Session Weekly Wrap-Up

The Senate unanimously concurred in House amendments to Senate Bill 1030, a compromise that enabled more than 130,000 laid off workers to continue to collect unemployment benefits. The measure also makes key reforms to the unemployment compensation system. The bill...

The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1054, the 2011-12 Capital Budget legislation. Under the bill, the state would be authorized to incur a maximum of $1,662 billion in bond indebtedness for the upcoming fiscal year, $75 million more than the previous year. The...

By a 40-9 vote, the Senate passed legislation designed to make it more difficult for illegal aliens to receive public benefits, such as Medicaid, welfare and in-state college tuition. Senate Bill 9 would require individuals requesting public benefits in the...

The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would add certain synthetically produced drugs to the list of Schedule I controlled substances under the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. Schedule I drugs are substances that are unsafe, have a high...

The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would establish the Sexual Violence Victim Protection Act. Senate Bill 58 would allow a victim of sexual assault to petition the court, requesting protection from the defendant — a current option for victims of domestic...

The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would broaden language in the Rail Freight Preservation and Improvement Act (Act 119 of 1984) pertaining to grant work. The law currently allows a railroad to use in-house employees to do a project that receives a Rail...

By a vote of 33-17, the Senate passed a bill that repeals the requirement for automatic sprinkler systems in new home construction, and alters the operation of the advisory body that recommends changes in Pennsylvania’s construction code. Opponents of House Bill 377...

The Senate passed Senate Bill 325 by a 49-1 vote.  The bill would create the Gas and Hazardous Liquids Pipelines Act.  This law would give the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) the general administrative authority to supervise and regulate pipeline...

The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 159, which would establish the “Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children Act” in Pennsylvania.  This would allow the state to enter the Interstate Compact with other states to make education more...

The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 387, which would expand the sale of reduced-fee hunting licenses for members of the military and National Guard. Senate Bill 387 would allow all state hunting license-issuing agents to sell reduced-fee hunting licenses to...

The Senate approved legislation that would place restrictions on junior drivers. Under House Bill 67, junior drivers would be prohibited from using cell phones except to call 911. Pointing to the state's seat belt law as a good example of emphasizing education over...

The Senate unanimously concurred in House amendments to House Bill 48, which would broaden the definitions of “eligible entity” and “public venue.” House Bill 48 would change the definition of eligible entity to allow clubs, recognized by Rotary International, located...

By a vote of 47-2, the Senate passed a measure to encourage development of low-cost housing using federal funds.  House Bill 60 creates the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Program to be administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance...

The Senate passed House Bill 47 with a 35-15 vote.  The measure would create the “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Education and Prevention Program.” The program would promote public awareness and educate parents on the risk factors and prevention of Sudden Infant Death...

The Senate unanimously approved legislation that contains numerous omnibus amendments to Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations) and Title 20 (Decedents, Estate and Fiduciaries). Senate Bill 53 affects changes to the Uniform Trust Act;  the rule...

With a daunting national recession taking its toll on state revenues, the Senate voted 37-13 for a $28.05 billion on-time 2010-11 state budget that holds the line on taxes while cutting over $1 billion in spending beyond what Gov. Ed Rendell proposed in February....

The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 929, which would create the “Higher Education College Textbook Affordability, Accountability and Accessibility Act” to minimize the cost of course materials for students and maintain the quality of education and academic...

The Senate voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 104.  The bill would put restrictions on the use of state vehicles and establish more transparency.   The measure requires state vehicles assigned to employees to have license plates identifying "official use."...

The Senate passed an amended version of House Bill 48 by a 41-6 vote.  This bill makes numerous changes to the Liquor Code concerning eligible entities, public venues, and hotel licenses. Under this legislation, restaurant owners who hold sacramental wine licenses...

   The Senate voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 464, the so-called “Hannah Montana legislation,” which would prohibit the use of automated ticket purchasing software for the purchase of entertainment tickets over an Internet Web site. The...