Tracking List: Environmental


HB327 - An Act amending the act of November 26, 1978 (P.L.1375, No.325), known as the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, providing for issuance of and conditions for continuous maintenance permits.
Sponsor: Rep. Clint Owlett (R)
Summary: (PN 282) Amends the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, providing for issuance of and conditions for continuous maintenance permits. Adds that the permit shall allow permittees to maintain, inspect and monitor water courses, water obstructions, appurtenant works and encroachments. Outlines the application process and allows for permit amendments through additions by a permittee. Adds that the permit must provide for the maintenance, inspection and monitoring of watercourses, water obstructions, appurtenant works and encroachments consistent with prior plans, specifications, reports and designs. Establishes reporting requirements for the permittee. Adds that permits are in effect for no less than 10 years and outlines the renewal process for an additional 10 years. Defines the term “municipality.” Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/24/2025 
H - Introduced
01/27/2025 
H - Referred to - House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection
HB673 - 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.
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Webster (D)
Summary: (PN 687) The Riparian Buffer Protection Act provides 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. Provides several definitions. Prohibits land development within a riparian buffer area. Provides width requirements and distances. Authorizes impaired riparian buffer restoration. Provides exemptions for land development activity. Permits municipal authority to enact a local land use ordinance to protect, preserve and restore riparian buffers. Mandates a riparian buffer ordinance adopted by a municipality shall conform to this act. Provides for existing ordinances and variances. Permits inspections by municipalities. Establishes enforcement. Creates powers and duties of the department. Authorizes the department to make property inspections and violation notices. Permits the department to delegate authority to a municipality. Establishes penalties. Explains that if a provision of this act or regulation or ordinance authorized by this act is declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remainder shall not be affected by the invalidity or unconstitutionality. Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
02/19/2025 
H - Introduced
02/20/2025 
H - Referred to - House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection
HB871 - 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.
Sponsor: Rep. David H. Zimmerman (R)
Summary: (PN 907) Amends the Clean Streams Law, in other pollutions and potential pollution, providing for notice of discharge endangering public health or environment. Establishes notification requirements of Discharge Endangering Public Health or Environment. Requires the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) to publish for public comment proposed regulations establishing reportable quantities or other readily ascertainable standards by which a person may determine whether a spill, discharge or release is likely to render the receiving water harmful no later than 180 days after the effective date. Adds that no later than 365 days after the effective date, the EQB must promulgate final regulations establishing reportable quantities or other readily ascertainable standards by which a person may determine whether a spill, discharge or release is likely to render the receiving water harmful. Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
03/10/2025 
H - Introduced
03/11/2025 
H - Referred to - House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection
HB872 - 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.
Sponsor: Rep. David H. Zimmerman (R)
Summary: (PN 908) Amends the Storm Water Management Act, further providing for watershed storm water plans and contents. Exempts a municipality that does not have a public water or sewer system from participating in the watershed storm water management plan. Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
03/10/2025 
H - Introduced
03/11/2025 
H - Referred to - House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection
HB873 - An Act providing for an erosion and sediment control permit, for compliance, for annual report and for duties of the Department of Environmental Protection.
Sponsor: Rep. David H. Zimmerman (R)
Summary: (PN 909) The Erosion and Sediment Control Permit Act provides for an erosion and sediment control permit, for compliance, for annual report and for duties of the Department of Environmental Protection. Adds definitions. Requires any person proposing an earth disturbance activity to obtain an erosion and sediment control permit from the department prior to their activity, unless the project is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements. Outlines the issuance of permit process and requirements, including approval and denial criteria and notification requirements. Establishes annual reporting requirements. Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
03/10/2025 
H - Introduced
03/11/2025 
H - Referred to - House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection
HB874 - 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 variances and exemptions.
