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PA SB1121

PA SB1121
In enforcement and remedies, further providing for right of citizen to intervene in proceedings.


summary

Introduced
12/22/2025
In Committee
12/22/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Amending the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L.380, No.97), entitled "An act providing for the planning and regulation of solid waste storage, collection, transportation, processing, treatment, and disposal; requiring municipalities to submit plans for municipal waste management systems in their jurisdictions; authorizing grants to municipalities; providing regulation of the management of municipal, residual and hazardous waste; requiring permits for operating hazardous waste and solid waste storage, processing, treatment, and disposal facilities; and licenses for transportation of hazardous waste; imposing duties on persons and municipalities; granting powers to municipalities; authorizing the Environmental Quality Board and the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules, regulations, standards and procedures; granting powers to and imposing duties upon county health departments; providing remedies; prescribing penalties; and establishing a fund," in enforcement and remedies, further providing for right of citizen to intervene in proceedings.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Solid Waste Management Act to clarify and expand citizens' rights to take legal action in environmental enforcement cases. Specifically, the bill allows any citizen of Pennsylvania who may be adversely affected to initiate a civil action to compel compliance with waste management regulations if the Department of Environmental Protection fails to carry out its duties. The bill modifies existing language to specify that such an action cannot be commenced if the department is already actively pursuing a related civil action in federal or state court. Additionally, the bill updates the language regarding citizen intervention in legal proceedings, allowing citizens to intervene in actions brought under sections 604 and 605 of the act without being required to post a bond, and removes gender-specific language by replacing "his" with "the citizen's". The bill will take effect 60 days after its enactment, providing a clear timeframe for implementation of these legal procedural changes in environmental enforcement.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Referred to Environmental Resources & Energy (on 12/22/2025)

bill text


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