[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6240609,"mediaKeyId","3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287","parentId",3319284,"title","Committee advances bill requiring municipalities to notify property owners of FEMA flood-map changes","audioSeconds",738,"startMs",1374000,"endMs",2112000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287&start=1374&end=2112","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287/thumbnail_1374000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6240609/Pennsylvania/Committee-advances-bill-requiring-municipalities-to-notify-property-owners-of-FEMA-flood-map-changes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240609-9fe269d6b046256c8c334e2ce90c8d95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144940&Signature=kUCKtKeaT0lzGSDIqPvVLhZ3PP7QWdKJl8BCizLaM9bG1ubFE-ZuZ6g6DpH7MSTYgYwZ8I0zCyNyu~D60blwaH2xGuP8lM~LFyRtjq6KrpLEhPlFml1bBP8e3jSGAXwwheqaSkD4sZ4-VbP~KdQ46YAzj08xugnNnAEJsYy8puXmL0AA3waFyghmjxOfz6mU6KhseNvMYKNVrvCdL3xLYH-gAc7mgV4siSC1lxYXj8ze09SPLKDCv6vn1FfFIl9opPdR-BEL~GMJXq5p0M06bXWjkAWBsI~HQZO5A~B1RfZ~9RoXXIpoIY6scetUi3v8btUR83zn6bs7XuWlMrX~RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennsylvania House of Representatives","date","2025-05-15T03:04:14Z","article","The House Local Government Committee voted to report House Bill 1282, the Freestanding Flood Hazard Notification Act, which would require municipal corporations and counties to notify owners of real property when Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) special flood hazard area maps change.

The bill’s prime sponsor, Representative Davis, said the proposal grew out of the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and local experience with new FEMA map designations that placed large numbers of residents in flood zones. \"I've had this my whole career here. It started after Sandy,\" Davis said, noting that some homeowners newly placed in flood zones learned of the change only when contacted by a mortgage company.

Committee counsel John Caselli summarized a committee amendment (A00711) that the panel adopted before reporting the bill. Caselli said the amendment requires municipal notifications to include the 45‑day appeal and comment period for map changes under 44 C.F.R. Part 67 (reduced from 90 days in the original draft), the date the appeal period ends, and the contact information for the municipal floodplain administrator. The amendment also directs the Department of Insurance to make a standardized notification template available and requires counties to include a disclosure about increasing flood risks and to encourage consultation with insurance professionals.

Members who spoke during debate emphasized both the practical need to tell residents and concerns about municipal capacity. Representative Haddock, a former mayor, warned that flood‑insurance costs have risen sharply and said mitigation projects do not always lead FEMA to shrink mapped floodplains. Representative Reichert questioned whether municipalities should be required to notify residents about a federal mapping decision they did not make; Caselli responded that FEMA already notifies municipalities and that the bill builds on that notice.

The committee approved amendment A00711 25–1 and then reported House Bill 1282 to the floor by recorded voice vote, also 25–1. The amendment and bill as reported require municipalities and counties to provide written notice by first‑class mail to the last known address shown on tax assessment records when applicable, and include a provision that municipal corporations and counties are not liable for a property owner’s failure to act on the notice.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Local Government Committee -- May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Local Government Committee voted to report House Bill 1282, the Freestanding Flood Hazard Notification Act, which would require municipal corporations and counties to notify owners of real property when FEMA special flood hazard area maps change.","taxTitle","Local Government, House of Representatives, Legislative, Pennsylvania","taxId",29265,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6240589,"Panel approves allowing second‑class townships to accept letters of credit instead of bonds",58,2228000,2286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287&start=2228&end=2286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287/thumbnail_2228000.jpg","/articles/6240589/Pennsylvania/Panel-approves-allowing-secondclass-townships-to-accept-letters-of-credit-instead-of-bonds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240589-61c2f83ee3a9ec461d0797518b6b8fc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144940&Signature=BIwGHzmdMlMTOZTPauw5Q5tQHURbxbZydks-ncVjnkAXoizIKgvJClETjnPiWb5KRwlq~1bt~aAKH1hM05IRHMGPFFc06~fDRapiNa9qT1G8NPIi57yjRqUF~RnjTEeC5Gp4m4EN1vONQ0OpEb5FnZOCQLVWycb5U2-ITBXgmMzl5ceibBvvzMlKnia-MTn8O~nEoFzrK6kB7TFQeNcsm0eNiMt5-5NTCv2wDnwrTDJ5WmCCgxbJLwfw4oJQc~nsIdYejp0s1f8kSZuMk3LRR3n4iw2q-dDkFhvEzq2trhBjYaJLMpsIvpFWGofH7HY-X1BCv6KK1Go2xhtBbq9Rgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Local Government Committee unanimously reported House Bill 1194, a Local Government Commission bill that authorizes second‑class townships to accept irrevocable letters of credit and other alternative performance security instruments for contracts in place of surety bonds.