Sponsor: Rep. David H. Zimmerman (R)
Summary: (PN 910) Amends the Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water Act, further providing for definitions and for variances and exemptions. Excludes a facility that is both owned by a church, association of churches or other religious body or institution which qualified for the exemption of taxation under 26 U.S.C. § 501 (relating to exemption from tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc.) and relies upon a privately owned water well for its drinking water supply from the definition of “public water system.” Adds assessment requirements, including recognition of no recorded illness derived from microbial contaminants present in the public water system and no evidence of microbial contaminants in the system to exemptions. Makes technical and editorial adjustments. Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
03/10/2025 
H - Introduced
03/11/2025 
H - Referred to - House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection
HB913 - An Act amending the act of June 28, 1995 (P.L.89, No.18), known as the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, in renaming Department of Environmental Resources and defining rulemaking authority of Department of Environmental Protection, repealing provisions relating to Department of Environmental Protection and providing for Department of Environmental Services; and making editorial changes.
Sponsor: Rep. Clint Owlett (R)
Summary: (PN 962) Amends the Conservation and Natural Resources Act, in renaming Department of Environmental Resources and defining rulemaking authority of Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), repealing provisions relating to DEP and providing for Department of Environmental Services; and making editorial changes. Renames DEP to the Department of Environmental Services and revises DEP references to reflect the renaming throughout the act and in all other statutes or regulations. Provides that the Department of Environmental Services shall not be affected by the use of the designation of the department as the Department of Environmental Services when providing an efficient and cost-minimizing transition, licenses, contracts, deeds and any other official actions of DEP. Permits the Department of Environmental Services to continue to use the name DEP on badges, licenses, contracts, deeds, stationery and any other official documents until existing supplies are exhausted. Allows the Department of Environmental Services to substitute titles on its documents and materials on a schedule as it deems appropriate. Provides for signage and computer systems. Effective in 30 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
03/13/2025 
H - Introduced
03/17/2025 
H - Referred to - House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection
HCO392 - Eliminating RGGI Regulation
Sponsor: Rep. Dallas Kephart (R)
Summary: Eliminates the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regulation and prevents future similar proposals from proceeding without legislative approval.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
12/09/2024 
H - Cosponsor memo filed
HCO1087 - Stream Maintenance - Former HB 200
Sponsor: Rep. Clint Owlett (R)
Summary: Allows for local government organizations to apply for a permit for continuing maintenance for a period of at least 10 years for the streams within their jurisdiction.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/16/2025 
H - Cosponsor memo filed
01/24/2025 
H - Introduced HB327
HCO1130 - Clean Streams Legislation (Prior HB 551, 2023-24)
Sponsor: Rep. David H. Zimmerman (R)
Summary: Requires a discharger to notify PA DEP of any unauthorized discharge that may cause a violation of water quality criteria under 25 Pa. Code Ch. 93 or that is reportable under federal requirements.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/17/2025 
H - Cosponsor memo filed
03/10/2025 
H - Introduced HB871
HCO1138 - DEP Permitting Review Timeframes – Erosion & Sediment Control Program (Prior House Bill 559, 2023-2024)
Sponsor: Rep. David H. Zimmerman (R)
Summary: Requires DEP to complete its permitting approval or disapproval within 45 days. 
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/17/2025 
H - Cosponsor memo filed
03/10/2025 
H - Introduced HB873
HCO1663 - Safeguarding Pennsylvania’s Consumers and Fishing Industry from Harmful Microplastics
Sponsor: Rep. Maureen E. Madden (D)
Summary: Prohibits the use of single-use plastic bags.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
02/25/2025 
H - Cosponsor memo filed
HCO1725 - Renaming of DEP
Sponsor: Rep. Clint Owlett (R)
Summary: Changes the name of the "Department of Environmental Protection" to the "Department of Environmental Services."
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
03/03/2025 
H - Cosponsor memo filed
03/13/2025 
H - Introduced HB913
HCO1876 - Healthy Outdoor Public Spaces
Sponsor: Rep. Darisha K. Parker (D)
Summary: Prohibits the use of synthetic herbicides on public grounds based on Philadelphia's Healthy Outdoor Public Spaces Ordinance. 
