Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1048

Introduced
3/25/25  
Refer
3/25/25  
Refer
6/16/25  
Report Pass
6/17/25  
Engrossed
6/23/25  

Caption

Providing for water and sewer projects.

Impact

Under HB1048, municipalities are empowered to use public funds and municipal employees for the replacement or remediation of private lateral projects. The criteria for such actions center around public health benefits and the operational capacity of the existing water and sewer systems. The bill emphasizes the need for municipalities to prioritize using supplies made or assembled in the United States, which could influence local procurement strategies and possibly enhance local economic development through the support of domestic suppliers.

Summary

House Bill 1048 aims to amend Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by introducing provisions specifically regarding water and sewer projects. The bill allows municipalities to engage in the replacement or remediation of private sewer and water laterals if such actions are deemed beneficial for public health and the integrity of public water or sewer systems. This legislative move is seen as a necessary tool for local governments to maintain essential infrastructure while ensuring the quality of municipal services offered to residents.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB1048 appears cautiously supportive, with recognition of its potential benefits for public welfare and infrastructure development. While proponents argue that it grants necessary flexibility to municipalities in addressing urgent public health concerns, concerns have been raised about the financial implications and increased responsibilities placed on local governments. The discussions suggest a general understanding of the critical need for effective water and sewer management, tempered by queries about funding sustainability and accountability.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the stipulations for utilizing supplies made in the U.S., which could be viewed as limiting for municipalities that might face availability issues. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the extent of public money allocated for these projects, particularly in the context of competing municipal demands. Critics may argue that the bill could inadvertently lead to less autonomy for local governments if they are bound by state-level determinations on what constitutes permissible actions regarding water and sewer system management.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA HB1903

Providing for water and sewer projects.

PA HB31

In storm sewers and watercourses, further providing for authority of boroughs and for manner of financing work; providing for storm water management plans and facilities for incorporated towns; and, in watercourses, flood protection projects and storm water systems, further providing for establishing and changing watercourses, flood protection projects and storm water systems and for assessment of benefits and liens.

PA SB392

Providing for the protection of water supplies.

PA HB1862

In rates and distribution systems, further providing for acquisition of water and sewer utilities and for valuation of acquired water and wastewater systems.

PA HB1615

Providing for minimum energy and water efficiency standards for certain products sold in this Commonwealth; imposing penalties; and making repeals.

PA HB699

Updating and expanding the storm water planning requirements to be undertaken by counties; authorizing counties to regulate storm water within a watershed-based planning area; authorizing the formation of water resources management authorities; enabling counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities to develop integrated water resources management plans; imposing duties and conferring powers on the Department of Environmental Protection, the Environmental Quality Board, counties, municipalities and water resources management authorities; providing for financing and for waiver of use for certain grant or loan funds; establishing the Integrated Water Resources Management Account; and making repeals.

PA SB755

In public utility code, providing for minimum energy and water efficiency standards for certain products sold in this Commonwealth; and imposing penalties.

PA SB1307

In economic development financing, providing for Keystone National Finance Authority.

PA HB301

In preliminary provisions, further providing for special provisions applicable to limited school years; in duties and powers of board of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers and for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers, repealing provisions relating to permit for classroom monitors and providing for permit for classroom monitors; providing for the Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for school lunch and breakfast reimbursement, for dependent children, for actual cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in the four chartered schools for education of the deaf and the blind, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records and repealing provisions relating to Safe Schools Advocate in School Districts of the First Class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for school safety and security committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in character education program, further providing for character education program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions, for qualification and application by organizations and for limitations; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; and making an editorial change.

PA SB571

Providing for Legionnaires' disease risk management in public water systems; establishing the Legionnaires' Disease Drinking Water Risk Management Restricted Account; providing for Legionnaires' disease prevention; and imposing penalties.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.