HB 257 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Sep 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Aug 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Sep 9, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0203 → Printer's No. PN2211 · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly amended to expand its scope from solely driver licensing to include interactive gaming tax revenue, sustainable mobility options, and transit funding. The Senate version adds a new interactive gaming tax distribution mechanism to fund public transportation and highway construction, establishes a $20 million minimum balance requirement for the gaming fund, and introduces strict fare increase mandates tied to inflation for transit agencies. Additionally, the bill adds new performance evaluation requirements for transit systems and a local match requirement for operating assistance.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from exclusively regulating driver licensing to include interactive gaming taxation, sustainable mobility funding, and enhanced oversight of public transportation authorities.

FISCAL

Added a new interactive gaming tax distribution plan that transfers $87.5 million in FY 2025-2026 and $43 million annually thereafter to the Public Transportation Trust Fund and a supplemental highway construction account.

REQUIREMENT

Established a mandatory minimum balance of $20 million in the restricted gaming receipt account, except for specific county distributions.

Required local transportation organizations to increase fares annually based on the Consumer Price Index starting January 1, 2026, with specific deadlines for implementation and notification.

Introduced a local match requirement where operating assistance provided to transit authorities must be matched by at least 20% in local or private cash funding.

ENFORCEMENT

Mandated annual performance evaluations for transit award recipients to assess financial stability, safety measures, and operational efficiency.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'Metropolitan Transportation Authority' to clarify which entities serve all of a first-class county and surrounding areas within 20 miles.

TIMELINE

Added specific deadlines for fare schedule filing by October 1, 2025, and fare increase implementation by July 1 of every second calendar year thereafter.

Floor votes · Senate Aug 12, 2025 · House Feb 4, 2025

How they voted

27–22

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 50

Aug 12, 2025

D Democratic23

22 Nay 1

95% Nay

R Republican27

27 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Sep 9, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules

lower

Aug 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Final passage

upper

Jun 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Re-reported as committed

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Appropriations *opening vote*

upper

Jun 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported as committed

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to Transportation

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Feb 3, 2025

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as committed

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Transportation

lower

1 primary · 16 co-sponsors