Transportation

HB 789 amends Pennsylvania's Property Assessed Clean Energy Program to include electric vehicle charging infrastructure as a qualifying project for financing. It defines "electric vehicle charging infrastructure project" as equipment for charging electric vehicles and expands the program to cover such installations alongside energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects on commercial, agricultural, and industrial properties. The bill requires local governments to notify the Department of Revenue upon project completion, providing details and property owner contact information to ensure proper tax collection for electric vehicle charging. This update aims to streamline financing access for clean energy improvements while clarifying administrative requirements for local and state agencies.

HB 784 authorizes the transfer of two easements (totaling about 0.13 acres) from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to the Department of Transportation. The easements cover specific parcels at Lake Winola Access in Overfield Township, Wyoming County, which were previously subject to Project 70 land use restrictions. The bill removes these restrictions, allowing the DOT to use the land for transportation purposes without those limitations. As mitigation, the transfer requires the DOT to provide increased public access and safety improvements for the area.

HB 333 adds two specific road segments to Pennsylvania's state highway system under the Township State Highway Law. It designates Bow Creek Road (T-612) in Dauphin County and Susquehanna Trail (T-956) in York County as state highways after required improvements. The bill requires local townships (South Hanover and East Hanover in Dauphin County, Conewago in York County) to formally accept the turn-back of these existing roads from the state before maintenance responsibility transfers. Once accepted and published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the state Department of Transportation will no longer maintain these routes, shifting responsibility to the townships. This is a procedural update to highway maintenance jurisdiction, not a new funding or service.

HB 291, also known as "Susan's and Emily's Law," updates Pennsylvania's parking rules to better protect pedestrians and cyclists. It requires vehicles parked next to pedestrian plazas or bike lanes to position their wheels within 12 inches of the buffer zone between the lane and curb, aligned with traffic flow. The bill also clarifies disability parking rules, allowing local governments to restrict access to specific vehicles or license plates and charge reasonable fees while complying with federal disability law. Violations of the new pedestrian/bike lane parking rules carry a $15 fine, while disability parking violations can result in fines of $50-$300.