Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB1982

Introduced

10/23/25

Refer

10/23/25

Caption

In 911 emergency communication services, further providing for uniform 911 surcharge and providing for termination; and making a repeal.

Summary

HB1982 amends Pennsylvania’s 911 emergency communication services law to increase the uniform 911 surcharge from $1.65 to $1.95 per 911 communications service or prepaid wireless device. The surcharge is collected from subscribers or consumers, remains uniform and competitively neutral across service types, and continues to be remitted to the State Treasurer for deposit into the 911 fund, with the Treasurer allowed to retain up to 1% for collection expenses. The bill also adds a new termination provision stating that the chapter will expire on January 31, 2029. In addition, it repeals Article I-K of The Fiscal Code as necessary to carry out the surcharge amendment and the new expiration section. The act would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Impact

HB1982 would increase the amount paid by consumers and subscribers for 911 communications services and prepaid wireless devices, thereby raising revenue for Pennsylvania’s 911 system and related emergency communications funding. It would amend Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, specifically the section governing the uniform 911 surcharge, and add a sunset date to the chapter. The bill also makes a conforming repeal in The Fiscal Code to eliminate provisions no longer needed once the surcharge and termination language are in place.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears procedural and administrative rather than contentious. The measure is framed as a funding adjustment for emergency communications infrastructure, which typically draws support when tied to maintaining 911 service reliability. No recorded opposition, amendments, or vote history is available in the provided context.

Contention

The main substantive issue is the surcharge increase, which shifts a slightly higher cost onto subscribers and prepaid wireless users to support 911 services. A second point of interest is the sunset provision, which limits the chapter’s duration until January 31, 2029, suggesting future legislative review or reauthorization will be required. No specific stakeholders, committee objections, or competing viewpoints are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history.

Latest PA HB1982 Activity

View All Events: PA 2025-2026 Regular Session HB1982

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA SB1078

In 911 emergency communication services, further providing for uniform 911 surcharge; and making a repeal.

PA SB1037

In 911 emergency communication services, further providing for uniform 911 surcharge.

PA HB213

In emergency responder mental wellness and stress management, further providing for confidential communications involving emergency responders and providing for mental health evaluations for 911 dispatchers.

PA HB1258

AN ACT Relating to providing funding for municipalities participating in the regional 911 emergency communications system;

PA SB300

In facilities and supplies, further providing for surcharge; and, in forfeiture of assets, providing for legal representation in forfeiture proceedings.

PA SB623

In general provisions, further providing for definitions; in Commonwealth services, further providing for definitions; and, in emergency responder mental wellness and stress management, further providing for definitions.

PA HB1658

Further providing for title of act; repealing provisions relating to fee schedule; providing for definitions and for fees for recordation of documents; further providing for County Records Improvement Fund and for county demolition fund; and making repeals.

PA HB453

In general provisions, further providing for definitions; in Commonwealth services, further providing fordefinitions relating to intrastate mutual aid; and, in emergency responder mental wellness and stress management, further providing for definitions.

PA SB745

Providing for resident associations and group meetings; further providing for disclosure of fees; providing for reasonable increases in rent and fees, for justified rent increase to support extraordinary increases in operating expenses and for temporary surcharge for capital improvements; and further providing for damages.

PA HB1777

In local organizations and services, further providing for general authority of political subdivisions; and, in general provisions relating to government and administration, further providing for scope of subchapter, providing for definitions, further providing for establishment and designation, providing for emergency meetings by authorized telecommunications device, repealing provisions relating to exercise of powers and functions, further providing for declaration of policy and for definitions, repealing provisions relating to enabling authority for emergency interim successors for local offices, further providing for emergency interim successors for local officers and for succession period and repealing provisions relating to term and removal of designees.