Pennsylvania lawmakers stayed busy in Harrisburg this week, with the House holding their first voting session of the year. The Senate was also in session for the first time since the start of February.

Over 50 bills were voted on in committees, and at least four bills sent to the Governor’s desk. Below are just some of the highlights.

LEGALIZING SUNDAY HUNTING

Senator Dan Laughlin’s SB 67 completely legalizes hunting on Sunday. The bill passed out of the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee today.

CAMPAIGN SPENDING

There is a national effort to pass a U.S. Constitutional Amendment that puts a cap on campaign spending. Tuesday, Pennsylvania's House State Government passed a resolution that agrees with this national movement; calling on the U.S. Congress to initiate an Amendment process.

The organization American Promise says that 81% of Pennsylvanians support such an amendment.

House Resolution 317, which received bipartisan support, still needs to be voted for on the House Floor. While it will be sent to Congress as a sign of support, it will not require any action.

 

THE BORDER CRISIS

In a non-binding resolution, Senators urged Governor Shapiro to send Pennsylvania National Guard forces to the border in Texas. The resolution does not require action, and Governor Shapiro is not likely to follow through with such a request.

Senate Resolution 251 can be read here.

VOTING IN ELECTIONS

At noon on Tuesday, House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D-191) introduced legislation to allow eligible Pennsylvanians to register on election day at the polls. It will also expand early in-person voting to two weeks. Twenty-two states and Washington D.C. have enacted same day registration. Twenty-two states and Washington DD.C. also have early in-person voting (which is accessible to all registered voters). Pennsylvania currently allows in-person absentee voting (only accessible to those who request).

At noon on Tuesday, the Senate State Government Committee voted on SB 99 to ban drop boxes and election satellite offices, and SB 250 which adds unique identifiers like watermarks,QR codes, etc. to mail in ballots; the identifiers seen as anti-fraud elements. Eleven states do not use drop boxes, with five of those states having specific laws prohibiting their use.

Time will tell how these measures are received in the opposite chamber.

COMMUNITY SOLAR

This is a piece of legislation that has existed for years, but struggled to ever get out of committee. However, H.B. 1842 broke the trend, being passed out of the Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee on Tuesday.

Community Solar is a program that allows people to subscribe to solar energy for their monthly utility bills. The goal being that people living in apartments, renting, or generally lacking the funds to invest in their own solar, can still choose it as an energy option. However, past bills always struggled in making sure that one consumer’s choice did not impact a non-solar user.

THERAPEUTIC FISHING

Senate Bill 146 is headed to the Governor’s desk to sign. The bill exempts veterans and others enrolled in therapeutic angling programs from paying fishing license fees.