Environment

Pennsylvania House Bill 2741 amends the state's Cave Protection Act to introduce a new penalty option for individuals convicted of violating cave-related laws. The bill allows courts to require offenders to perform community service by picking up litter or illegally dumped trash in addition to any other penalties imposed. This provision directly affects people found guilty of damaging or improperly accessing caves, aiming to address environmental harm through direct cleanup efforts.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require the Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create a model program for hunting and trapping education for students in grades six through twelve. The program must include age-appropriate firearm safety instruction covering topics like safe handling, maintenance, and wildlife conservation, taught only by certified instructors without bringing actual firearms onto school property. Schools can offer this as an optional extracurricular class or integrate it into existing courses, and parents may request to excuse their children from the instruction without penalty. Additionally, the bill allows schools to receive reimbursement for program costs and counts related training hours toward staff professional development.

This bill creates a tax credit program in Pennsylvania to encourage the production of sustainable aviation fuel. To qualify, companies must invest at least $150 million in a local facility, create at least 400 permanent jobs, and pay workers prevailing wages. The credit provides up to $1 per gallon for fuel production, with an extra 25 cents per gallon for using local feedstocks or achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions. Eligible producers must also meet specific state tax compliance requirements and sign a commitment letter with state officials.

This bill allows local governments in Pennsylvania to automatically permit battery storage systems as accessory uses on land already approved for commercial solar projects. Under the new rules, these storage units must be located within the same property boundaries and have a capacity that does not exceed the solar facility's generating capacity. Once approved, the storage systems do not require additional special permits or land use approvals, though they must still follow all existing safety and fire codes. The legislation also clarifies that adding battery storage does not change any financial terms or tax exemptions associated with the original solar facility.

This Pennsylvania bill creates a new tax incentive to encourage the installation of green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, green roofs, and permeable pavement, on properties within the state. It defines "green infrastructure" as stormwater management practices that reduce or reuse runoff and sets rules for claiming a tax credit based on qualified costs like design, materials, and installation. To receive the credit, taxpayers must complete a certified project and submit detailed documentation to the Department of Revenue, while excluding costs covered by grants or routine maintenance. The legislation also updates the legal definition of "tax credit" to include this new program alongside existing state tax benefits.

This Senate Resolution urges the United States Congress to pass the American High-Speed Rail Act. The bill aims to establish a framework for high-speed rail development in the U.S. by defining project parameters and encouraging public-private investment. Pennsylvania is highlighted as a key location that could benefit from these federal efforts due to its existing rail infrastructure and strategic position. Copies of the resolution are sent to federal lawmakers to advocate for the legislation.

This resolution designates July 18, 2026, as "Piping Plover Day" in Pennsylvania to honor the state's conservation efforts for the endangered piping plover. The measure recognizes the bird's successful return to Presque Isle State Park, where habitat restoration has supported nesting for ten consecutive years. By officially marking this date, the bill highlights the collaborative work between state agencies, federal partners, and conservation groups to protect the species and its beach habitat.

This bill creates a new regulatory framework in Pennsylvania to manage water use by large commercial entities, specifically targeting data centers and other facilities that consume significant amounts of water without returning it to natural sources. It requires these "extraordinary" nonmunicipal users to register with the state and submit detailed reports on their water consumption, while also imposing a new fee on their usage. The collected fees will be placed into dedicated funds to support watershed monitoring, critical water planning areas, and environmental restoration projects, and the bill establishes a process to ask voters if the state should be allowed to take on debt for water-related environmental initiatives. Additionally, the Department of Environmental Protection will be given specific duties to enforce these rules, including requiring preconstruction notifications from major water users, and the act includes penalties for non-compliance.

This bill establishes a ten-year pilot program in Pennsylvania to provide grants for schools to install milk dispensary systems that serve whole milk without packaging. The Department of Agriculture, working with the Center for Dairy Excellence, will manage the program by reviewing applications and funding eligible public and nonpublic schools that participate in federal nutrition programs. Grant recipients must prioritize waste reduction, serve low-income students, source milk locally, and share data on their results. To ensure safety and compliance, the program requires all systems to meet state and federal food standards while schools report quarterly data on milk usage and waste reduction.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to establish a formal process for reviewing connections between renewable energy systems and the electric grid. It requires electric distribution companies to determine at a scoping meeting whether a feasibility, impact, or facilities study is needed and mandates that these studies be completed within 90 days. Upon finishing the study, the utility must agree to perform any necessary grid upgrades, providing a timeline and cost estimates that are subject to commission approval. If the utility fails to complete these upgrades on time or within the estimated budget, the customer can use a dispute resolution process, and the commission may enforce penalties against the utility.