Budget hearings continue this week at the state Capitol, with House Appropriations Committee lawmakers headed into their second week of hearings and the Senate entering their first week with the heads of state agencies, row offices and other entities slated to receive state funding the 2021-22 fiscal year. The PA Chamber will be following these hearings closely and reporting on noteworthy discussions in Sentinel. The full list of budget hearings, which is subject to change, is available on the General Assembly’s website.

Also noteworthy for this week, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will hold an informational meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24 regarding the state of Pennsylvania’s natural gas economy and opportunities for energy industry growth. On Thursday, Feb. 25, PA Chamber Government Affairs Director Alex Halper will testify at two hearings hosted by the House Labor and Industry Committee: a 10 a.m. hearing regarding legislation to prohibit employers from implementing vaccine requirements; and a 1 p.m. hearing on the state’s unemployment compensation system.