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HB 2600

An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to operation of vehicles, providing for reimbursement of expenses for towing and recovery services incurred by safety entities; and imposing duties on the Department of Transportation.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Manny Guzman and 2 co-sponsors

PennDOT may reimburse safety entities for reasonable, necessary towing/recovery costs to restore safety, while vehicle owners/insurers remain the primary payors.

Referred to Transportation
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2600

Summary of HB 2600 (Session 2025-2026) — Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a new statutory framework to reimburse towing and recovery services provided by safety entities (public safety agencies or roadway authorities) in response to traffic incidents.
  • Aligns reimbursement practices with the FHWA incident response framework to support rapid clearance, roadway safety, and reduction of secondary crashes.
  • Creates defined roles, processes, and reporting requirements for administration and oversight by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).

Key provisions and changes

  • New Subchapter: Roadway Safety and Towing Recovery Reimbursement (Chapter 37, Title 75)

    • Adds Sec. 3761–3769 detailing definitions, reimbursement mechanics, funding, cost recovery, administration, reporting, regulations, implementation, and construction.

  • Definitions (Sec. 3761)

    • Introduces terms such as:
    • FHWA incident response framework
    • Reasonable and necessary
    • Roadway authority
    • Safety entity
    • Towing and recovery services
    • Provides the intended meaning for aligning reimbursements with federal best practices.

  • Reimbursement of towing and recovery services (Sec. 3762)

    • Roadway authorities may reimburse safety entities for towing and recovery services.
    • Reimbursements limited to expenses that are reasonable and necessary to restore roadway safety or traffic flow.
    • Reimbursements must align with the FHWA framework.
    • Primary payment obligation remains on vehicle owners or insurers; reimbursements occur only if payment from owner/insurer is not reasonably obtainable.
    • Documentation required: incident report, authorization for towing/removal, itemized invoice, and proof services were reasonable and necessary.
    • Review timeline: claims reviewed within 45 days after receipt of all required documentation.
    • Per-incident reimbursement limits may be established for extraordinary incidents (specialized equipment, complex recoveries, extended closures).

  • Funding (Sec. 3763)

    • PennDOT will pay claims from appropriated funds or other money made available for this purpose.
    • Funds may be allocated or redistributed to other roadway authorities as needed.

  • Cost recovery (Sec. 3764)

    • Roadway authorities may pursue cost recovery from at-fault parties or insurers for payment of reasonable and necessary towing/removal services.

  • Administration (Sec. 3765)

    • PennDOT will administer the subchapter.
    • Establishes procedures for eligibility, documentation, coordination with law enforcement, and compliance with Federal law.

  • Reporting (Sec. 3766)

    • Annual report to the General Assembly including:
    • Total number of reimbursement claims
    • Approved vs. denied claims
    • Total dollar amount of approved claims
    • Rationale for denials
    • Other relevant information deemed necessary

  • Regulations and implementation guidance (Secs. 3767–3768)

    • PennDOT may promulgate regulations to implement and administer the subchapter.
    • Guidance on implementation to be issued within four months after the section’s effective date.

  • Construction and limitations (Sec. 3769)

    • Clarifies that the subchapter:
    • Does not create a private right of action
    • Does not expand civil liability
    • Does not impose insurance requirements
    • Does not regulate towing rates
    • Does not affect pre-existing contracts or supersede towing laws of safety entities

  • Effective date

    • Six-month effective date after enactment.

Who and what is affected

  • Affected entities
    • Safety entities (public safety agencies, roadway authorities) that perform towing and recovery services as directed by law enforcement or roadway authorities.
    • Vehicle owners and insurers, who remain primary payors for towing/recovery costs.
    • PennDOT and other roadway authorities involved in incident response and reimbursement administration.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Reimbursement claims to be reviewed within 45 days of receiving complete documentation.
  • Implementation guidance to be issued within four months of the bill’s effective date.
  • Annual reporting obligation to the General Assembly starting after implementation.
  • Six-month phased-in effective date from enactment.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Creates a formal mechanism to reimburse safety entities for towing/recovery costs that are reasonable and necessary to restore roadway safety.
  • Provides financial transparency through defined reporting and documentation requirements.
  • Encourages alignment with FHWA best practices for incident response and rapid clearance.
  • Maintains limits on reimbursements to avoid shifting core liability away from vehicle owners/insurers.
  • Establishes administrative oversight without expanding private rights or imposing new rate regulations.

Note: This bill is currently in the Transportation Committee and subject to amendment before any potential enactment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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