June 19-22, 2023

Bill voted on Third Consideration

SB 621 (COMITTA) Designates the portion of Route 41 (Gap Newport Pike) in West Fallowfield Township, Chester
County, as the Corporal Brandon Hardy Memorial Highway. PASSED 50-0.

Bills voted on Supplemental Calendar

SB 290 (MASTRIANO) Amends the Public School Code to provide for a moment of silence in schools for the anniversary of September 11, 2001, and to require the Department of Education to establish a curriculum for instruction on the events and significance of that day. PASSED 49-1.

SB 607 (J. WARD) Amends the State Lottery Law to extend the moratorium on the inclusion of the Social Security cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) when calculating eligibility for individuals enrolled in the PACE and PACENET programs until December 31, 2025. PASSED 50-0.

SB 746 (VOGEL) Amends the Dog Law to increase certain dog license and kennel fees and allow the Secretary of Agriculture to increase annual dog license fees up to $3 by the end of 2027; require the Department of Agriculture to implement an online site capable of selling dog licenses in counties where not available; increase penalties for failure to provide proof of licensure for a dog and civil penalties for unlicensed kennels; provide for the licensure of rescue network kennels; establish certain new requirements for pet shop kennels and kennels offering dogs directly to the public; and make changes to dangerous dog provisions. OVER AS AMENDED.

A01140 (VOGEL) Increases the fee collected by county treasurers for lifetime dog licenses from $1 plus postage to $3 plus postage. ADOPTED 47-3.

Bill amended on Third Consideration

SB 497 (ROBINSON) Creates the Max Manufacturing Initiative Act to establish the Max Manufacturing Fund for the issuance of matching grants and low-interest loans by DCED to public-private partnerships, contracting authorities, and State-related institutions conducting or facilitating advanced manufacturing. Grants may be for specialized equipment, infrastructure, and integrated systems. Loans may be for purchasing, constructing, renovating, or rehabilitating facilities to be used in a shared infrastructure project. OVER AS AMENDED.

A01136 (ROBINSON) Removes language referring to rules and regulations and instead uses guidelines,
which is in line with other DCED grants. Adds a cap of $2M for grants. ADOPTED 49-1.

Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 527 (FARRY) Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) to make theft of mail by unlawful taking or transfer an offense. PASSED 44-6.

SB 709 (BOSCOLA) Amends Title 34 (Game) to increase the penalties for killing or unlawfully taking a Bald or Golden
eagle. PASSED 48-2.

SB 746 (VOGEL) Amends the Dog Law to increase certain dog license and kennel fees and allow the Secretary of Agriculture to increase annual dog license fees up to $3 by the end of 2027; require the Department of Agriculture to implement an online site capable of selling dog licenses in counties where not available; increase penalties for failure to provide proof of licensure for a dog and civil penalties for unlicensed kennels; provide for the licensure of rescue network kennels; establish certain new requirements for pet shop kennels and kennels offering dogs directly to the public; and make changes to dangerous dog provisions. PASSED 43-7.

SB 770 (COLEMAN) Designates a portion of Route 143 in Lehigh County as Heroes Highway. PASSED 50-0.

Bill on Third Consideration and amended on Supplemental

SB 198 (BARTOLOTTA) Amends the Environmental Hearing Board Act to define what a record of decision is and limits the scope of any permit appeal review by the Environmental Hearing Board to it solely. OVER AS AMENDED.

A00915 (BARTOLOTTA) Clarifies the Environmental Hearing Board’s scope and standard of review on appeal from a ruling by the Department of Environmental Protection on a permit application. ADOPTED 28-22.

Bill amended on Third Consideration

SB 37 (BROWN) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to increase penalties for texting while driving violations and further prohibit the use of a handheld interactive mobile device while driving. OVER AS AMENDED.

A01208 (BROWN) Clarifies that the prohibition refers to a handheld device. Removes the imposition of points and the 60-day suspension as penalties for certain violations. Simplifies the definition of “use an interactive mobile device.” Removes redundant language under exceptions that is already covered in another section of the bill. ADOPTED 48-2.

Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 481 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account within the General Fund to the Department of State for the operation of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs for the 2023-24 fiscal year. PASSED 50-0.

SB 482 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation from the Workmen’s Compensation Administration Fund to the Department of Labor and Industry for the administration of the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act for Fiscal Year 2023-24. PASSED 50-0.

SB 483 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation from the restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate (OSBA) in the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). PASSED 50-0.

