Mihalek to Host House Liquor Control Committee Hearing to Address Taproom Tax

Apr. 22, 2019 /

WHAT: Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington) will host a public hearing of the House Liquor Control Committee. The purpose of the hearing is to examine the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue’s recent tax bulletin, which requires Pennsylvania breweries to collect the state’s 6% sales tax on every portion of beer sold (pints, growlers, etc.). The application of this tax is set to go into effect July 1.

House Ag Committee to Discuss PA Dairy Industry Issues

Apr. 16, 2019 /

WHAT: The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) will hold a public hearing to discuss dairy industry issues with members of the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board.

Committee to Consider Variety of Human Service Bills, Resolutions

Apr. 15, 2019 /

WHAT: The House Human Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), will hold a voting meeting to consider four proposals. They include measures that would provide for a detoxification and addiction treatment bed registry (House Bill 596); not require a positive drug test to begin treatment (House Bill 1024); recognize the rights of individuals with cognitive disabilities to technology and information access (House Resolution 74); and create an advisory committee to study ways the Commonwealth can forge the next link in the chain of care for people struggling with an addiction (House Resolution 216).

Ag Committee to Examine Bill Exempting Milk Trucks from Winter Weather Travel Bans

Apr. 09, 2019 /

WHAT: The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), will hold an informational meeting on House Bill 915, which would exempt milk trucks from winter-related travel bans in the Commonwealth. Causer introduced the bill in response to the Wolf administration issuing a disaster emergency declaration this winter in which commercial vehicles were banned three times from some portions or all of the state’s interstate highways in anticipation of snow or ice accumulations.

House Committee to Consider Child Abuse Legislation

Apr. 09, 2019 /

WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee, chaired by state Rep. Karen Boback (R-Luzerne/Lackawanna/Wyoming), will vote on two pieces of legislation dealing with different aspects of child abuse:

Committees to Examine Challenges for those with Disabilities when Traveling

Apr. 09, 2019 /

WHAT: The House Human Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), and the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, chaired by Rep. David Millard (R-Berwick), will hold a joint informational meeting on the challenges people with disabilities face when traveling.

Lawmakers to Discuss Medical Assistance Transportation Program Legislation

Apr. 08, 2019 /

WHAT: Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) will join Reps. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne), John Hershey (R-Franklin/Juniata/Mifflin) and Pam Snyder (D-Fayette/Greene/Washington) to outline their legislation, House Bill 986, which would delay the implementation of using a statewide or regional broker to help run the current Medical Assistance Transportation Program.

Rural Business Issues to be Focus of Policy Committee Roundtable

Apr. 08, 2019 /

WHAT: The House Majority Policy Committee, chaired by Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest), will travel to Wellsboro, Tioga County, to host a roundtable discussion with local businesses, education institutions and organizations. Topics to be discussed will include rural broadband access, workforce development, and deregulation and government barriers to small business. This is part of the House Republican Caucus’s #GoodJobs4PA legislative package.

Committee to Gather Information on State’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

Apr. 08, 2019 /

WHAT: The House Human Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), will hold an informational meeting on maximizing the effectiveness of Pennsylvania’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). The meeting will include discussions on ways to use best practices to streamline warm hand-offs to treat people struggling with addiction.

Judiciary Committee to Vote on Pennsylvania’s Hidden Predator Act

Apr. 05, 2019 /

WHAT: Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will hold a meeting to vote on House Bills 962 and 963. House Bill 962, sponsored by Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks), would change the civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, allowing childhood victims until age 55 to file suit, and provide for waivers of sovereign and governmental immunity relating to claims of childhood sexual abuse. It would also abolish the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse moving forward. House Bill 963, sponsored by Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair), would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to provide for a two-year window in which civil lawsuits alleging childhood sexual abuse may be filed in court, notwithstanding any otherwise applicable statute of limitations defense.

Barrar and House Committee to Receive SR 6 Update

Mar. 28, 2019 /

WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will conduct an informational hearing to receive an update on Senate Resolution 6, which focuses on recruitment and retention of first responders.

Lewis, Kenyatta to Unveil Fighting Chance Act

Mar. 25, 2019 /

WHAT: Freshman state Reps. Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin) and Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), joined by several of their colleagues, will outline their regulatory and criminal justice reform bill.