House Transportation Committee reports three Senate bills on carrier representation, E85 and drone research

At a meeting called to order by the House Transportation Committee, members voted to report three Senate bills to the next stage of consideration.

The committee reported Senate Bill 997 as committed. Jess, committee staff, summarized the measure as adding “one member of the Pennsylvania Online Messengers Association board of directors to the motor carrier safety advisory committee,” saying the bill is supported by the administration and the Pennsylvania Online Messengers Association. The chair asked for support and recorded no negative votes; the committee reported the bill out of committee as committed.

The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1058. Kyle, committee staff, said the bill updates the statutory definition of E85 (also called flex fuel) to encompass products containing 51% to 85% ethanol to align Pennsylvania law with federal and international standards. Kyle noted that under current state law, E85 must contain at least 85% ethanol and be subject to the alternative fuels tax of about 41¢ per gallon, while products containing less than 85% ethanol are subject to the regular liquid fuels tax of about 57¢ per gallon. Kyle said SB 1058 passed the Senate 49–0 and that there was no known opposition; the committee reported the bill as committed.

Under other business, the committee reported Senate Bill 468 as committed. Kyle described SB 468 as authorizing the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to negotiate one or more interstate agreements with FAA‑recognized agencies or educational partners for research, testing, deployment, training, or education related to unmanned aircraft systems (drones). The governor must approve each agreement, and PennDOT must designate at least one entity—located at or near a Pennsylvania airport or an education partner offering aviation courses—to administer the work. Kyle noted the bill passed the Senate 50–0 and that administration stakeholders and aviation groups were supportive or neutral.

Representative Schafer, the new committee member from what he identified as District 28 (the Speaker’s former district), introduced himself during opening remarks and said he has spent “25 plus years in the transportation industry, focused on bridge safety,” and that he was “glad to be on a policy committee related to it.”

Committee members closed the session with remarks previewing a focus on transit funding, roads and bridges in upcoming weeks. An unidentified member publicly praised PennDOT’s storm response and coordination with agriculture interests that allowed milk trucks to operate safely during a recent heavy storm. The meeting was adjourned with no additional votes recorded.