Transportation 2025-2026

Visit Website →     View Committee Calendar →

The Senate Transportation Committee met on Monday, September 8, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

Senate Bill 713 (Farry): This bill would permit public transportation agencies to utilize digital advertising signage on their fleets.

• Amendment A01679 was offered by Chairwoman Ward.  This amendment makes several technical clean up changes, including but not limited to compliance with Federal regulations, PennDOT guidelines, and expansion of the types of applicable vehicles.
  • The amendment was adopted by a vote of 11 to one.
• The bill, as amended, was reported from committee by a vote of 10 to two.

Senate Bill 952 (Picozzi): This bill requires the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct annual performance audits of SEPTA

• Amendment A01684 was offered by Chairwoman Ward.  This amendment inserts language from Senate Bill 953, which requires SEPTA and PRT to submit lists of potential public-private partnership opportunities to the P3 board, and Senate Bill 954, which directs PennDOT to establish minimum performance metrics for SEPTA and PRT.
  • The amendment was adopted by a vote of 10 to two.
• The bill, as amended, was reported from committee by a vote of 10 to two.

Senate Bill 955 (Phillips-Hill): This bill creates a Mental Health Awareness license plate.

• The bill, as amended, was unanimously reported from committee.

The Senate Transportation Committee met on Thursday, June 26, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

House Bill 646 (Mako): This bill permits motorcyclists to wear headphones or helmets with built-in headphone capabilities while riding a motorcycle.

• Reported out of committee by a vote of 13 to 1, with Senator Lindsay Williams voting in the negative.

Senate Resolution 89 (Pennycuick): This resolution directs the Joint State Government Commission to conduct an assessment and analysis of Commonwealth-owned aviation assets.

• Reported out of committee by a vote of 9 to 5, with all Democratic members voting in the negative.

The Senate Transportation Committee met on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

Senate Bill 205 (Rothman): This bill would allow the Act 44/89 funds to be used for both county and municipal bridge maintenance, repair, and replacement.

• Amendment A00823: This amendment changes the effective date to six months from date of enactment.  The prior effective date was July 1, 2025.
  • Amendment A00823 was adopted unanimously.
• Senate Bill 205 was reported out of committee, as amended, unanimously.

Senate Bill 468 (Langerholc): This bill establishes an interstate compact with the State of Alaska for UAS safety, testing, training and education.

• Amendment A00835: This amendment will replaces all references to “all Federal, State, or local laws, regulations, and guidelines” with “all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines.”
  • Amendment A00823 was adopted unanimously.
• Senate Bill 468 was reported out of committee unanimously.

House Bill 238 (Benninghoff): This bill requires PennDOT to accept additional documents permitted under the REAL ID Act of 2005 to verify an applicant’s Social Security Number.

• House Bill 238 was reported out of committee unanimously.

House Bill 240 (Benninghoff): This bill eliminates the requirement of multiple hearing aid tests for school bus drivers.

• House Bill 240 was reported out of committee unanimously.

House Bill 257 (Nielson): This bill requires PennDOT to include at least one question on the written driver examination relating to safe driving practices in work zones along with related penalties.

• House Bill 240 was reported out of committee unanimously.

The Senate Transportation Committee met on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

Senate Bill 65 (Baker): This bill extends the stopping distance requirement from 10 feet to 15 feet before reaching the bus when the red signal lights are activated.  Further, it develops a tiered penalty system for a second or subsequent offense.

• Amendment A00192 was offered by Chairwoman Ward, which amendment requires PennDOT and school districts to enhance education on Pennsylvania’s school bus laws.
  • The amendment was adopted unanimously.
• The bill was reported out of committee, as amended, unanimously.

Senate Bill 185 (Hutchinson): This bill authorizes aftermarket brake light strips on passenger vehicles.

• Amendment A00214 was offered by Chairwoman Ward, which creates further standards for aftermarket brake light strips.
  • The amendment was adopted unanimously.
• This bill was reported out of committee, as amended, unanimously.

Senate Bill 461 (J.Ward and Yaw): This bill authorizes milk hauling operations in emergency declarations or travel restrictions.

• This bill was reported out of committee by a vote of 10-4.

The Senate Transportation Committee met on Monday, February 3, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

Senate Bill 210 – This bill provides for a new offense for “interference with an operation mass transit vehicle.

The Senate Transportation Committee met on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 to consider the following legislation:

Senate Bill 35 (Langerholc) – This bill exempts the following counties from the mandatory vehicle emissions testing program: Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, and Westmoreland.

• Amendment A00010 (Vogel) – removes any other county not listed above, which is required to conduct emissions testing, provided that certain conditions and standards are met.
  • The amendment was adopted by a vote of 11 to 3.
• The bill, as amended, was reported by a vote of 10 to 4.

Senate Bill 149 (Langerholc) – This bill exempts the five newest model year vehicles from the vehicle emissions testing program.

• The bill was reported by a vote of 10 to 4.

Senate Bill 78 (Pittman) – This bill designates the Private First Class John Tabacsko Memorial Bridge in Indiana County.

• This bill was reported from committee unanimously.