April 29, 2016

Weekly Wrap:

This week’s big news was the primary election. To see how things shook out in races across the Commonwealth, check out our blog at: https://www.buchanangovernmentrelations.com/worth-another-look-primary-election-post-mortem/

A Look Ahead:

Next week looks relatively quiet, with only the House of Representatives in Harrisburg for voting session. On Monday, the House Gaming Oversight Committee will hold a public hearing at Hollywood Casino on H.B. 1423 (Helm, R-Dauphin), regulating  skilled and hybrid slot machines, the House Democratic Policy Committee will hold a hearing on H.B. 348 (O’Neill, R-Bucks), which would establish a board to examine the viability of pooling school employee health benefits, and the House Education Committee will hold a meeting to consider H.B. 1159 (Hickernell, R-Dauphin), which would provide a mechanism for school funding in years the state budget is enacted past the June 30 deadline.

To read H.B. 1423, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1423

To read H.B.348, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0348

To read H.B. 1159, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1159

On Tuesday, the House Gaming Oversight Committee will be at it again, holding a public hearing on small games of chance.

Wednesday, the House Consumer Affairs Committee will meet to consider H.B. 1417 (Major, R-Susquehanna), which would provide for rural telephone access, and S.B. 984 (Bartolotta, R-Beaver), which would regulate transportation network companies, or TNC’s, in the Commonwealth.

To read H.B. 1417, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1417

To read S.B. 984, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0984

Also on Wednesday, the House Gaming Oversight Committee will meet to consider H.B. 1334 (Klunk, R-York), amending the Bingo Law, and the House Health Committee will hold an informational hearing on health innovation. Rounding out the week, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee will hold a roundtable discussion on natural gas extraction in the Lake Erie Watershed.

To read H.B. 1417, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1417

To read S.B. 984, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0984

To read H.B. 1334, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1334

On the floor, the House will consider H.B. 1999 (Adolph, R-Delaware) on Monday. H.B. 1999 is a General Appropriation bill for the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year, but we needn’t get too excited about its consideration next week. The House is likely just positioning the bill for further amendment when a budget deal is reached, and, with nearly two dozen amendments posted to it so far, allowing members a chance to put their budgetary priorities on the record before the whole house.

For a full list of committee meetings, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm

For more on potential House Floor activity, check out The Week Ahead: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm

In Other News: