Environment

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 574: An Act amending the act of October 18, 1988 (P.L.756, No.108), known as the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions and providing for disaster emergency declaration and for testing requirement, duty to report and public access; in powers and duties, further providing for powers and duties of department; and, in liability and settlement procedures, further providing for responsible person.

HB 574 amends Pennsylvania's Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act to update definitions and establish emergency water protections. It specifically adds PFAS chemicals (like PFOA and PFOS) to the definition of "hazardous substance" and creates a new designation for "special drinking water resource-impacted communities" when groundwater or surface water exceeds 10 parts per trillion of PFAS over a 12-month average or contains other pollutants threatening public water supplies. The bill grants the Governor authority to declare such communities and set immediate emergency water standards and cleanup requirements without waiting for full site remediation. This directly affects municipalities with contaminated water sources, particularly those dealing with PFAS contamination requiring urgent public health responses. The changes aim to streamline emergency actions for communities facing immediate drinking water risks from hazardous substances.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdds PFAS to hazardous substances definition and creates water protections for communities exceeding 10 ppt PFAS, strengthening pollution control under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Hazardous Materials Natural Disasters

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 759: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in grounds and buildings, providing for certified point-of-use filter required; establishing the Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Environmental Protection.

SB 759 requires all Pennsylvania public school buildings to install certified point-of-use filters on drinking water outlets by January 1, 2027, replacing older fountains without lead-reducing filters at a rate of at least one per 100 students/staff. It creates the Safe Schools Drinking Water Fund, providing up to $10 million annually for three years to help schools cover installation and replacement costs, with priority for pre-2014 buildings and those serving prekindergarten students. Schools must maintain filter schedules, post lead-risk information online, and report progress to state agencies, while new outlets must meet strict lead-leaching standards. The bill directly affects all public K-12 school entities in Pennsylvania, aiming to reduce lead exposure in drinking water.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $10M/year fund for school water filters, requiring infrastructure upgrades in K-12 facilities to ensure safe drinking water, directly supporting school safety and infrastructure needs.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates lead-reducing filters for school drinking water to prevent lead pollution, creating a fund for implementation. Directly addresses water pollution control under environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Drinking Water

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 17, 2025

HB 244: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for exclusions from tax.

HB 244 exempts the sale or use of alternative fuel vehicles and hybrid vehicles from Pennsylvania's sales and use tax during 2026 and 2027. It directly affects consumers purchasing qualifying vehicles during those years, as well as dealers and the state's tax administration. The bill requires the Secretary of Environmental Protection to certify eligible vehicle models, using definitions from Pennsylvania's existing Alternative Fuels Incentive Act (2004). This creates a temporary tax break for specific vehicle types to encourage adoption during the 2026-2027 period. The exemption applies only to vehicles meeting the defined criteria and takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles from sales tax (2026-2027), providing targeted tax relief to consumers purchasing qualifying vehicles per Tax Reform Code.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExempts alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles from sales tax to promote cleaner transportation adoption and reduce fossil fuel dependence per 2026-2027 tax break.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExempts alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles from sales tax to incentivize cleaner transportation, reducing emissions and aligning with environmental protection goals.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExempts alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles from sales tax to promote sustainable transportation adoption, aligning with 'promotes sustainable transportation' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax Tax Incentives Electric Vehicles

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 14, 2025

HB 52: An Act amending the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, providing for building permits and endangered and threatened species; and making an appropriation.

HB 52 requires developers seeking building permits in Pennsylvania to submit information about potential impacts on endangered or threatened species to three state agencies: the Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These agencies must review the information within 90 days to determine if construction would harm protected species, providing written confirmation to both the developer and the municipality. If agencies fail to complete the review within 90 days, it is presumed no harm exists, allowing the municipality to issue the permit. The bill also includes funding to support this process. This directly affects developers, municipalities, and state agencies involved in building permit approvals.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates agency review of developer impacts on endangered species, requiring written confirmation before permits, strengthening protections for protected species under the Construction Code Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 23, 2025

SB 159: An Act amending the act of July 13, 1988 (P.L.530, No.94), known as the Environmental Hearing Board Act, further providing for definitions and for jurisdiction.