Rob Gardner and representatives of the Local Government Commission explained the change is intended to provide flexibility and consistency across municipal codes. David from the Local Government Commission told the committee, \"This is about flexibility and consistency,\" and explained procuring bonds can be more difficult than letters of credit, with higher costs ultimately passed to taxpayers.

Representative Fleming asked about historical reasons for differences across municipal classifications. Commission staff explained second‑class townships historically had a more limited set of powers as rural road districts, and the commission continues work on uniform procurement code efforts where uniformity makes sense.

The committee approved the bill unanimously and will forward it to the House floor.","The committee unanimously passed House Bill 1194, a Local Government Commission bill that would authorize second‑class townships to accept irrevocable letters of credit and other forms of security as contract performance guarantees, aligning their options with other municipal classifications.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6240595,"House panel unanimously backs bill to lift $100 cap on borough appropriations for associations",92,674000,766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287&start=674&end=766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287/thumbnail_674000.jpg","/articles/6240595/Pennsylvania/House-panel-unanimously-backs-bill-to-lift-100-cap-on-borough-appropriations-for-associations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240595-0eac4e749643e01ff013a0575adfb3dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144940&Signature=apvJ7zoLGewNBFT4DwHHGQjIQdQKbTxJsbtNA7UiAf1d0sZ896xMAMH1oEzt8eZmWwkRsZ9Yr93vs4BeP1ccbO1zz~gbyJCyfeJiXo9UVCUNnIH6cK7ZvXq8rkXuT~tWArV5HiVemwSlnQ9fQ2fMV~qvvrdvxTk3g4rJ9yR33ykx0YBVT--fkS4toU7ZwpQCl3rtlRAk0bkor~dLlh9iptupuRSt8wJipLEB7rBecGifNVIWK1a15ihrYE8p7xC-9T0v1u83s7cWe1wqqQEUok-BkIoW1ECNy589qaLd~pnl5YLjFFEXSEd23QVizzoB1mJdY5~OZ2LCqKucIxnyRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Local Government Committee unanimously reported House Bill 1318, a proposal to amend the borough code to remove the existing $100 annual cap on funds a borough may appropriate with the support of a county or regional association of boroughs.

Committee counsel John Caselli summarized the legislation: \"House Bill 1318 ... would amend the borough code to eliminate the cap on funds that a borough may appropriate with the support of a county or regional association of boroughs. And presently, that cap is set at a hundred dollars limitation annually.\"

Representative Joe Cerisi, the bill’s prime sponsor, told members the bill responds to requests from borough association leadership. \"This is a simple bill ... he has a lot of members who can't go because they have to pay out of their pocket because this fee has been a hundred dollars for years,\" Cerisi said, explaining that removing the cap would allow boroughs to cover higher conference costs if they choose to do so.

Chairman Freeman moved to report the bill; the committee voted by voice and the motion carried unanimously. The bill will be sent to the full House for consideration.","House Bill 1318, sponsored by Representative Joe Cerisi, would amend the borough code to eliminate the $100 annual cap on funds a borough may appropriate to support county or regional borough associations; the committee reported the bill unanimously.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6240601,"Panel sends resolution urging Congress to create $5 trillion National Infrastructure Bank after close 14–12 vote",93,790000,883000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287&start=790&end=883","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287/thumbnail_790000.jpg","/articles/6240601/Pennsylvania/Panel-sends-resolution-urging-Congress-to-create-5-trillion-National-Infrastructure-Bank-after-close-1412-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240601-ca92e24bf99249dd004894a2d05e60bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144940&Signature=L-cePtqDP0j4P7BbvmnUwvxOQDODKsTgVQvJPXVZObPwFe~Sa8gdPXI5VMjxy7DOD5dWoClO6dHNjxETDKkYrHeSHpCGCBsGlLv-wHHTKgvR78R7mabOYaBnli3EmteyWTpGvYvKrnnjwLuytWjJVTHjZhKBaAHM~DvGz5L6CUwycRQWKdskHX08JQG7Bg2fW3ODPfonbAZMZKvu5ivqnqeXVlSk~nOM6cVqG965YiV4DMQZlVKBU3ZK-h3soHO70MlyyrsGUhgJppZrW6vk3vw9sa0FHTLFTRHliELpOYO7x3gAseHr6O7VuUG5i59uHpQQffle5FlBEpS7UT1wcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Local Government Committee reported House Resolution 173 by a roll‑call vote of 14–12. The resolution urges the U.S. Congress to establish a National Infrastructure Bank to finance major infrastructure projects nationwide, modeled on prior national banks.

