HB 205 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for determination of incompetency.

HB 205 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle licensing laws to clarify how driver competency is determined and impacts lease agreements. It requires the Department of Transportation to indefinitely recall driving privileges for individuals found incompetent to drive, until they provide proof of competency. The bill also adds a provision allowing lessees (car renters) to terminate vehicle leases without penalty if their driving privileges are recalled under this section, provided they submit the department's recall notice to the lessor within 45 days and no household member regularly uses the vehicle. This applies to Pennsylvania leases entered into on or after the effective date, with the law taking effect in 180 days. The key change directly affects drivers with revoked licenses and their leasing companies.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Jun 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0153 Printer's No. PN1868 · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to add a new provision allowing car leasees in Pennsylvania to terminate their lease early without a flat penalty fee if their driver's license is recalled due to driving incompetence. This change protects consumers from losing their entire vehicle payment balance when they lose their license, though they must still pay standard fees for excess mileage or wear and tear.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to cover Pennsylvania consumer leases of motor vehicles entered into on or after the effective date, with specific applicability to lessees whose billing addresses are in the Commonwealth.
REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection allowing lessees to request early lease termination if their operating privileges are recalled, provided they submit the recall notice to the lessor within 45 days and before returning the vehicle.

Mandated that lessors cannot charge a flat fee or penalty for early termination under these specific circumstances, though they may still assess charges for excess wear, mileage, and unpaid amounts.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that this early termination option does not apply if the lessee is in default under the lease agreement or if there is a co-lessee who remains separately liable.

TECHNICAL

Updated the sponsor list to include additional representatives and changed the bill status from 'Introduced' to 'As Reported from Committee on Transportation, as Amended'.

Floor votes · House Jun 23, 2025

How they voted

13271
Passed
Total votes 203
Jun 23, 2025
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican101
30 Yea 71 Nay
70% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Amendments
1
Jun 24, 2025
Committee
Referred to Transportation
upper
Jun 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Jun 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 16, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Jun 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 9, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Rules
lower
Jun 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Transportation
lower
1 primary · 16 co-sponsors

Sponsors