Environment (Water Quality)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 1845: An Act amending the act of May 1, 1984 (P.L.206, No.43), known as the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act, further providing for definitions and for public nuisances.

HB 1845 amends Pennsylvania's Safe Drinking Water Act to update definitions related to water quality standards and address public nuisances involving drinking water. This bill would directly affect water suppliers, public health agencies, and communities by clarifying legal terms and procedures for handling unsafe water conditions. Key provisions include revising terminology to better align with current regulatory needs and establishing clearer pathways for addressing public nuisances, such as contaminated water sources. However, the specific details of these changes are not provided in the available context, so the exact scope and impact cannot be fully described. The bill has been referred to the Health committee for further consideration.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAmends Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify definitions and procedures for addressing unsafe water conditions, strengthening regulatory enforcement for public health and environmental protection.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 29, 2025

SB 204: An Act amending the act of October 4, 1978 (P.L.864, No.167), known as the Storm Water Management Act, further providing for powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Resources; repealing provisions relating to appropriations; and making editorial changes.

SB 204 amends Pennsylvania's 1978 Storm Water Management Act to update the Department of Environmental Resources to the Department of Environmental Protection and revise administrative references. It adds new requirements for the department to conduct annual water quality testing of surface waters, review watershed storm water plans with the Department of Community and Economic Development, and provide technical assistance to municipalities. The bill repeals outdated specific funding language from the original act that referenced a $500,000 appropriation for 1978-79. These changes directly affect the Department of Environmental Protection, municipalities, and counties responsible for implementing storm water management plans.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAdds annual water testing, watershed reviews, and technical assistance to municipalities, strengthening water quality management under updated environmental protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 684: An Act amending Title 58 (Oil and Gas) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in development, further providing for notification to public drinking water systems.

SB 684 amends Pennsylvania's Oil and Gas statutes to update provisions for notifying public and private drinking water systems about spills. The bill requires the Department to investigate spills upon receiving notification. After investigating, the Department must notify any public drinking water facility or private well owner that could be affected by the event. This notification must include a brief description of the spill and any expected impact on water quality.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates notification of water systems after spills, requiring investigation and impact disclosure to protect water quality, aligning with environmental protection indicators.70% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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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 24, 2025

HB 708: An Act amending the act of May 1, 1984 (P.L.206, No.43), known as the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act, further providing for powers and duties of department.

HB 708 amends Pennsylvania's Safe Drinking Water Act to clarify the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) authority in enforcing drinking water standards. The bill requires the DEP to establish a permit program for new or substantially modified public water systems, ensuring these systems meet federal drinking water standards in both design and operation. It also specifies that the DEP can require public water systems to provide monitoring data and allows for delegation of enforcement duties to local health departments under DEP oversight. These changes directly affect the DEP, public water systems, and local health departments by defining clearer enforcement procedures for drinking water safety.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAmends Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen DEP enforcement of federal standards, requiring permits and monitoring for public water systems to ensure compliance with environmental protection requirements.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Water Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 673: An Act providing for protection of existing riparian buffers, for restoration of impaired riparian buffers, for exemptions, for municipal authority, for powers and duties of Department of Environmental Protection, for property inspections, for delegation to a municipality, for municipal action appeals, for penalties, civil action and liability for costs and for effect on other Commonwealth laws or regulations and municipal ordinances.

HB 673, the Riparian Buffer Protection Act, requires property owners and developers to protect existing natural vegetation buffers along rivers and streams and restore damaged buffers. It defines "natural riparian buffers" as vegetation providing ecosystem benefits (like filtering pollution, preventing erosion, and supporting wildlife) and prohibits land development that creates impervious cover (such as roads, driveways, or concrete) within these buffer zones. Municipalities gain authority to issue permits for development, inspect properties, and enforce rules, with penalties for violations. The law also clarifies how it interacts with existing state environmental regulations and local ordinances.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates protection/restoration of riparian buffers to filter pollution, prevent erosion, and support wildlife, directly strengthening environmental regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality Wildlife

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 871: An Act amending the act of June 22, 1937 (P.L.1987, No.394), known as The Clean Streams Law, in other pollutions and potential pollution, providing for notice of discharge endangering public health or environment.

HB 871 requires anyone who spills, discharges, or releases an unpermitted substance into Pennsylvania waters (or areas likely to reach them) to notify the state environmental department if the discharge could harm public health or the environment. The bill mandates that the Environmental Quality Board create specific, publicly reviewed thresholds for determining when notice is required within 180 days, and finalize these regulations within 365 days. It directly affects businesses, industries, and others handling substances that could pollute waterways. The law changes existing pollution rules by adding this notice obligation, rather than altering pollution limits or penalties.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires notification for unpermitted discharges endangering environment, mandates thresholds for public health/environment protection, strengthening Clean Streams Law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 870: An Act amending the act of October 4, 1978 (P.L.864, No.167), known as the Storm Water Management Act, further providing for watershed storm water plans and contents.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Storm Water Management Act to allow municipal roadmasters to redirect or modify road projects in specific watershed areas to reduce storm water impacts. It directly affects local municipalities and their roadmasters, giving them flexibility in planning road infrastructure within designated watershed zones. The key change adds a new provision (Section 5(d)) requiring watershed storm water plans to include options for road project adjustments, without creating new regulations or funding. The amendment takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill requires watershed plans to include road project adjustments reducing storm water impacts, strengthening watershed protection under existing storm water management framework.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill grants roadmasters flexibility to adjust road projects in watersheds for storm water mitigation, enabling smoother infrastructure planning without restricting road development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality Roads & Highways

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 11, 2025

HB 872: An Act amending the act of October 4, 1978 (P.L.864, No.167), known as the Storm Water Management Act, further providing for watershed storm water plans and contents.

This bill requires Pennsylvania counties to develop and update storm water management plans for every watershed within their borders. Counties must create these plans within two years of the environmental department issuing guidelines and review and revise them at least every five years. Municipalities without public water or sewer systems are exempt from participating in the plans. The bill specifies deadlines and regular review intervals for existing county plans under the Storm Water Management Act.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates counties to develop and update watershed storm water plans to prevent pollution, aligning with environmental protection and pollution control indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

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