Pennsylvania House Bill HB1036

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/24/25
• Refer: 3/24/25

Caption

In fees, further providing for exemption of persons, entities and vehicles from fees.

Summary

HB1036 amends Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Code provisions on fee exemptions to create a new registration-fee exemption for active volunteer first responders. The bill adds a category for individuals who use their personal vehicle to respond to emergencies as members of an emergency medical services company, volunteer fire company, or volunteer rescue service. These qualifying volunteers would not pay the standard vehicle registration fee, but would still owe a $10 processing fee for issuing or renewing the registration. To qualify, the volunteer must be the owner and principal driver of the vehicle, though the bill allows another person to drive it occasionally. The bill also limits the benefit so that only one passenger car or truck with a registered gross weight of 9,000 pounds or less may be registered under this exemption for each eligible person. The measure would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Impact

The bill would amend Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, specifically section 1901 governing exemptions from vehicle registration fees. Its practical effect is to reduce the cost of registering one qualifying vehicle for active volunteer first responders, while preserving a small processing charge. The change would apply to volunteers in EMS, volunteer fire, and volunteer rescue organizations as defined elsewhere in Pennsylvania law, and it would expand the list of fee-exempt categories already recognized in the statute.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a supportive, pro-volunteer public-safety bill with no recorded opposition in the provided materials. The sponsorship list suggests bipartisan or at least broad legislative interest in helping volunteer first responders, and there are no committee transcripts or votes indicating controversy. Overall, the bill’s tone is favorable toward emergency service volunteers and their role in responding to emergencies.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues that could arise from the text itself include the fiscal impact of exempting more vehicles from registration fees, the administrative need to verify who qualifies as an active volunteer first responder, and the limitation to one eligible vehicle per person. However, no member comments, amendments, or recorded votes are available here to show that these concerns were actively debated.