Representative Joe Cerisi, the resolution’s sponsor, told the committee that the measure asks Congress to create a bank capitalized at $5,000,000,000,000 to support bridges and other infrastructure projects. \"We're asking them to establish a $5,000,000,000,000 bank that would be used for bridges and infrastructure across The United States,\" Cerisi said.

Supporters argued such a bank would finance long‑needed projects and produce economic returns. Representative Probst said the federal government has successfully established similar institutions in the past and that the resolution merely asks Congress to consider the idea. Opponents focused on the nation’s existing debt and the implications of adding large borrowing. Chairman Miller noted, \"our current, national debt is about $36,800,000,000,000,\" and urged a no vote given the proposed bank’s size.

Representative Fleming moved to report the resolution. After debate, the committee recorded a 14–12 vote in favor and sent the resolution to the floor.","The committee reported House Resolution 173, which urges Congress to establish a National Infrastructure Bank capitalized at $5 trillion; the measure passed the committee by a 14–12 roll call after members debated the size of national debt and the merits of large‑scale borrowing for infrastructure.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6240604,"Committee delays bill to create aid fund for municipalities with high shares of tax‑exempt property",631,2520000,3151000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287&start=2520&end=3151","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3319284-f050084e471af4f5d1baf740d0d44287/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","/articles/6240604/Pennsylvania/Committee-delays-bill-to-create-aid-fund-for-municipalities-with-high-shares-of-taxexempt-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6240604-70da66b4472338205e3475c41b09efc0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144940&Signature=d10pssLb94AkDyRIHrSaNvPgMu8K8Dq6zB5lY9Nm8M90M6~SOw9DjwGXCEsGbDc0xAVJ4uVzmRil9uZGOO~TlO0DebdAUWaFdtieYD-pIUsHJ2qYgEvlHmvCnARnE~bxiUdp-8D6WjWZjyj01u-hRWfWI8ElRwIGeUD3rrZ3izibYAE4wwJQZi5X65dv6bUKtjaStwgkI28LoZxnVSNMXc-mvOS4RHQ8-cFXMeK4RQno34k9pLCYIfqUE8qWyzmHCVYGNgD4xrrTRc3qzU0brSpAUQ8kzJTpgfwhuaO29J9RX~CUJrZoede9zNHGDRSyTX0qal26ZpB9d5N69mtGRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Local Government Committee postponed further action on House Bill 985, legislation to create a municipal assistance fund that would allocate money to jurisdictions with high proportions of tax‑exempt property. Committee leaders said they will continue drafting and reconvene work on the bill at the committee’s next meeting.

Committee members and invited data partners reviewed the spreadsheet driving the bill’s formula. The committee called forward Vinny Cannizzaro, executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League, who explained that the underlying calculations use county data and a common level ratio to estimate market values for taxed and tax‑exempt properties statewide. Cannizzaro said the work aimed to provide a consistent basis for the distribution formula.

Members raised concerns about perceived inequities in the draft formula. Representative Probst said boroughs with very high shares of tax‑exempt value can appear disadvantaged by the per‑capita cap in the draft: \"I'm very excited about this bill ... I just wish it would be looked at a little more intensely on the percentage of the tax exempt properties,\" he said. Other members asked staff to re‑run numbers under alternate formulations, including adjustments to the per‑capita cap and how pilot agreements (payments‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes) would be treated.

Chairman Freeman indicated the committee would postpone consideration of House Bill 985 until the next meeting (scheduled in committee for June 9) to allow additional data review and possible amendatory language.","The House Local Government Committee postponed consideration of House Bill 985, which would create a distribution mechanism to compensate municipalities with a large share of tax‑exempt property; members asked for further data refinement and possible amendatory language.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill requiring municipalities to notify property owners of FEMA flood-map changes

Panel approves allowing second‑class townships to accept letters of credit instead of bonds

House panel unanimously backs bill to lift $100 cap on borough appropriations for associations

Panel sends resolution urging Congress to create $5 trillion National Infrastructure Bank after close 14–12 vote

Committee delays bill to create aid fund for municipalities with high shares of tax‑exempt property