HB 553 authorizes several land transfers between Pennsylvania state agencies and local entities. It permits the Department of General Services to transfer specific lands in Harrisburg to the Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority, convey an easement for Lake Winola Access in Wyoming County, and exchange parcels between Tioga County and the Commonwealth in Tioga County. The bill also facilitates a land swap involving the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, adding a parcel to Lehigh Gorge State Park. These actions directly affect state agencies, local governments, and park management, with no new policy changes beyond land ownership adjustments. The bill was enacted on June 30, 2025.
SB 800 amends Pennsylvania's fish and boating laws to clarify how fees collected from fishing and boating activities fund specific conservation efforts. It adds provisions allowing the Fish Fund to cover expenses related to boats/boating that benefit fish and fishing, and the Boat Fund to cover expenses related to fish/fishing that benefit boats/boating. The bill requires the Fish and Boat Commission to track and report all spending under these new provisions annually to legislative committees by January 31. These changes ensure transparency in fund usage while directing resources toward overlapping conservation priorities for both fish and boating infrastructure.
HB 894 establishes the Veterans Entering the Sustainability Sector Program (VETSS) to help veterans enter jobs in renewable energy and environmental sectors. The bill creates a Veterans Entering the Sustainability Sector Fund to provide grants to eligible employers - businesses focused on renewable energy (like solar, wind, or bioenergy) that hire veterans who completed approved apprenticeship training in fields such as electrician work, solar installation, or environmental maintenance. The Department of Community and Economic Development will administer the program, overseeing training development and grant applications. This directly affects veterans seeking sustainability-sector careers and employers in renewable energy who hire them, with the goal of addressing environmental concerns like climate change through workforce development.
HB 789 amends Pennsylvania's Property Assessed Clean Energy Program to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure as a qualifying project for financing. It defines "electric vehicle charging infrastructure project" as equipment for charging electric vehicles and expands the program to cover such installations alongside energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects on commercial, agricultural, and industrial properties. The bill requires local governments to notify the Department of Revenue upon project completion, providing details and property owner contact information to ensure proper tax collection for electric vehicle charging. This update aims to streamline financing access for clean energy improvements while clarifying administrative requirements for local and state agencies.
HB 597 establishes a one-year pilot program allowing Pennsylvania municipalities to hire underemployed and unemployed residents for daily community projects like park repairs and beautification. Participants would receive same-day pay for their work, with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources required to set eligibility rules, track data, and evaluate the program’s feasibility. The bill directs the department to report findings to the legislature after the pilot ends, without creating a permanent statewide program. It affects local governments and job seekers in participating communities, focusing on testing a temporary work model.
This bill authorizes Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection to lease submerged lands in Lake Erie (Erie County) for utility-scale offshore wind, solar, or kinetic energy projects, with requirements to avoid nearshore areas, shipping lanes, and migratory pathways. It establishes the Lake Erie Large-Scale Energy System Development Fund to collect lease and royalty payments from these projects, with funds distributed for energy development and related purposes. The bill sets a lease size limit of 25 to 10,000 contiguous acres and mandates that designated areas be developed in consultation with conservation agencies.
HB 1167, titled the Clean Air Preservation Act, bans cloud seeding, solar radiation modification, and other polluting atmospheric interventions within Pennsylvania. It directly affects any person or organization (including government agencies, corporations, or individuals) conducting such activities. The law requires Pennsylvania State Police or sheriffs to issue immediate cease-and-desist orders for suspected violations, treating these orders as court-enforceable. Violators face felony charges with penalties of at least $500,000 fines or two years in prison per violation, plus potential additional penalties under Pennsylvania’s existing Air Pollution Control Act.
SB 216 modifies Pennsylvania's Second Class Township Code to establish rules for storm water management fees. It allows townships to charge property owners fees based on benefits from storm water systems, with strict limits tied to federal water laws. The bill specifically protects agricultural properties: fees for farms with under 30% covered surfaces cannot exceed twice the township's median fee, and additional reductions apply for conservation costs tied to water quality plans. All collected fees must fund storm water management, and property owners must submit annual documentation to qualify for agricultural fee reductions.
HB 1059 creates a reimbursement program for land trusts that purchase agricultural conservation easements (permanent restrictions on land use to protect farmland). It allows the state to reimburse land trusts up to $2,500 per acre or 50% of the appraised value for easement purchases (capped at $5,000 per easement) and up to $10,000 for transaction costs like appraisals and legal fees. To qualify, land trusts must register with the state, provide matching funds equal to the reimbursement amount, and meet requirements like securing easements on at least 10 acres with 50% cropland/pasture. The program is funded through an existing Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund, with $200,000 annually reserved for reimbursements, and unused funds revert to the fund by year-end.
HB 1075 amends Pennsylvania's Game Code to change how the Pennsylvania Game Commission pays for land acquisitions used as game lands. The bill removes a previous $400-per-acre payment cap, allowing the Commission to pay based solely on market value without that limit. This directly affects the Game Commission when purchasing land for conservation and landowners selling property for game land use. The key provision eliminates the specific dollar limit, requiring payments to align with local market value instead. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.