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
03/19/2025 
H - Cosponsor memo filed
HCO1981 - Clean Air Preservation Act
Sponsor: Rep. John A. Schlegel (R)
Summary: Establishes the Clean Air Preservation Act to prohibit the injection, release, or dispersion of chemicals, chemical compounds, or substances within the borders of Pennsylvania into the atmosphere for purposes which include affecting temperature, weather and intensity of sunlight.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
04/02/2025 
H - Cosponsor memo filed
SB118 - An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Resources, its officers and departmental and advisory boards and commissions, providing for Office of Environmental Justice.
Sponsor: Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D)
Summary: (PN 69) Amends the Administrative Code, in powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Resources (DEP), its officers and departmental and advisory boards and commissions, to provide for and establish the Office of Environmental Justice to assist in ensuring that environmental justice is effectuated in this commonwealth by requiring each commonwealth agency to make achieving environmental justice part of the agency's mission by identifying, addressing and mitigating disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of the programs, policies and activities of the agency on communities of color and low-income communities in this commonwealth of which the secretary will appoint the director. Gives the office will the duty of making recommendations to the governor’s cabinet relating to environmental justice considerations and improving public health and environment, coordinate with public agencies and assist in examining new regulations involving state action or the appropriation of money related to the impact of those actions, to provide to communities of color and low-income communities greater access to public information and opportunities for participation in decision making affecting human health and the environment, to receive comments, concerns and recommendations from individuals throughout the commonwealth, to develop resources and strategies and share relevant information with the public, to examine existing data and studies relating to environmental justice and to develop and update, no less than every five years, a statewide environmental justice strategy that identifies and addresses disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of the programs, policies, spending and other activities of the commonwealth with respect to communities of color and low-income communities. Provides for the office to ensure that meaningful opportunities exist for the public to submit comments and recommendations relating to the environmental justice strategy under paragraph (8), to hold public meetings or otherwise solicit public participation from communities of color and low-income communities for the purpose of fact-finding, policy development, receiving public comments and conducting inquiries concerning environmental justice and to prepare a public review and publish a summary of the comments and recommendation. Requires the secretary to convene a task force, to be known as the Environmental Justice Task Force, which may not have more than 15 members, to plan strategy and develop guidelines for operation of Regional Environmental Justice Committees, to prepare an annual report about the combined work of Regional Environmental Justice Committees across this commonwealth and to monitor reporting processes for Regional Environmental Justice Committees who will develop an action plan for the municipality addressing environmental factors that affect community health within 120 days of the meeting under paragraph (3)(ii) and will monitor the implementation of each action plan and make recommendations to commonwealth agencies as necessary to facilitate implementation of the action plans of which the agencies will implement these strategies to the fullest extent practicable. Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/22/2025 
S - Introduced
01/22/2025 
S - Referred to - Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
SB158 - An Act amending the act of July 13, 1988 (P.L.530, No.94), known as the Environmental Hearing Board Act, further providing for jurisdiction.
Sponsor: Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R)
Summary: (PN 108) Amends the Environmental Hearing Board Act, further providing for jurisdiction. Asserts that the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has exclusive jurisdiction over any civil action, petition for review, appeals or challenges of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) decision and directs those wanting to file a civil action against a DEP decision shall redirect their civil action to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/23/2025 
S - Introduced
01/23/2025 
S - Referred to - Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
SB186 - An Act providing for the abrogation of regulations relating to the CO2 Budget Trading Program.
