the Legislature must approve any plan to implement a carbon tax in Pennsylvania (House Bill 2025), plus the House will advance Protect and Serve Initiative legislation to the governor’s desk. House Bills 1910 and 1841, which were crafted with input from both sides of aisle along with community and law enforcement support, will be signed by Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) on Tuesday and then presented to the governor for his signature.
With millions of Pennsylvanians experiencing economic hardship as a direct result of the Wolf Administration’s haphazard response to COVID-19, over the remaining months of session, the House will shift its focus to economic recovery and rebuilding. Plans, proposals, and additional legislation continue to be discussed and developed by House Republican members.
The Weekly Schedule
Identified by bill number, the sponsors and summaries for votes scheduled in committee or on the House floor are posted below. More information regarding these votes can be found here.
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Committee Meetings/Hearings:
Finance, Call of the Chair, 205 Ryan
• SB 1125 (Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster): Would authorize school districts to extend the discount period and waive the addition of penalties for payment of school district real estate taxes due for the academic year beginning July 1, 2020.
• SB 1188 (Sen. John Blake, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe): Would prohibit the imposition of an admissions or amusement tax on railroads and exclude certain local tax revenues from the calculation of the aggregate amount of taxes imposed under the act.
State Government, Call of the Chair, G50 Irvis
• HB 2549 (Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming/Union): Would allow a county to pass a resolution to move to the “green” phase of reopening after being in the “yellow” phase of reopening for at least 21 days.
• SB 1166 (Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland): Would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to ensure rights of Pennsylvanians may not be denied during a disaster declaration due to a person’s race or ethnicity.
SESSION:
On Tuesday, session will begin at 1 p.m.
Votes on Second Consideration:
• HB 1311 (Rep. Tom Murt, R-Philadelphia/Montgomery): Would provide discounted rates at state parks to active duty and retired military members, as well as disabled veterans.
• HB 1582 (Rep. Keith Greiner, R-Lancaster): Would allow for the optional abolishment of the office of elected auditor in second-class townships.
• HB 1995 (Rep. Frank Ryan, R-Lebanon): Would establish a bipartisan commission to analyze past and projected economic conditions.
• HB 2025 (Rep. Jim Struzzi, R-Indiana): Would establish the Pennsylvania Carbon Dioxide Cap and Trade Authorization Act.
• HB 2149 (Rep. Martin Causer, R-Cameron/McKean/Potter): Would make updates to the composition of the Hardwoods Development Council.
• HB 2296 (Rep. Lori Mizgorski, R-Allegheny): Would increase penalties and the time required for a commercial driver’s license holder to report non-parking traffic violations to his or her employer.
• HB 2540 (Rep. John Lawrence, R-Chester/Lancaster): Would establish a five-person State Epidemiology Advisory Council specific to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• SB 927 (Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Adams/Cumberland/Franklin/York): Would require PennDOT to independently verify a veteran’s documentation for a veteran designation.
• HR 870 (Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester): Would recognize the week of Sept. 20-26, 2020, as "Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week" in Pennsylvania.
• HR 669 (Rep. Barry Jozwiak, R-Berks): Would recognize the accomplishments of Rocco Colavito Jr. and recommend his nomination to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Votes on Third Consideration:
• HB 885 (Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny): Would amend the Public Works Contractors’ Bond Law to tighten the requirements for acceptable financial securities required for projects, and raise the project threshold amount.
• HB 1808 (Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Berks/Lehigh): Would classify post-use plastics as raw materials for manufacturing following the use of advanced recycling technologies.
• SB 320 (Sen. Tom Killion, R-Chester/Delaware): Would create the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act.
• SB 836 (Sen. Mike Regan, R-Cumberland/York): Would amend the School Code to include the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act and require information about electrocardiogram testing to be provided to student athletes and parents.
Votes on Concurrence:
• HB 256 (Rep. Carl Metzgar, R-Somerset/Bedford): Would increase penalties for inmates who assault correctional facility employees.
• HB 632 (Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland): Would permit the use of electronic power of attorney documents for transferring a vehicle’s title to an insurance company.
• HB 943 (Rep. Valerie Gaydos, R-Allegheny): Would allow pharmacists to disclose information to an insured individual about the comparative costs of medications.
• HB 2455 (Rep. John Lawrence, R-Lancaster/Chester): Would require the governor and secretary of Health to submit a plan for procurement and distribution of COVID-19 testing kits. Would also allow a local (county or municipal) health department to implement serology tests to identify antibodies to the COVID-19 virus.
Wednesday, July 7, 2020
Committee Meetings/Hearings:
No committee voting meetings are scheduled at this time.
SESSION:
On Wednesday, session will begin at 11 a.m.
Votes on Second Consideration:
• HB 2122 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams): Would make updates to the garbage and other refuse materials provisions of the state borough code.
• HB 2141 (Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams): Would allow local governments to use an alternative process to propose a new or amend an existing home rule charter.
• HB 2219 (Rep. Lee James, R-Venango/Butler): Would add a member to the mining and reclamation advisory board.
• HB 2571 (Rep. William Kortz, D-Allegheny): Would amend the borough code to add provisions regarding who can be appointed to positions.
• SB 491 (Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair/Cumberland/Franklin/Huntingdon/Fulton): Would make appointment changes to the state’s Certified Real Estate Appraisers board.
• HR 789 (Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Luzerne): Would recognize the month of March 2020 as "Intellectual Disability Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
• HR 833 (Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Allegheny): Would honor the life of Barbara Elaine Smith.
• HR 906 (Rep. Maria Donatucci, D-Philadelphia/Delaware): Would recognize Aug. 26, 2020, as "Women's Equality Day" in Pennsylvania.
• HR 918 (Rep. Tim Hennessey, R-Chester/Delaware): Would request the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) relinquish to the Commonwealth the ownership of the Philadelphia to Harrisburg railroad line, the former Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line, known as the “Harrisburg Line.”
Votes on Third Consideration:
• HB 1311 (Murt)
• HB 1582 (Greiner)
• HB 1995 (Ryan)
• HB 2025 (Struzzi)
• HB 2149 (Causer)
• HB 2296 (Mizgorski)
• HB 2540 (Lawrence)
• SB 927 (Mastriano)
All of House session and most committee meetings will stream live on PAHouseGOP.com/livestreams.