SB 1298 Pennsylvania Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in inspection of vehicles, further providing for prohibition on expenditures for emission inspection program.

This bill updates Pennsylvania's vehicle inspection rules by exempting the newest model year vehicles from emission testing for five years and removing the gas cap test requirement for cars manufactured without one. While these newer cars are waived from emission checks, they must still undergo visual inspections to ensure emissions control parts have not been tampered with. Additionally, the legislation directs the state to stop spending money on the enhanced emission inspection program in several specific counties and to submit a revised plan to the federal government proving those areas can still meet air quality standards without it.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 17, 2026 Last action May 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1616 Printer's No. PN1695 · 7 edits
MODERATE
The bill text was updated from Printer's No. 1616 to No. 1695, reflecting amendments made on May 6, 2026. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a detailed timeline and procedural requirements for removing counties from the enhanced vehicle emission inspection program, ensuring that any removals are approved by the EPA and do not jeopardize federal funding. A minor formatting correction was also made to the act's title to remove redundant language.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding the removal of counties from the emission inspection program was expanded to include specific deadlines, notification requirements to legislative committees, and conditions for re-adding counties if federal approval is initially denied.
TIMELINE

Added a strict 60-day deadline for the Department of Environmental Protection to begin removing specific counties from the enhanced inspection program.

Changed the bill's status from 'referred to Transportation' to 'as amended on third consideration,' indicating the bill has passed its final legislative stage.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that the revised state implementation plan be completed and submitted to the EPA by August 1, 2026, proving counties can maintain air quality standards without the inspection program.

Required biannual submissions to remove any counties that were not previously removed due to EPA objections, ensuring the program is eventually fully rolled back.

Added a prohibition on expanding the enhanced inspection program to new counties that were not part of the program as of May 1, 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

Established a process where the department must notify legislative committee chairs if the EPA denies the plan or threatens to withhold federal funding, potentially pausing the removals.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the act's title to remove redundant phrasing about 'further providing for requirement for periodic inspection' and streamlined the description of the emission inspection prohibition.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2026

How they voted

2921
Passed
Total votes 50
May 6, 2026
D Democratic23
4 Yea 19 Nay
82% Nay
R Republican27
25 Yea 2 Nay
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Amendments
1
May 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Transportation
lower
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amended on third consideration
upper
May 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Apr 21, 2026
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Apr 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Apr 17, 2026
Committee
Referred to Transportation
upper
1 primary · 14 co-sponsors

Sponsors