SB 484 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) in the Office of the Attorney General for the 2023-24 fiscal year. PASSED 50-0.

SB 485 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation from the Public School Employees’ Retirement Fund to the Public School Employees’ Retirement Board (board) for expenses incurred by the board for the administration of the legacy defined benefit retirement system in Fiscal Year 2023-24 and any remaining bills unpaid at the close of Fiscal Year 2022-23. PASSED 50-0.

SB 486 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation from the State Employees’ Retirement Fund to the State Employees’ Retirement Board (board) for expenses incurred by the board for the administration of the legacy defined benefit retirement system in Fiscal Year 2023-24 and any remaining bills unpaid at the close of Fiscal Year 2022-23. PASSED 50-0.

SB 487 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation from the Philadelphia Taxicab and Limousine Regulatory Fund and the Philadelphia Taxicab Medallion Fund to the Philadelphia Parking Authority (authority) for Fiscal Year 2023-24. PASSED 50-0.

SB 488 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation from the restricted revenue account within the General Fund and federal funds to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) for the 2023-24 fiscal year. PASSED 50-0.

SB 489 (MARTIN) Preferred appropriation for the 2023-24 fiscal year from the State Gaming Fund restricted revenue accounts for the operations of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and operations related to gaming within the Department of Revenue, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Attorney General. PASSED 50-0.

SB 198 (BARTOLOTTA) Amends the Environmental Hearing Board Act to define what a record of decision is and limits the scope of any permit appeal review by the Environmental Hearing Board to it solely. PASSED 28-22.

SB 199 (BARTOLOTTA) Amends the Environmental Hearing Board Act to require Senate confirmation by a simple majority for members of the Environmental Hearing Board to be reappointed. PASSED 28-22.

SB 497 (ROBINSON) Creates the Max Manufacturing Initiative Act to establish the Max Manufacturing Fund for the issuance of matching grants and low-interest loans by DCED to public-private partnerships, contracting authorities, and State-related institutions conducting or facilitating advanced manufacturing. Grants may be for specialized equipment, infrastructure, and integrated systems. Loans may be for purchasing, constructing, renovating, or rehabilitating facilities to be used in a shared infrastructure project. PASSED 47-3.

Bills voted on Supplemental

SB 561 (LANGERHOLC) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to exempt the newest model year vehicles from the emissions test for five years and ban a gas cap test when a subject vehicle is not manufactured with a gas cap. PASSED 32-18.

SB 562 (LANGERHOLC) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to exempt certain counties of the third class, fourth class, and fifth class from the vehicle emissions test. PASSED 31-19.

SB 656 (ROTHMAN) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to establish a Road User Charge (RUC) for non-commercial passenger Electric Vehicles (EV) weighing not more than 14,000 pounds and repeals the at-home electricity reporting requirement. PASSED 41-9.

Executive Nominations

Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission, Kevin F. Mahoney CONFIRMED 50-0.
Board of Trustees of Wernersville State Hospital, Rosemary A. Alberghini CONFIRMED 50-0.
Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Latika D. Davis-Jones CONFIRMED 50-0.
Secretary of Labor and Industry, Nancy A. Walker CONFIRMED 49-1.

Bills voted on Third Consideration

SB 414 (VOGEL) Creates the Sexual Assault Emergency Services Act which authorizes the establishment of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs by hospitals, mandates the Department of Health to publish and maintain a comprehensive and updated list of such programs, and authorizes a grant program to establish and support SANE services. PASSED 48-0.

SB 694 (FARRY) Amends Title 3 (Agriculture) to remove National Fire Protection Association Standard 1124 (NFPA 1124) as a requirement for consumer firework retail facilities to meet. PASSED 48-0.

SB 753 (KEARNEY) Amends Title 8 (Boroughs and Incorporated Towns) making various clarifications and technical changes, creating a process for boroughs to increase or reduce council size regardless of population, and adding a new chapter regarding solid waste collection and disposition. PASSED 48-0.

Resolution adopted

SR 46 (Pennycuick) Directs the Joint State Government Commission to establish the Task Force on Women Veterans’ Health Care. ADOPTED 48-0.

Bill voted on Supplemental

SB 37 (BROWN) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to increase penalties for texting while driving violations and further prohibit the use of a handheld interactive mobile device while driving. PASSED 37-11.

Executive Nominations

Secretary of Corrections, Laurel R. Harry CONFIRMED 48-2.