Sponsor: Sen. Gene Yaw (R)
Summary: (PN 125) The Abrogation of CO2 Budget Trading Program Regulations Act abrogates the provisions of 25 Pa. Code chapter 145 subchapter E (relating to CO2 Budget Trading Program). Effective immediately.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/24/2025 
S - Introduced
01/24/2025 
S - Referred to - Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
01/27/2025 
S - Meeting Scheduled - 01/27/2025 - Voting Meeting (Senate Environmental Resources and Energy), Rules Committee Conference Room
01/27/2025 
S - Voted Favorably From Committee 
01/27/2025 
S - Reported as committed - Senate Environmental Energy and Resources
01/27/2025 
S - First consideration
01/28/2025 
S - Second consideration
01/28/2025 
S - Re-referred to - Senate Appropriations
01/28/2025 
S - Meeting Scheduled - 01/29/2025 - Voting Meeting (Senate Appropriations), Rules Committee Conference Room
01/29/2025 
S - Voted Favorably From Committee  - Senate Appropriations
01/29/2025 
S - Re-reported as committed - Senate Appropriations
02/04/2025 
S - Laid out for discussion
02/04/2025 
S - Third consideration and final passage
02/05/2025 
H - Referred to - House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection
SB187 - An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in boards and offices, establishing the Independent Energy Office; and making an appropriation.
Sponsor: Sen. Gene Yaw (R)
Summary: (PN 126) Amends Title 71 (State Government), in boards and offices, establishing the Independent Energy Office as a nonpartisan independent agency; and making an appropriation. Provides definitions. Provides the duties of the office. Establishes the Independent Energy Office Selection and Organization Committee within the office. Directs the committee to create and publish qualifications for the director of the office. Provides for members of the committee. Provides for appointments, terms and removal of director and deputy director. Establishes powers and duties of the director. Establishes the office as a legislative agency. Directs commonwealth agencies and political subdivisions to submit relevant information to the director. Allocates $1.25 million from the Alternative Fuels Incentive Fund to the office. Effective in 60 days.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/24/2025 
S - Introduced
01/24/2025 
S - Referred to - Senate Environmental Resources and Energy
01/27/2025 
S - Meeting Scheduled - 01/27/2025 - Voting Meeting (Senate Environmental Resources and Energy), Rules Committee Conference Room
01/27/2025 
S - Voted Favorably From Committee 
01/27/2025 
S - Reported as committed - Senate Environmental Energy and Resources
01/27/2025 
S - First consideration
01/28/2025 
S - Second consideration
01/28/2025 
S - Re-referred to - Senate Appropriations
01/28/2025 
S - Meeting Scheduled - 01/29/2025 - Voting Meeting (Senate Appropriations), Rules Committee Conference Room
01/29/2025 
S - Voted Favorably From Committee  - Senate Appropriations
01/29/2025 
S - Re-reported as committed - Senate Appropriations
02/03/2025 
S - Laid out for discussion
02/03/2025 
S - Third consideration and final passage
02/04/2025 
H - Referred to - House Energy
SCO32 - Establishing the Pennsylvania Department of Energy
Sponsor: Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D)
Summary: Establishes the Pennsylvania Department of Energy under a Secretary of Energy appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
12/02/2024 
S - Cosponsor memo filed
SCO88 - DEP Permitting Appeals
Sponsor: Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R)
Summary: Ensures the appellate process for certain categories of permitting decisions made by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are consistent with federal law.
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
12/02/2024 
S - Cosponsor memo filed
01/23/2025 
S - Introduced SB158
SCO393 - Department of Environmental Protection Name Change
Sponsor: Sen. Gene Yaw (R)
Summary: Changes the name of the “Department of Environmental Protection” to the “Department of Environmental Services."
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
12/16/2024 
S - Cosponsor memo filed
SCO651 - RGGI Regulation Abrogation
Sponsor: Sen. Gene Yaw (R)
Summary: Aims to abrogate the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Position: No position selected.
Bill History:
01/17/2025 
S - Cosponsor memo filed
01/27/2025 
S - Introduced SB186
01/27/2025 
S - Introduced SB187
© Copyright PLSGovTrac