An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in licensing of drivers, further providing for schedule of convictions and points; in rules of the road in general, further providing for meeting or overtaking school bus; and imposing penalties.
SB 65 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle code to strengthen school bus safety rules. It increases penalties for drivers who fail to stop for school buses with flashing red lights (5 points and a 60-day license suspension) and adds a $250-$500 fine with a $35 surcharge for violations. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to include school bus safety education in driver license renewal notices and share materials with school districts. All surcharges from violations fund the School Bus Safety Grant Program to improve school bus safety measures.
Bill status
passed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Oct 2025
Senate Passage
Sep 2025
House Passage
Oct 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2025
Last action Oct 27, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Printer's No. PN0026
→
Printer's No. PN0486
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill update adds new sponsors to the legislation and clarifies the printer's number. The most significant change is the expansion of the school bus safety law to include a specific educational requirement for drivers approaching school buses with flashing amber signals, not just red ones. It also increases the fine for a second or subsequent violation of school bus safety rules and splits the effective date of the new educational requirements to take effect immediately, while other parts of the act take effect in one year.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include new educational mandates regarding amber flashing signals on school buses and stricter penalties for repeat offenders.
REQUIREMENT
Added a mandatory educational document for drivers covering duties when approaching school buses with flashing amber signals.
ENFORCEMENT
Increased the fine for a second or subsequent school bus violation from $100 to $250 and added mandatory driver improvement school or special examination.
TIMELINE
Split the effective dates so the new educational requirements take effect immediately, while the remainder of the act takes effect in one year.
ELIGIBILITY
Added Senator Farry as a co-sponsor to the bill.
Floor votes · Senate Sep 10, 2025 · House Oct 15, 2025
How they voted
50–0
Passed
Total votes 50
Sep 10, 2025
D
Democratic23
100% Yea
R
Republican27
100% 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
Oct 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Oct 15, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (26-0)
house
Sep 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
Sep 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Sep 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as amended
upper
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Transportation
upper
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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