Transportation (Public Transit)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2670: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, providing for coordinated school closure board for inclement weather.

This bill requires Pennsylvania school districts that transport students to nonpublic schools to create a Coordinated School Closure Board by August 1, 2026. The board will include the district superintendent, transportation director, a facilities representative, and administrators from each nonpublic school receiving transport services. Its main job is to set clear rules for deciding whether to close schools or cancel bus routes during bad weather, aiming to ensure everyone is informed by 5:30 a.m. The legislation clarifies that while the district makes the final call on transportation, nonpublic schools can still choose to stay open if conditions allow, and it protects the district from liability if a nonpublic school decides to operate while buses are not running.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes a board to coordinate school closures and bus route cancellations during bad weather, enhancing transportation safety and clarity for students.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 6, 2026

HB 2491: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for when provided relating to transportation of pupils and for kinds of transportation and liability insurance; and, in charter schools, further providing for transportation.

HB 2491 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update rules regarding student transportation for public and charter schools. The bill clarifies that school districts must provide free transportation to charter school students within ten miles, mirroring the terms used for public school students, while also allowing districts to use public transit for certain routes. Additionally, the legislation restricts the use of common carriers like buses for transporting kindergarten through sixth-grade students and outlines specific conditions under which walking is permitted instead of providing a ride.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands transportation access for charter school students, ensuring they receive free transport within ten miles, mirroring public school benefits and enhancing educational access.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands free transportation access for charter school students and clarifies district obligations, strengthening student mobility.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice School Transportation Public Transit

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 1262: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in driving after imbibing alcohol or utilizing drugs, further providing for penalties.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's vehicle laws to introduce stricter sentencing enhancements for specific driving offenses involving alcohol or drugs. It directly affects drivers who refuse chemical testing under a warrant, repeat offenders with four or more prior violations, and school bus drivers convicted of operating their vehicles while impaired. The key mechanism requires the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to mandate harsher penalties for these three categories of cases. The changes would take effect 60 days after the bill is enacted.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill mandates harsher penalties and stricter sentencing enhancements for impaired driving offenses, which restricts defendant rights and expands criminalization.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by imposing stricter penalties for impaired driving and refusing chemical tests.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Driver Licensing Public Transit Traffic Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 829: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for kindergartens; in pupils and attendance, further providing for age limits and temporary residence, for definitions and for when provided; and, in early learning programs, providing for full-day kindergarten.

HB 829 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require school districts to offer full-day kindergarten for children aged three to five, lowering the age limit from four years. It updates the definition of "compulsory school age" to explicitly allow children as young as three to attend kindergarten without tuition, while maintaining the upper age limit at 18. The bill also adjusts transportation provisions to include free bus service for full-day kindergarten students, similar to existing rules for other grade levels. These changes directly affect public school districts, early learning programs, and families with children aged three to five.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires full-day kindergarten for ages 3-5 (lowering age limit), makes it tuition-free, and adds transportation access - directly expanding early education access and support.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly mandates free bus service for full-day kindergarten students, adding transportation funding for early education programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Higher Education K-12 Education Public Transit

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passed both · Pennsylvania · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 257: An Act amending Titles 4 (Amusements), 74 (Transportation) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in interactive gaming, further providing for interactive gaming tax; in sustainable mobility options, further providing for definitions, for fund and for operating program and providing for annual performance evaluation and for operating a controlled substance injection site near infrastructure of a local transportation organization; in metropolitan transportation authorities, further providing for special prosecutor for mass transit; in public-private transportation partnerships, providing for metropolitan transportation authority projects; in licensing of drivers, further providing for persons ineligible for licensing, license issuance to minors and junior driver's license, for learners' permits, for application for driver's license or learner's permit by minor and for examination of applicant for driver's license; in miscellaneous provisions relating to operation of vehicles, providing for the offense of interference with operation or movement of a public transit vehicle and for sentencing enhancement for drug delivery on transit; in lighting equipment, further providing for use and display of illuminated signs; in taxes for highway maintenance and construction, providing for supplemental funding for three and four digit highway construction; and establishing the Supplemental Funding for Three and Four Digit State Routes Account in the Motor License Fund.

