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SB 863

An Act designating the portion of Interstate 180 from the Lycoming-Northumberland County line to the interchange with existing U.S. Route 15 and U.S. Route 220 in Lycoming County as the Kenneth C. Larson, Jr., Memorial Highway.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jay Costa and 3 co-sponsors

The bill lets fleet owners (5+ vehicles) register rental cars under a new “FLEET VEHICLE” option with distinctive plates, no validation tab, and a one-time $8.50 fee.

Referred to Transportation
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 863

SB 863 — Motor Vehicles: Rental Fleet Vehicles — Registration

Status: Hearing scheduled 3/05 (Judicial Proceedings). Introduced: 1/28/2025 (Sen. Muse). Effective date in bill: October 1, 2025. Cross-file/companion: HB 1464.

Main purpose

Establish an alternative, fleet‑oriented vehicle registration option for short‑term rental businesses that operate fleets of five or more vehicles. The alternative process creates a distinctive “fleet vehicle” plate, allows fleet registration expirations to align, removes the requirement to display a validation tab (sticker), and charges a one‑time initial plate fee in addition to existing annual registration fees.

Key provisions

  • Eligible owners: an owner of a fleet of five or more rental vehicles may register any rental vehicle either under this new statutory section or under current rental‑vehicle registration law (§13‑939.1).
  • Distinctive plates: the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) must issue distinctive “FLEET VEHICLE” registration plates for vehicles registered under the alternative process.
  • Validation tab: MVA may not require attachment, display, or issuance of a validation tab (registration sticker) for rental vehicles registered under the new process.
  • Coordinated expiration: to the extent practicable, registrations for vehicles in the same fleet should expire on the same date.
  • Fees:
    • Annual registration fee remains the same as applicable under current law for the vehicle class (no change to standard annual fees).
    • In addition, an owner who registers a vehicle under the new process must pay a one‑time initial registration fee not exceeding $8.50 when the new plates are issued.
  • Applicability and administration: the bill directs MVA to implement the plate issuance and registration rules; other statutory registration requirements remain in force.

Fiscal impact (per fiscal note)

  • State Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) effects are primarily from the one‑time $8.50 fee and plate production/mailing costs.
  • Assumptions used in the fiscal estimate:
    • Roughly 280 businesses have fleets of 5+ rental vehicles, totaling ~65,250 vehicles (MVA data, Feb 2025).
    • Eligible vehicles are phased in across FY2026–FY2028 as fleets register under the new process.
  • Estimated net TTF effects (FY2026–FY2028):
    • FY2026: Revenues +$208,000; Expenditures +$293,600; Net ≈ −$85,600.
    • FY2027: Revenues +$277,300; Expenditures +$411,100; Net ≈ −$133,800.
    • FY2028: Revenues +$69,300; Expenditures +$107,900; Net ≈ −$38,600.
  • After FY2028: one‑time fee revenues and initial plate production are largely realized; no material net recurring fiscal effect expected.
  • Local governments: no material fiscal impact.
  • Small businesses: potential meaningful impact for small rental operators who opt into the alternative process (obligation to pay the one‑time fee and conform to new plate procedures).

Who is affected

  • Primary: owners/operators of rental fleets with five or more vehicles (short‑term rental businesses).
  • MVA: will produce and mail distinctive plates, adjust processes (no sticker requirement for these plates).
  • Law enforcement and registration enforcement: may adjust recognition/validation practices due to distinctive plates and absence of validation tabs.
  • Consumers: no direct changes to rental pricing in statute; operational effects for rental companies could be indirect.

Timeline / Implementation

  • Bill text specifies the act take effect October 1, 2025.
  • Vehicles registered under the new process will receive new “FLEET VEHICLE” plates and pay the one‑time initial plate fee at plate issuance; annual registration fees continue to be collected per vehicle class.

Notes

  • The bill preserves existing annual registration rules and fees by vehicle class; the $8.50 charge is explicitly in addition to those fees.
  • The removal of a validation tab requirement aims to simplify renewals and align fleet expirations, but the fiscal note assumes MVA will continue mailing registration cards, so cost savings from eliminating stickers are minimal compared with plate production costs.

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

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