Pennsylvania House Bill HB1523

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/30/25
• Refer: 5/30/25

Caption

In transportation network companies, providing for excise fee; in transportation network service, providing for excise fee; and, in sustainable mobility options, further providing for fund.

Summary

HB1523 would impose new excise fees on transportation network companies, such as ride-hailing platforms, and direct the resulting revenue to Pennsylvania’s Public Transportation Trust Fund. The bill creates a 4.6% fee on gross receipts from prearranged rides that originate in a city of the first class, and a 6% fee on gross receipts from prearranged rides that originate outside a city of the first class. These fees would be remitted quarterly and deposited into the trust fund. The bill also amends the sustainable mobility provisions in Title 74 to ensure that these new revenue streams are counted as deposits into the fund and then allocated to the operating program under the chapter’s funding rules. In practical terms, HB1523 would expand the funding base for public transportation and mobility programs by capturing a portion of ride-hailing fare revenue and redirecting it to transit-related uses. The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Impact

HB1523 would amend Titles 53, 66, and 74 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes by adding new excise-fee provisions for transportation network companies and by updating the Public Transportation Trust Fund deposit and allocation rules. It would require TNCs operating in and outside a city of the first class to pay quarterly fees based on gross fare receipts, and it would earmark those receipts for the trust fund and related operating program funding. The bill would directly affect ride-hailing companies, passengers through potential fare impacts, and public transit funding recipients.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text and sponsor list, the measure appears to be a revenue-raising and transit-funding proposal likely intended to support public transportation and sustainable mobility programs. The absence of votes or hearing testimony means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from the provided materials.

Contention

The likely points of contention are the new fees imposed on transportation network companies and the different rates applied depending on whether rides originate inside or outside a city of the first class. Supporters would likely emphasize dedicated funding for public transit and mobility programs, while opponents may argue the bill increases costs for ride-hailing services, could be passed on to riders, and treats geographic markets differently. Another possible issue is whether the fee structure is fair or burdensome for TNCs operating statewide.