Rules & Executive Nominations 2023-2024

The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on December 13, 2023 and reported out the following bills:

HB 301 (Harkins) – The bill makes several amendments to the Public School Code as part of the 2023-2024 budget plan.

  • Reported out by a vote of 16-1.
  • Motion to Revert to Prior Printer Number 2311. Vote: 17-0.

SB 843 (Argall) – The bill makes several amendments to the Public School Code as part of the 2023-2024 budget plan.

  • Reported out, as amended, unanimously.
    • A03343 – Adopted unanimously. 

HB 1300 (Mehaffie) – Amends the Fiscal Code – implementation language for the fiscal year 2023-24 budget.

  • Reported out, as amended, unanimously.
    • A03358 – Adopted unanimously.
    • A03350 – Motion to table amendment, Vote: 11-6.

SB 44 (Dush) – The bill updates and adds definitions related to sex trafficking and commercial sex acts.

  • Reported out unanimously.

SB 361 (J. Ward) –  This legislation increases the number of judges on the court of common pleas in 10 judicial districts.

  • Reported out unanimously.

SB 527 (Farry) – Creates a new criminal offense in Title 18 for the unlawful taking of mail.

  • Reported out unanimously.

SB 596 (Argall) – The bill would amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) by lowering the thresholds to charge an individual under § 3929.3, Organized retail theft.

  • Reported out by vote of 15-2.

SB 683 (Mastriano) – Amends Title 35 to require an emergency department within an acute care hospital to test for fentanyl and xylazine if a urine drug screening is conducted to assist in diagnosing a patient’s condition.

  • Reported out unanimously.

SB 815 (Baker) – Amends the Tax Reform Code to allow the grantor of an irrevocable trust to retain the tax liability for income generated by the trust and expands the Qualified Manufacturing Innovation and Reinvestment Deduction program.

  • Reported out unanimously.

SB 838 (Baker) – Amends Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedures) to provide comprehensive probation reforms.

  • Reported out by a vote of 16-1.

SB 941 (Brooks) –  Amends the Administrative Code of 1929, as it relates to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) by providing for staffing requirements flexibilities for licensed addiction treatment programs during an opioid epidemic.

  • Reported out unanimously.

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 and reported out the following bills:

    SB 773 (Gebhard) – Updates the Medical Marijuana Act.

    • The bill was reported out by a vote of 15-2.

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 and reported out the following bills:

    SB 500 (Brooks/Schwank) – Amends the Human Services Code to provide coverage for pasteurized human donor milk under the Medical Assistance program. 

    • The bill was reported out unanimously.

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on Monday, October 23, 2023 and reported out the following bills:

    SB 694 (Farry) – The bill eliminates an obsolete provision within the Fireworks Law and establishes a requirement for registration with the Attorney General.

    • The bill was reported out by a vote of 16-1.

    SB 851 (Langerholc) –  The bill amends Title 75 (Vehicles) to make a number of technical changes to the School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program and eliminates the October 24, 2023 expiration of the program.

    • The bill was reported out by a vote of 16-1.

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on Monday, October 16, 2023 and reported out the following bill:

    HB 1351 (Frankel) – Amends the Pennsylvania Rural Health Redesign Center Authority (RHRCA) Act by providing updates to board membership terms and permits the General Assembly to appropriate funding to the authority.

    • The bill was reported out, as amended, 16-0.
      • A02562 (Pittman) – Provides for the following:
        • The Hospital QCA – the hospital assessment.
        • EMS reimbursement as passed by the Senate in HB 1300.
        • Rebasing for nursing home assessment.
        • Adopted (16-0).

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 and reported out the following:

    SB 621 (Comitta) –  The bill designates several roads and bridges.

    • The bill was reported out, as amended, unanimously.
      • A02283 (Pittman) – Adds additional roads and bridges. Adopted unanimously.

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 and reported out the following:

    SB 829 (Aument) – The bill provides for five land conveyances.

    • The bill was reported out unanimously.

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on Monday, June 26, 2023 and reported out the following:

    SB 146 (Brewster) – The bill allows veterans and other groups to fish for free if they are participating in therapeutic recreation events hosted by the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

    • The bill was reported out unanimously.

    SB 460 (Bartolotta) – This bill establishes the Child Reunification Program which requires schools to provide child identification/DNA kits for families to keep at home in the event the child goes missing.

    • The bill was reported out, as amended, unanimously.
      • Amendment A00506 (Bartolotta) – Strikes out the word “inkless.” Adopted unanimously.

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 and reported out the following:

    SR 74 (Martin) – A Resolution adopting a temporary rule of the Senate relating solely to amendments to the General Appropriation Bill and other appropriation bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, including any amendments offered to or for supplemental appropriations for prior fiscal years.

    The resolution was reported out unanimously.

    The Senate Rules and Executive Nominations Committee met on January 10, 2023 and reported out the following:

    SB 1 (Laughlin) – Proposing separate and distinct amendments to the Constitution. (1) Providing for voter identification and (2) providing that the General Assembly’s disapproval of a regulation would not be required to be presented to the governor.

    • Amendment A00013 – Amends the Pennsylvania Constitution providing for a two-year window reviving claims related to childhood sexual assault. Sen. Costa offered a motion to table the amendment, the motion failed by a vote of 6-11. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 11-6.
    • The bill was reported out as amended by a vote of 11-6.

    SB 130 (Coleman) – Constitutional amendment requiring the Auditor General to audit elections and election results each year.

    • The bill was reported out as committed by a vote of 11-6.
    Senator Jay Costa

    Senator Jay Costa

    Committee Chair, Democratic Leader