HB 2302 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of October 9, 2008 (P.L.1363, No.100), known as the Crane Operator Licensure Act, further providing for title of act; in preliminary provisions, further providing for short title and for definitions and providing for applicability; in State Board of Crane Operators, further providing for board and for powers and duties of board; in licensure, further providing for licensure, for qualifications, for duration of license, for reporting of multiple licensure and for license without certification and providing for qualifications for licensure as well driller, for legacy well drillers, for examination for licensure as well driller, for bonding and insurance for well drillers, for continuing education for well drillers, for professional standards and industry regulations for well drilling, for additional reporting requirements for well drillers, for sampling, for well driller license identification and for drilling company and rig registration; in administration and enforcement, further providing for violation of act, for refusal, suspension or revocation of license and for temporary and automatic suspensions; and making a repeal.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's existing Crane Operator Licensure Act to expand its scope and create a unified regulatory framework for both crane operators and well drillers under the State Board of Crane Operators and Well Drillers. The legislation establishes new definitions for various types of wells, including environmental, geotechnical, and geothermal wells, and introduces requirements for well driller licensure, examinations, bonding, insurance, and continuing education. It also mandates registration for drilling companies and rigs, adds reporting and sampling requirements, and includes provisions for license identification and exemptions for agricultural operations. The bill further outlines enforcement mechanisms, including procedures for license suspension or revocation for violations of the act.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 19, 2026 Last action May 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN3353 Printer's No. PN3364 · 7 edits
MODERATE
This revision updates the bill's printer number and clarifies that it applies to 'legacy' well drillers, distinguishing them from those regulated under oil and gas laws. It expands the definition of certification to include new accrediting bodies and adds specific definitions for terms like 'decommissioning' and 'environmental well.' The text also reorganizes exemptions for agricultural and transportation drilling and introduces new sections for continuing education and liability rules for well drillers.
Scope change
The bill's scope is clarified by explicitly including 'legacy' well drillers and refining exemptions for agricultural operations and Department of Transportation geotechnical drilling. It also broadens the definition of certification to recognize additional accrediting organizations.
DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'decommissioning,' 'environmental well,' 'immediate supervision,' 'modifying,' 'national association,' and 'registered drilling company' to clarify regulatory terms.

Updated the definition of 'Certification' to include the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute as acceptable accrediting bodies, alongside the National Groundwater Association.

ELIGIBILITY

Renamed the grandfathering provision to apply specifically to 'LEGACY well drillers,' clarifying which existing professionals are exempt from new examination requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section requiring continuing education for well drillers to maintain their licensure.

Added a new section establishing that well drillers are not liable for work completed before the effective date of the section or by another driller, while requiring them to inform owners of structural deficiencies.

EXEMPTIONS

Reorganized and clarified exemptions for normal agricultural operations and Department of Transportation geotechnical drilling contractors.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect the new printer number (PN 3364) and changed the status from 'as amended on second consideration' to 're-reported from committee on appropriations, as amended.'

Floor votes · House May 5, 2026

How they voted

16932
Passed
Total votes 201
May 5, 2026
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican99
67 Yea 32 Nay
67% 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
May 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure
upper
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as amended
lower
May 6, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amended in House Committee on Appropriations
lower
May 5, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (169-32)
house
May 5, 2026
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Apr 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Mar 19, 2026
Committee
Referred to Professional Licensure
lower
1 primary · 18 co-sponsors

Sponsors