18843_Authority_Dec

Compiled by the PMAA Government Relations Staff During PMAA’s 83 rd Annual Conference at Wind Creek Bethlehem, the Government Relations team hosted the annual Legislative Committee meeting. The goal of this meeting is to have the three sub-committees (water, wastewater, and administrative) collaborate on legislative and regulatory priorities and vote on PMAA’s resolutions. At the Legislative Committee meeting, five new resolutions were proposed and adopted at the Annual Business Meeting on Monday, September 8. Resolution 3-26 RESOLVED , That PMAA support legislation improving the ratemaking process by making it more inclusive and accessible for consumers, particularly when acquisitions and utility rate changes are being considered by the PA Public Utility Commission. Resolution 7-26 RESOLVED , That PMAA support legislation updating the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Law (PENNVEST) to include increasing funding caps, streamlining administration, and expanding eligibility criteria to address stormwater management and non- point source pollution. Resolution 9-26 RESOLVED , That PMAA support legislation providing assistance and funding to municipal authorities for the implementation of new and necessary technologies, as well as employee training, to meet ongoing cybersecurity threats. Resolution 22-26 RESOLVED , That PMAA support legislation that modernizes Pennsylvania’s public notice and advertising laws to include needed flexibility while retaining transparency and accountability. Resolution 39-26 RESOLVED , That PMAA urge the PA General Assembly to consider water usage and the resiliency of community water and wastewater systems in any policy proposals designed to incentivize the growth of the data center industry in Pennsylvania. Scan to read PMAA’s testimony. Scan to read House Local Government Committee Public Hearing Report. Scan to read the Water Center’s briefing paper. Jennie Shade, Senior Director of Government Relations, PMAA, testifying before the House Local Government Committee on House Bill 1291. Water Center Briefing Paper: Informing the Discussion around Water System Restructuring PMAA was interviewed for a white paper by The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania titled Informing the Discussion around Water System Restructuring. This briefing paper offers a high-level overview of the challenges facing water and wastewater systems in the United States, how those challenges can drive system restructuring and examples of restructuring options. It is intended to serve as an initial resource that stimulates discussion among water system managers, regulators, decision makers, and the communities they serve as they consider how to best position their water systems for today and the future. The paper is informed by a limited literature review, the Water Center’s experiences providing technical assistance, and a set of interviews with representatives across the water sector. PMAA Testifies HB 1291 (Representative Robert Freeman, Northampton ) - amends Title 45 (Legal Notices) to expand the definition of “newspaper of general circulation” to include digital-only and free newspapers as well as makes various other changes to the legal notice process.