House, Senate Ag Committees to Hold Informational Meeting About Industrial Hemp

May. 12, 2015 /

WHAT: The House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) and Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), will hold an informational meeting to discuss legislation to allow the growth and cultivation, for research purposes, of industrial hemp in the Commonwealth.

Emrick Bill Would Correct Flaw in Teacher Certification Process

May. 12, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation that would address the misuse of a teacher evaluation test in the process of measuring college students’ performance has been unanimously passed by the state House, according to the bill’s author, state Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Nazareth). House Bill 499 may now be considered by the state Senate.

Speaker Applauds EITC/OSTC Bill Passage

May. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) applauded passage of legislation that would significantly expand the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs to help Pennsylvania students.

House Approves Christiana Bill to Increase Funding to EITC/OSTC Programs

May. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today approved legislation, authored by Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver), which aims to provide more Pennsylvania students and parents with options in pre-K-12 education with the expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs.

Simmons Bill to Allow Independent Universities to Conduct Wine Auctions Advances

May. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation that would allow independent colleges and universities in Pennsylvania to conduct wine auctions, sponsored by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton), today was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives. House Bill 619 will next be considered by the Senate.

Oberlander Secures House Approval for Chief Nursing Officer

May. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – In an effort to help strengthen the state’s role in health care across the state, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) has secured House approval of legislation she has sponsored to establish a chief nursing officer for the Commonwealth.

House Committee to Examine Change to Doe License Purchasing Process

May. 11, 2015 /

WHAT: The House Game and Fisheries Committee, chaired by state Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York), will hold a public hearing on House 231, legislation authored by state Rep. Grant Mullery (D-Luzerne) which would allow purchase of antlerless deer hunting licenses through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s automated licensing system. Doe licenses are currently purchased only through a county treasurer’s office.

Legislation Would Move Low-Income Families Toward Self- Sustainability, Lawmakers Say

May. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), along with Reps. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Tom Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), today released a statement following the introduction of House Bill 1164, which would reform the Commonwealth’s child care benefits structure in order to help families retain temporary assistance, while allowing them to earn their way out of poverty.

Barrar’s Committee to Vote on Emergency Services Bills

May. 11, 2015 /

WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will guide the committee in a vote on a number of emergency services bills including:

House to Vote on Property Tax Reduction Bill

May. 08, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) said today he is scheduling a vote next week on a proposal to significantly reduce school property taxes across the Commonwealth.

Culver Recognizes ‘Women’s Lung Health Week’ in Pennsylvania

May. 08, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – In an effort to promote lung health awareness across the state, Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Snyder) introduced House Resolution 302, which designates the week of May 10-16, as “Women’s Lung Health Week” in Pennsylvania.

Harper Discusses Marcellus Severance Tax Proposal

May. 08, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) recently sat down for a brief discussion about her legislation to impose a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

Increased Veterans Benefits Legislation Draws Tallman’s Support

May. 08, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland) today joined his House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee colleagues in advancing two pieces of legislation that would improve benefits for Pennsylvania veterans. House Bills 175 and 602, which both passed unanimously, may now be taken up by the full House.

McGinnis to Unveil Pension Reform Bill

May. 07, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. John McGinnis (R-Blair) is sponsoring legislation that would eliminate Pennsylvania’s public pension debt over 20 years with level dollar funding. House Bill 900 will be introduced and discussed at a news conference McGinnis has scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, at noon in the Capitol Media Center.