This week is one of just two weeks this fall when both the House and Senate are scheduled to be in session. Both chambers return for three days of session this week on the 19th, 20th and 21st. After this week, the House will not return to session until Oct. 24, 25, and 26. The Senate will return after this week on Oct. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26.
Several matters of interest to the business community are slated for discussion or consideration this week.
The Senate Labor and Industry Committee is scheduled to hold a voting meeting on Sept. 21 consider S.B. 1319, which is intended to prevent Unemployment Compensation tax increases on employers who were forced to shut down their business as a result of the pandemic. The House Labor and Industry Committee is scheduled to meet the same day to vote on S.B. 319, which would address a PA Supreme Court decision that disrupted a process in place for over 100 years that dictated how employers recoup workers’ compensation costs when a third party is found liable for a workplace injury. The PA Chamber supports both bills.
In addition, the House Transportation Committee will hold a voting meeting on Sept. 19 on H.B. 2638, which requires PennDOT to refund fees on certain applications if not acted upon within 90 days, and H.R. 130, which directs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to compare PennDOT’s infrastructure project development practices with that of other states. The PA Chamber supports both bills.
On Sept. 20, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold an informational hearing on the natural gas value chain, from wellhead to stovetop, and on the same day, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold an informational hearing on carbon capture and hydrogen. On Sept. 21, the House Gaming Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on H.B. 2743, which amends the gallonage requirement that governs which truck stops are eligible to host video gaming terminals (VGTs).