With only a scant few legislative days left in this year’s Pennsylvania Assembly Session, there’s still plenty of work to get done. Here’s a taste of what your Chamber is teamed up with the PA Chamber to get across the finish line:
Potential Senate Action
H.B. 2398, PN 3563 – Testing and Deployment of Highly Autonomous Vehicles
This legislation provides for regulatory certainty and authorization for the testing and use of autonomous vehicles.
Impact on Business
Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania has become a hub for tech investment and a leader in this sector, and continued growth and investment into automation of the transportation sector will yield substantial economic growth for the state, in addition to providing greater efficiencies to the logistics sector, decreased traffic congestion, and improved highway safety.
H.B. 2458, PN 2981 – LNG Exports Task Force
This legislation establishes a task force comprised of state agency officials, legislative appointees, local government, energy and union representatives to plan for exports of liquefied natural gas.
Impact on Business
Increased development of energy infrastructure will support additional economic development in the state throughout the supply chain, while increasing the delivery of Pennsylvania-produced natural gas to Europe and other allied nations. This will allow these nations to secure their energy positions while improving progress on controlling emissions.
H.B. 2648, PN 3201 – Combatting Unemployment Compensation Fraud
This legislation clears the way for the appointment of a Special State Prosecutor in the Office of Inspector General to pursue and prosecute UC fraud.
Impact on Business
Pennsylvania employers are generally responsible for funding the state share of unemployment compensation benefits. Our state’s UC system was under extreme strain during the pandemic, which led to a greatly exacerbated spike in fraudulent claims. UC fraud destabilizes and adversely impacts both the claimant and the employers who ultimately bear the cost. Rooting out, and prosecuting instances of UC fraud will re-stabilize this important system/service, potentially return some illegally obtained funds and hopefully serve as a deterrent to future fraud.
Potential House Action
S.B. 1083, PN 1940 – Unemployment Compensation Employer Tax Rate Fix
Please see article titled: Governmental Affairs Committee Action
What’s Left to Get Done in Harrisburg?
