Committee advances bill to remove State Police appropriation from motor license fund

The House Transportation Committee voted to report House Bill 1085 as committed after debate over funding for highways and bridges and the role of the motor license fund in supporting the Pennsylvania State Police.

Kyle (staff member) summarized the measure: "House bill 10 85 by chairman Ed Nielsen and chairman Carrie Benninghoff. This bill further reduces the appropriation to the Pennsylvania State Police from the motor license fund. Under this bill, the allocation of the state police from the motor license fund would be 125,000,000 in fiscal year 25 26 and $0 in fiscal year 26 27 and each year thereafter. The general fund would have to replace any dollars for the PSP from the motor license fund. The administration is neutral on this bill." Kyle also read a list of supporters recorded for the committee hearing.

Chairman Ed Nielsen argued the change is necessary to preserve motor license fund dollars for highways and bridges: "We need the money. We need the money. Need the money." He and other committee members said better gas mileage and electric vehicles have reduced motor-fuel revenues, increasing pressure on the fund.

Representative Carrie Benninghoff supported the measure, saying earlier efforts attempted similar reductions and that rural and other areas continue to face unmet infrastructure needs: "Those of us who live in rural areas and even other urban areas know that the meet need is there, the need continues to grow." Kyle read supporting organizations including the Manufacturing & Business Association, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the American Council of Engineering Companies, HNTB, the PA Motor Truck Association, the PA State Association of Township Supervisors, the PA Chamber of Business and Industry, and Mobilify. No opposition was identified in the committee summary.

Procedure: Committee members moved to report House Bill 1085 as committed. Representative Mullins moved the motion; Representative Curry seconded. The committee recorded no negative votes and reported the bill as committed.

The bill would change statutory allocations from the motor license fund so that the Pennsylvania State Police receive $125,000,000 in fiscal year 2025–26 and $0 in fiscal year 2026–27 and each year thereafter, with the general fund responsible for any State Police funding previously paid from the motor license fund. The committee noted the governor and prior administrations have proposed related adjustments and that the administration had a neutral position in the committee summary.