Rep. Jessica Benham (D-36)

An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in Public Transportation Assistance Fund, further providing for Public Transportation Assistance Fund.

Referred to Senate Transportation (5/12/25)

No YAC analysis.

Rep. Ed Neilson (D-174)

An Act providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund transfers and increases; establishing the Road and Bridge Project Fund and the Road and Bridge Project Sinking Fund; authorizing the Commonwealth Financing Authority to issue bonds for road and bridge projects; providing for allocation adjustment; establishing the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission; and imposing duties on the Department of Transportation.

(6/18/25) Referred to Senate Transportation Committee after passing House (107-96)

This bill has been amended multiple times to become a strong compromise solution to the transportation funding issues that Pennsylvania faces.

Transit Funding: This bill increases the allocation of the revenues collected by the Pennsylvania sales tax for transit from 4.4% to 6.15%. This continues for 5 years until 2028 when the allocation is increased once more to 7.9%
Transportation Funding Advisory Commission: This bill established a commission of 30-40 members to develop a comprehensive plan to solve the funding crisis for transportation infrastructure in the Commonwealth. The commission will examine new revenue streams, potential transprotation cost savings, and publish a final report no later than Jan 1, 2026
Roads and Bridge Fund The bill further allocates .25% of the revenues collected by the sales tax toward the payment of debt for a new fund for roads and bridges that will also be authorized under this act. Bonds issued under this act will solely be held by the new authority and not add to the indebtedness of the Commonwealth.

Rep. Ed Neilson (D-174)

Officially recognized March 18, 2025 as National Transit Worker Appreciation Day in Pennsylvania.

Resolution is adopted! (3/19/25)

No YAC analysis.

Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-5)

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.

Passed Senate, referred to Judiciary Committee in the House (2/10/25), Re-committed to Rules in the House (6/17/25)

No YAC Analysis.

Rep. Joseph Hohenstein (D-177)

An Act amending Titles 53 (Municipalities Generally) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in taxation for public transportation, further providing for local financial support; and, in fees, further providing for fee for local use.

Referred to House Local Government Committee (04/04/25)

Before HB 1146, Title 53 of the PA Consolidated Statutes limited the taxes that could be levied to fund transit systems to a sales tax on liquor and an excise tax on rental vehicles. Further, only counties of the second class could levi such taxes.

HB 1146 would make multiple changes to this statute. First, it would grant the ability to levi taxes to fund both transit and transportation systems and infrastructure to more counties including Philadelphia’s collar counties. Second, it would expand the number of taxes that can be levied. These include a property transfer tax, an income tax not to exceed .2%, a vehicle property tax, and a general sales tax.

This bill represents a very unique solution to the transit funding crisis that SEPTA faces. With it comes incredible local flexability and no new spending for the commonwealth. The tax options this bill grants could also encourage lower rates of car ownership. Currently this bill remains in the Local Government Committee in the House.

Sen. Frank Farry (R-6)

An Act amending Title 75 of PA Consolidated Statues which adds a subsection regarding the use and display of illuminated signs. It requires that public transportation vehicles carry illuminated signs on the rear of the vehicle that will not interefere with the view of the driver or distract other drivers and which display turn signals and brake lights. The signs will display public service announcments and advertisements.

Referred to Senate Transportation (5/12/25)

No YAC Analysis.

Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-5)

An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in metropolitan transportation authorities, providing for supplemental performance reporting.

Referred to Senate Transportation Committee (7/23/25)

This bill requires the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to prepare and publish a public report on SEPTA’s progress towards solvency/profitability, its use of state funds, and any other info deemed necessary by the Senate and House Transportation Committees.

This added oversight has been sponsored by all Senate Republicans in the SEPTA service area and will likely be a precondition to the authority receiving more state funds. While transit should never be required to run profitably, it is unclear whether that is the intention of this bill.

Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-5)

An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in public-private transportation partnerships, providing for SEPTA projects.

Referred to Senate Transportation Committee (7/23/25)

This bill requires SEPTA to submit at least one public private partnership project to the Pennsylvania P3 Board. the P3 Board was established to evaluate and oversee public private partnerships across the commonwealth. SEPTA is normally authorized to procure contracts under its own oversight. This bill will add an additional layer of oversight to whichever project SEPTA submits for inspection by the board.

Amended by Joe Pittman (R-41)

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.

Amended on third consideration in the PA Senate (Aug-12)

This bill is not an ideal funding solution. HB 257 was amended by the Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate on final consideration and must return to the House now. The ammendment completely rewrites the bill to do the following.

First it gives a one time transfer of 87.5M to both transit and roads in the commonwealth and every year after allocates an addittional 43M all from the interactive gaming tax revenues which were allocated to other programs before this reallocation.

Second, The bill allows transit authorities that need more operating funds to shift some of their state capital grants to operating grants for the next two years. This comes with a local match requirement that must be used to prioritze security on the transit system.

Third and perhaps most consequestial, the bill further reallocates 162M this year and 257M next year directly out of the transit trust fund and straight to roads and bridges. This completely negates the new revenue stream from interactive gaming taxes and means this bill will only fully fund SEPTA’s operating budget if the authority drains significant capital grants that may already be allocated towards more efficient vehicles, safety improvements, and better technology.

Outside of revenue reallocation, this bill requires mandatory fare increases tied to the consumer price index which measures inflation, implements the Picozzi oversight measures, and appoints a special prosecutor for crimes committed on SEPTA.

This bill would not be beneficial to SEPTA’s position.

Rep. Sean Dougherty (D-172)

An Act amending Titles 74 (Transportation) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sustainable mobility options, further providing for operating program; in metropolitan transportation authorities, providing for supplemental performance reporting; providing for Public Transportation Trust Fund transfer and annual increase; establishing the Road and Bridge Project Fund and the Road and Bridge Project Sinking Fund; in public-private transportation partnerships, providing for applicable authority projects; in lighting equipment, further providing for use and display of illuminating signs; in taxes for highway maintenance and construction, further providing for supplemental funding for three and four digit highway construction; and establishing the Three and Four Digit State Route Account.

Referred to Senate after third consideration and passage in the House by 108-95 vote. (Aug-11)

This 5th proposal from House Democrats combines funding for transit reallocated from the general fund, bonds for roads and bridges, and the Picozzi oversight measures. Democrats claim this bill is different because it includes many of the demands Republicans have made in the past.