Bill > HB2161

This bill amends Pennsylvania law to establish procedures for public utilities regarding tree removal and replacement. Specifically, if a public utility, which is a company that provides essential services like electricity or water, determines a tree needs to be removed to ensure adequate and reliable service, and that tree belongs to a city, municipality, or municipal authority, the utility must offer an agreement to plant a replacement tree. This replacement must occur within two years of the original tree's removal, and the city, municipality, or municipal authority is not required to accept this offer. If an agreement is accepted, and the removed tree is over five inches in caliper (a measurement of its trunk diameter), the utility must replace it using a specific method: the tree's diameter at breast height is halved, and that number represents how many two-inch replacement trees are needed, with the city, municipality, or municipal authority deciding on the species and planting locations. Alternatively, a city, municipality, or municipal authority can opt to receive a replacement fee, equivalent to the tree's assessed value by a certified arborist, instead of the utility planting a new tree.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb2161