An Act amending the act of December 22, 1983 (P.L.306, No.84), known as the Board of Vehicles Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in vehicles, further providing for unlawful acts by manufacturers or distributors, for area of responsibility and for limitations on establishing or relocating dealers.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Martin and 1 co-sponsor

Trailer manufacturers, distributors, and dealers are explicitly exempt from the unlawful acts provisions in Section 310(d) of the Board of Vehicles Act.

Presented to the Governor

Summary of SB 1353 (Session 2025-2026) — Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

SB 1353 proposes an amendment to the Board of Vehicles Act (Act of December 22, 1983) to modify the scope of unlawful acts by manufacturers or distributors within the vehicles framework. The primary effect is a targeted amendment clarifying applicability, ensuring that certain provisions do not apply to a specific category of entities.

Key provisions and changes

Amends Section 310(d) of the Board of Vehicles Act, which governs unlawful acts by manufacturers or distributors.

Adds a new paragraph (1.2) explicitly stating that the section “shall not apply to manufacturers, distributors or dealers of trailers.”

This creates an explicit exclusion for trailer-related manufacturers, distributors, and dealers from the scope of the specified unlawful acts provisions in Section 310(d).

The amendment does not otherwise modify other sections or penalties within the act, nor does it alter enforcement mechanisms beyond this exclusion.

Who or what is affected

Affected: Manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of trailers are explicitly excluded from the applicability of the unlawful acts provisions established in Section 310(d).

Not affected: Manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of vehicles other than trailers remain subject to the existing unlawful acts provisions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment (as stated: “This act shall take effect immediately.”)

The bill was introduced on May 28, 2026, and referred to the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure committee.

Prime sponsor: Senator Martin (with co-sponsor Senator Scott Martin).

Potential impact and considerations

Compliance relief for trailer-related industry participants: Trailer manufacturers, distributors, and dealers gain a clear exemption from the specified unlawful acts provisions, potentially reducing regulatory exposure in that segment.

Regulatory alignment: The exclusion aligns the statute with programmatic or market realities specific to trailers, which may have different regulatory or liability considerations than other motor vehicles.

Enforcement scope: Lawmakers could revisit whether other sections of the act still adequately address unlawful acts in the broader vehicle sector, given the narrower scope now created for trailers.

If you’d like, I can compare this amendment to the current statutory text of Section 310(d) to show the exact insertion and its language in context.