October 19, 2026 · APPROPRIATIONS · 1,630 words · 3 speakers · 84 segments
Thank you. Thank you. I call this meeting of the House Appropriations Committee to order. Please proceed with the roll call.
Chairman Harris. Here. Abney. Bellman. Designation. Brennan. Curry. Designation. Donahue. Designation. Fleming. Friel. Designation. Gallagher. Guzman. Kahn. Kincaid. Designation. Kosarowski. Designation. Mattson, Maligari, Mays, Mullins, Salisbury, Sanchez, Waxman, Designation, Webster, Young, Chair Struzzi? Here. Barton? Here. Brown? Designation. Devienzo? Designation. Flood? Kale? Krupa? Designation. Kutz? Mako? Marcel? Designation. Mustillo? Nelson? Alsamer? Designation. Reichard, designation, and Rigby.
Forum is present on our agenda today. We have House Bills 349, 961, 2023, 2674, 2706, 2771, 2790, 2826. Senate Bills 831. 416 is over for today. I'm sorry, scratch that. Senate Bill 381. Senate Bill 416 will be over for today. Senate Bill 418. Senate Bill 481. Senate Bill 782. Senate Bill 908. Senate Bill 1014. Senate Bill 1183 Senate Bill 1217 Senate Bill 1260 and House Resolution 657 Committee Executive Director please we'll have a brief overview of all of the bills
Thank you Mr. Chairman we have House Bill 349 which allows Pennsylvania State Police Officers who have served as municipal police officers in the Commonwealth to purchase up to five years of state employment service for the work. House Bill 969-61 clarifies the run of river dam responsibilities. House Bill 2023 prohibits eviction during times of extreme weather House Bill 2674 precludes a commercial data center from becoming a public utility House Bill 2706 removes the child and dependent care enhancement tax credit from the fiscal code and aligns the tax credit with federal law. House Bill 2771 restricts the use of automated license plate reader systems. House Bill 2790 prohibits streaming services from transmitting advertisements audio at a higher volume than the accompanying program. House Bill 2826 establishes a fire cancer screening program. Senate Bill 381 bans animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of animal tested cosmetics. Senate Bill 418 clarifies the procedure for filling vacancies in the Office of District Attorney in the counties of the 2nd Class A through 8th Class County. Senate Bill 481 raises milk transportation weight limits. Senate Bill 782 allows SERS and PSERS annuitants to serve as part-time emergency services instructors without impacting their annuity payments. Senate Bill 908 modifies the types of projects subject to prevailing wage requirements. Senate Bill 1014 requires a school entity to adopt a policy that bans the use of a mobile device during the school day. Senate Bill 1183 increases the annual revenue thresholds that require financial review for charitable organizations. Senate Bill 1217 designates several highways and bridges in this commonwealth. Senate Bill 1260 establishes the Electrical Services Licensure Act, and House Resolution 657 designates November 18, 2026 as Kata Scott Day in Pennsylvania. So is the agenda, Mr. Chairman?
Thank you. Before we proceed, the chairman has a guest he would like to introduce. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to recognize Brooklyn Wisniewski.
She is a junior at Homer Center School District in Indiana County, and she's job shadowing me for the day as well as serving as a guest page. So welcome, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn in the building. Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at? Extra points if anybody knows what song that's from. Do you know what song that's from, Brooklyn? Where Brooklyn at? We'll talk afterwards. All right. Representative Waxman is here Let's do it this way Chair calls up House Resolution 6-5 Y'all know it in the corner? What y'all thinking about in the corner? No? Okay, that's a shame We're going to have music history in this committee For the last two days So be prepared, ladies and gentlemen The chairs are going to call up House Resolution 6-5-9 6-5-7 I need glasses, but I refuse to get them. But I'm working on it. House Resolution 657 is now before the committee. Is there any discussion on House Resolution 657?
On House Resolution 657, Republicans will be supportive in moving the bill, the resolution out of committee.
Thank you.
All the Democrats will also vote in the affirmative.
House Resolution 657 will pass the committee with a unanimous vote. be referred to the Florida House of Resolution. House of Representatives. We're going to go back. Let's do everything with amendments. Chair calls up House Bill 961. For the committee is House Bill 961. House Bill 961 has an amendment offered by Chairman Struzzi. Amendment A, 04703. before the committee is Amendment A-04703. Any comments on the amendment, Chairman?
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am offering this amendment at the request of the prime sponsor to clarify language, resolve concerns, and eliminate the need for amendment in the Senate. This amendment removes language in the bill that states regardless of education and adds language that clarifies the intent of subsequent offenses while ensuring that anyone charged with an offense under the bill will have due process by requiring the Commonwealth to meet the appropriate burden of proof This amendment is supported by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and I would ask for a supportive vote. Thank you.
