PA Environment Digest Blog: Sen. Gene Yaw Elected Chair Of Interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission

On January 9, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) was elected to chair the tri-state Chesapeake Bay Commission for 2026. He will also remain chair of the Pennsylvania Delegation of the Commission.

As Chair, Senator Yaw will lead the 21-member Commission, including Senators and House members from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, along with a cabinet secretary selected by each Governor and a prominent citizen member from each state.

Senator Yaw previously served as Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission in 2020.

Senator Yaw is Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

In 2025, Penn State Extension’s Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training recognized Senator Yaw and fellow Commission Member and State Senator Scott Martin (District 13) as joint recipients of the Karl Brown Award for Conservation Leadership.

In 2023, Senator Yaw received a Clean Water Champion award from the Choose Clean Water Coalition for his work to establish the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Fund and address non-point source pollution from agricultural runoff, abandoned mine drainage, and stormwater.

Senator Yaw assumes the role from Maryland State Senator Sara Love (District 16).

For 2026, the Commission’s Maryland members elected Delegate Sheila Ruth (District 44B) to serve as chair of their delegation, while the Virginia delegation has selected Senator Jeremy McPike (District 29).

In reclaiming the gavel, Senator Yaw intends to lead the Commission in driving innovative policies that will support the newly revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

“With the entire partnership united behind a revised agreement and committed to success, now is the time for bold ideas that deliver healthy streams and a restored Chesapeake Bay. I’m proud that Pennsylvania is being recognized as a leader on clean water and a showcase for innovative projects that highlight local benefits. I am looking forward to scaling up our efforts over the coming year.”

Reflecting on the past year, Senator Love added “During my tenure as Chair, the Commission remained a steadfast leader in the effort to revise the Watershed Agreement and chart our course for a conserved Chesapeake Bay. With Senator Yaw’s hand now at the Commission’s helm, I know Pennsylvania will be a full and active partner in the work ahead.”

The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a policy leader in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.

As a tri-state legislative body that advises the legislative branch of state government, its mission is to identify critical environmental needs, evaluate public concerns, and ensure state and Federal actions to sustain the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The Commission works directly with the state general assemblies and the U.S. Congress and serves as the legislative voice within the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Resource Links - Sen. Yaw:

-- Penn State Extension Center For Agricultural Assistance Training Recognizes Sen. Martin, Sen. Yaw For Ag Conservation Leadership [PaEN]

-- Sen. Bartolotta, Sen. Yaw Announce Bill To Withhold Gas Drilling Impact Fees To Municipalities That Set More Protective Standards On Natural Gas Development Than State Law, And While There Is a Legal Challenge To Local Restrictions [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw To Introduce Bill To Punish Counties That Seek To Protect Their Residents From Impacts Of Natural Gas Thru Lawsuits [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Called Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [PaEN]

-- Sen. Gene Yaw Announces He Received The Marcellus Shale Coalition 2023 Shale Gas Advocate Award [After Calling Gas Infrastructure Health, Safety Proposal ‘Stupid’] [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw Bill To Subsidize Building Only Natural Gas Power Plants To Help Meet The Energy Demands Of A.I. Data Centers; Continues ‘One Of The Above’ Energy Policy [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw Introduces Bill To Prohibit State Government From Owning Any Clean Energy Credits; Would Force The Use Of More Taxpayer Money To Plug Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Routinely Abandoned By Conventional Well Owners [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw: DCNR Should Raise Money By Leasing More State Forest Land For Natural Gas Drilling; Fails To Deal With $1 Billion DCNR Infrastructure Needs [PaEN]

-- Senators Scarnati, Yaw, Baker Who Oppose DRBC Fracking Moratorium Seek To Intervene In Federal Case As Environmental Trustees [PaEN]

-- Sen. Yaw Calls For Senate/House Disapproval Resolution On DEP Drilling Regulations [PaEN]