Pennsylvania\u2019s legislators return to the capitol Monday following a 10-week recess, with several unresolved issues awaiting action, including the future of skill games, regulation of data centers, rising utility costs and restrictions on cell phone use in schools.<\/p>\n
Skill Games<\/p>\n
\nFollowing a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in June that determined skill games are slot machines,<\/a> the legislature was given 120 days to establish a law to keep the industry alive.<\/p>\n \nAdvocates for skill games have encouraged Pennsylvanians to call their representatives to ask them to support bills that would regulate the machines.<\/p>\n \nHB2213 and SB1079 are bipartisan measures. Rep. Danilo Burgos (D-197) is prime sponsor of the house bill.<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis is about job security for community members across Pennsylvania,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd helping keep doors open at VA clubs, at VFWs, and a slew of other community groups that benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n \nRepublican Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) is prime sponsor of the Senate bill.<\/p>\n \n\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a tremendous hit to a significant number of Pennsylvanians if we don\u2019t address it,\u201d Yaw said. \u201cI can\u2019t remember anything that I have been involved in in the Senate that would affect so many people negatively in one instant happening.\u201d<\/p>\n \nThe Senate only has six session days to address it before the deadline, but Yaw says lawmakers could reach an agreement.<\/p>\n \nLast week, Rep. Brad Roae (R-6) proposed legislation to extend the deadline by six months.<\/p>\n \n\u201cIt is unlikely that legislation to make skill games legal, establish a tax rate, establish regulations, and decide how to spend the revenue will get done by October 13,\u201d Roae said in a memo announcing the bill.<\/p>\n Data Centers<\/p>\n \nThe rapid growth of the AI industry in Pa. progressed over the summer, with more developments popping up all over the state.<\/p>\n \nGov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order<\/a> Aug. 18 to further restrict data centers in response to increased concerns from Pennsylvania residents.<\/p>\n \nHB2775, introduced this month by Rep. Kyle Donahue (D-113), would require developers to establish an electricity provider before getting zoning approval.<\/p>\n \n\u201cThey\u2019re not disclosing if they have a user, if they have their interconnections approved and the fees paid for that,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s making them get some skin in the game on the front end.\u201d<\/p>\n \nHB2674 would prohibit data centers from reaching public utilities status, which could allow a developer to use eminent domain.<\/p>\n \n\u201cWe\u2019ve passed a lot of legislation on data centers that I think would put up some very good guardrails,\u201d Donahue said. \u201cI don\u2019t think individually they\u2019re the silver bullet, but I think put together it really does create at least some sort of framework to regulate these developments that are just exploding across the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n Utility rates<\/p>\n \nData center development is putting a significant strain on the regional power grid, according to an analysis released by the Public Utility Commission.<\/p>\n \nAs utility rates increase across the state, Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D-184) proposed several bills aimed at lowering electric bills and accelerating energy production.<\/p>\n \nHB2224 would ensure fair utility rates by providing for return on equity and limiting<\/p>\n \n\u201cPeople\u2019s utility bills have become totally\u00a0unaffordable,\u201d Fiedler said in a statement. \u201cYet Pennsylvania\u2019s utility monopolies aren\u2019t struggling: they earn among the highest profit margins for their shareholders. These excessive profits come straight out of the pockets of residents and businesses. Pennsylvanians should pay the true cost of safe and reliable service, and not a dollar more.\u201d<\/p>\n \nThe House unanimously passed the bill in June, and Fiedler is hopeful for a Senate vote soon.<\/p>\n Cell phone ban in schools<\/p>\n \nThere are two bills that would ban cell phone use in schools<\/a> waiting to be voted on.<\/p>\n \nHB1814 passed the house in June, while SB1014 was passed in the Senate in February.<\/p>\n