Thank you. for the committee as the amendment is
all the Democrats will vote in the affirmative
on the amendment. Any negative votes? No negative votes. The amendment will pass unanimously now before the committee's House Bill 961 as amended. Any discussion on the bill as amended?
All Republicans will be supportive. All the Democrats will vote in the affirmative
and therefore House Bill 961 will pass the committee as amended and be referred to the floor of the House. Chair calls up House Bill 2700. 2706. Before the committee is now House Bill 2706, which has Amendment A-04692, which I will offer a brief overview of the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This amendment changes the effective date to 2026.
Thank you. Before the committee is the amendment, are there any negative votes on the amendment?
No negative votes.
Seeing no negative votes, the amendment will pass unanimously. Before the committee now is House Bill 2701 as amended. Is there any negative votes on the bill as amended?
No negative votes, Mr. Chairman.
Seeing none, all the Democrats will also vote in the affirmative. House Bill 2706 will pass the committee as amended. Re-refer to the floor of the House.
House. Senate Bill. No. Yes.
Senate Bill 1260. Chair calls up Senate Bill 1260. Senate Bill 1260 has an amendment, Amendment A-04-677, which I will offer. For the committee now is Amendment A-04-677. Please provide a brief overview of the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This amendment makes three changes. corrects a drafting error in the itemized list of exceptions to licensure, clarifies that the exception to licensure for work performed on premises owned, leased, operated, or controlled by the employee's employer also extends to the premises of a customer for the purposes of customary warranty or service work on a product sold or leased by the employee's employer, and finally adds an exception to a licensure for electrical work performed on a vessel in connection with shipbuilding where the work is subject to applicable federal requirements. Thank you.
Representative Kincaid is here. Are there any negative votes on the amendment?
No negative votes.
Seeing no negative votes, Democrats will also vote in the affirmative for the amendment. Therefore, the bill is now before Senate Bill 1260 is before the committee as amended. Any negative votes on the bill as amended?
No negative votes.
All the Democrats will also vote in the affirmative, and therefore Senate Bill 1260 will pass the committee as amended, be referred to the floor of the House of Representatives. All right. All right. Chair calls up these bills as a package of bills. House Bill 349. House Bill 2674. House Bill 2771. House Bill 2790. House Bill 2826. Senate Bill 418. Senate Bill 481. Senate Bill 782. House Bill, Senate Bill 1014. Senate Bill 1183 Senate Bill 1217 Did I say Senate Bill 381
You did not.
Senate Bill 381 will also be included in this package of bills. Before this committee, is this package of bills? Any discussion on the package?
On this package of bills, Mr. Chairman, all Republicans will be voting in the affirmative.
All of the Democrats will vote in the affirmative and therefore package of bills containing House Bill 349, House Bill 2674, House Bill 2706, House Bill 2771, House Bill 2790, House Bill 2826, Senate Bill 381, Senate Bill 418. Senate Bill 481, Senate Bill 782, Senate Bill 1014, Senate Bill 1183, Senate Bill 1217, will all pass the committee with a unanimous vote. Everybody got that? All right. Chair calls up House Bill 2023. Before the committee is House Bill 2023, please provide, please proceed with a roll call.
Chairman Harris.
Yes.
Abney. Bellman.
Yes. All of the Democrats will vote in the affirmative.
Chair Struzzi.
Yes.
Barton. Brown.
Designation, yes.
Devanzo.
Designation, yes.
Flood. Kale. Rupa.
Designation, yes.
Kutz?
Designation, yes.
Mako? Marcel?
Designation, yes.
Mustelo? Nelson?
Designation, no.
Alsamer?
Designation, yes.
Reichard?
Designation, yes.
And Rigby?
Seeing it, I have it. House Bill 2023 will pass the committee. Be referred to the floor of the House. Chair calls up Senate Bill 908. Senate Bill 908 is now before the committee. Please proceed with the roll call.
Chair Harris.
Yes.
Abney. Bellman.
Yes.
Brennan. Curry.
Yes. All the Democrats will vote in the affirmative.
Chair Struzzi.
No.
Barton. Brown.
Designation, no.
Devanzo.
Designation, yes.
Flood. Kale. Krupa.
Designation, no.
Kutz.
Designation, no.
Mako. Marcel.
Designation, yes.
Mustelo. Nelson. Alsamer.
Designation, no.
Reichard.
Designation, no.
And Rigby.
Seeing that the ayes have it, Senate Bill 908 will pass the committee be re-referred to the floor of the House. Seeing that there is now no further business before this committee, this committee meeting will now stand adjourned.
Thank you.