SB 159 amends Pennsylvania's Environmental Hearing Board Act to clarify definitions and limit the scope of board reviews for environmental permit appeals. It defines key terms like "record of decision" (the complete set of documents the department used when approving or denying a permit) and adds a rule that appeals to the Environmental Hearing Board must be limited to that record alone. This means applicants cannot present new evidence during appeals, and must prove the department made a mistake in its decision using only the existing record. The bill directly affects permit applicants, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Environmental Hearing Board by streamlining appeal procedures.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentLimits environmental permit appeal scope by restricting new evidence, weakening review process and reducing oversight on environmental decisions.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 185: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in sales and use tax, further providing for exclusions from tax.

HB 185 adds a temporary sales and use tax exemption in Pennsylvania for Energy Star and WaterSense products sold or used during a specific annual period. The exemption applies to products certified by the EPA for energy efficiency (Energy Star) or water efficiency (WaterSense) during the week of April 22-29 each year, starting in 2025. This directly affects retailers selling these products and consumers purchasing them during that week, as they would not pay state sales tax on qualifying items. The change modifies the Tax Reform Code of 1971 to exclude these products from taxation during this designated timeframe. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides temporary sales tax exemption for energy-efficient products, offering direct tax relief to consumers during designated period, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill promotes energy efficiency by exempting sales tax on EPA-certified Energy Star products during annual window, directly incentivizing consumer adoption of efficient technologies.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTax exemption for EPA-certified energy/water efficiency products (Energy Star, WaterSense) promotes conservation and reduces resource use, directly supporting environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax Tax Incentives Energy Efficiency

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 234: An Act amending the act of May 1, 1933 (P.L.103, No.69), known as The Second Class Township Code, in storm water management plans and facilities, further providing for fees.

HB 234 amends Pennsylvania's Second Class Township Code to establish a fee structure for storm water management facilities, systems, and plans. Townships may charge reasonable, property-based fees that cannot exceed costs required by federal and state storm water regulations. The bill requires townships to offer exemptions or credits for properties with approved storm water facilities or for agricultural operations using USDA-approved best management practices. This change directly affects townships and property owners by creating a standardized approach to funding storm water infrastructure.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires exemptions for properties using USDA-approved best management practices, promoting pollution control in storm water management per federal/state regulations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 22, 2025

HB 235: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in municipal authorities, further providing for purposes and powers.

HB 235 amends Pennsylvania law to allow municipal stormwater authorities to establish rates based on property characteristics, such as the installation and maintenance of approved stormwater management practices. The bill specifically permits authorities to set rates considering features like land use, while requiring practices to be approved and inspected by the authority. It also includes an exception for agricultural operations, allowing rates to be based on USDA or state-approved conservation practices. This change gives local governments more flexibility in funding stormwater management programs through targeted rate structures.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill requires municipal stormwater authorities to use approved management practices with inspections, promoting pollution control and conservation through rate structures tied to land use.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Water Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 508: An Act establishing the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Fund; and imposing duties on the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

HB 508 establishes the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Program, providing financial support to nonprofit wildlife rehabilitators in Pennsylvania based on their previous year's animal intake. The Pennsylvania Game Commission administers the program, awarding grants ranging from $2,500 (for 1-100 animals) up to $75,000 (for over 2,500 animals) to cover rehabilitation services, facility improvements, or related activities. Grants are distributed on a first-come basis until the Wildlife Rehabilitation Grant Fund is exhausted, with each rehabilitator limited to one grant per office location annually. This program directly supports organizations that care for and release injured, sick, orphaned, or displaced wildlife back into natural habitats.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds wildlife rehabilitation programs to protect native species through grants for rehabilitators, directly advancing conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 21, 2025

HB 698: An Act providing for bisphenol A-free container products.

HB 698 would require all food and beverage containers sold in Pennsylvania to contain no more than 0.1 parts per billion of bisphenol A (BPA), directly affecting manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of such containers. The bill prohibits containers with BPA above this level and mandates that manufacturers replace BPA with the least toxic alternative, while banning substitutions with known carcinogens or reproductive toxicants identified by the EPA. Violations would be enforced under Pennsylvania’s existing Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, and the law would take effect 60 days after enactment. This focuses on setting a measurable safety standard for consumer products without advocating for specific outcomes.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts BPA in containers to reduce toxic pollution, aligning with environmental protection regulations by mandating safer alternatives and banning carcinogens.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

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