HB 257 updates Pennsylvania laws across multiple transportation and gaming areas. It creates new rules for minor driver licensing (including junior licenses and learners' permits), adds penalties for drug delivery on transit, and allows operating controlled substance injection sites near public transit infrastructure. The bill also adjusts interactive gaming taxes, establishes a new highway funding account for state routes, and defines terms for sustainable mobility programs. These changes directly affect drivers (especially minors), transit operators, gaming businesses, and local transportation authorities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Supplemental Funding Account for highway maintenance and adjusts interactive gaming tax, generating revenue for transportation infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEstablishes highway funding account, sustainable mobility program, and enhances transit safety via penalties for drug delivery on transit.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Public Transit Roads & Highways

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SB 210: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to operation of vehicles, providing for the offense of interference with operation or movement of a public transit vehicle.

SB 210 creates a new offense for interfering with public transit operators (like bus drivers or conductors) while they are performing their duties. It prohibits actions that cause serious injury or death to operators (felony first degree), lesser injury (felony third degree), or create fear of harm. The law applies to any public transit vehicle, including buses, trains, and streetcars, and covers both direct harm to operators and harm to passengers caused by the interference. Penalties range from serious felony charges for severe cases to lesser felonies for less severe violations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony offense for transit interference, expanding criminalization without addressing reform or reducing penalties.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates legal protections for transit operators and passengers, enhancing safety in public transportation operations per defined offenses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2025

HB 391: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in other required equipment, further providing for general requirements for school buses.

HB 391 requires all school buses in Pennsylvania to install video monitoring systems by July 1, 2026. The system must include internal cameras covering every seat and either an external camera or a forward-facing camera to monitor the road ahead. School bus operators, including school districts and transportation contractors, will be directly affected by this requirement. The state Department of Transportation will create specific regulations to implement the law. This bill focuses on enhancing safety monitoring during school bus operations.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates school bus video monitoring systems to enhance passenger safety and road monitoring, directly strengthening transportation safety standards under vehicle regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 343: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of aggravated assault.

SB 343 expands protections for public transportation workers by adding them to the list of protected individuals under Pennsylvania's aggravated assault law. The bill amends Section 2702 of the Crimes and Offenses statute to specifically include "an employee of an agency, company or other entity engaged in public transportation" as a person shielded from assault while performing job duties. Assaults against these workers during employment now qualify as a first-degree felony under the revised statute, raising the penalty level. This change directly affects public transit employees (like bus drivers or train staff) and ensures their safety is prioritized through stricter criminal penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands legal protections for public transportation workers by elevating assault against them to first-degree felony, strengthening accountability in criminal justice.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands legal protections for public transportation workers against assault, strengthening workplace safety by classifying attacks during employment as first-degree felonies.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExpands legal protections for public transit workers, enhancing safety for transportation infrastructure personnel.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Public Transit Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 674: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sustainable mobility options, establishing the Supplemental Public Transportation Operating Assistance Allocation for Growing Counties Grant Program.

HB 674 establishes a new grant program to provide operating assistance for public transportation in Pennsylvania counties experiencing growth in either population or employment. Eligible applicants include public transit entities already receiving certain existing transportation grants (under Sections 1513 or 1516) that serve counties meeting specific growth criteria based on five-year data. Funding is split equally between counties growing in employment (using Labor Department data) and population (using Census Bureau data), with each county’s grant amount determined by its percentage growth over that period. This program operates in addition to existing transportation funding and cannot require a higher local match than current rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new state grant program allocating funds for public transportation operations in growing counties, increasing government spending on public services.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEstablishes grant program funding public transit operations in growing counties, directly supporting sustainable mobility infrastructure and expanding transportation services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Transportation Funding Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SB 390: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sustainable mobility options, establishing the Supplemental Public Transportation Operating Assistance Allocation for Growing Counties Grant Program.

SB 390 creates a new grant program to provide operating assistance for public transportation in Pennsylvania counties experiencing population or employment growth. It directly affects county transit entities that currently receive state transportation grants under Sections 1513 or 1516. The bill allocates funds equally between counties with rising employment (using state labor data) and counties with rising population (using U.S. Census data), distributing grants based on each county's growth percentage over five years. Eligible entities can apply annually for proportional shares of available funds, with grants subject to the same rules as existing programs. The program requires no local match exceeding current standards under Section 1513.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new state grant program allocating funds for public transportation operations in growing counties, increasing government spending on essential services.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates grant program funding public transit operations in growing counties, directly advancing transportation infrastructure support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Transit Vehicle Registration

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