SB 481 Pennsylvania Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in size, weight and load, further providing for permit for movement during course of manufacture.

Senate Bill 481 amends Pennsylvania vehicle law to allow certain milk haulers to operate on highways during inclement weather and declared emergencies. This bill permits combination vehicles and farm vehicles transporting milk products to travel 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even when other vehicles might be restricted due to weather or emergency declarations. It requires these licensed milk haulers to display a specific decal issued by the Pennsylvania Milk Board, for which a fee will be charged to cover administrative costs. The bill also clarifies existing provisions related to permits for milk hauling during the manufacturing process.
Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Jun 2026
Governor
Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0439 Printer's No. PN1819 · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the rules for transporting milk in Pennsylvania, expanding weight limits for specific vehicle types and clarifying definitions. It allows heavier trucks to carry raw or bulk milk on interstate highways during inclement weather, provided they meet strict axle weight and route requirements. The changes aim to improve efficiency for dairy logistics while ensuring road safety through specific permit conditions.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of permitted vehicle weights for milk transport, specifically allowing six-axle vehicles up to 107,000 pounds and seven-axle vehicles up to 117,000 pounds to operate on interstate highways during inclement weather, whereas previous versions had more restrictive or undefined weight limits.
ELIGIBILITY

Increased gross weight limits for six-axle combination vehicles hauling raw or bulk milk to 107,000 pounds and seven-axle combination vehicles to 117,000 pounds.

Added a specific exemption allowing five-axle combination vehicles hauling raw or bulk milk up to 95,000 pounds to bypass the mandatory route designation requirement.

DEFINITION

Introduced new definitions for 'Bulk Milk', 'Condensed Milk', 'Evaporated Milk', 'Dairy Farm', 'Hot Box', 'Milk', 'Milk Plant', 'Raw Milk', and 'Sugar' to clarify regulatory terms.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that applicants must designate a specific route for permits, except for lighter five-axle vehicles, and established that the department must verify the route can handle the requested weight.

TECHNICAL

Replaced the term 'manufacturer' with 'milk plant' in the description of permitted hauling destinations to align with statutory definitions.

Floor votes · Senate May 7, 2025 · House Jun 16, 2026

How they voted

3614
Passed
Total votes 50
May 7, 2025
D Democratic23
9 Yea 14 Nay
60% Nay
R Republican27
27 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
5
Committee
5
Amendments
1
Jun 16, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (26-0)
house
Jun 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Transportation
lower
May 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to Transportation
upper
1 primary · 15 co-sponsors

Sponsors