Pennsylvania House Bill HB2512

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Caption

In transportation network service, further providing for rates and forms of compensation.

Summary

HB2512 would amend Pennsylvania’s Public Utilities Code provisions governing transportation network companies, such as ride-hailing platforms, by prohibiting them from setting fares using certain forms of device-based surveillance pricing. Specifically, a company could not base a fare, in whole or in part, on the hardware or hardware state of a consumer’s online device, the presence or absence of software on that device, or geolocation data from the device, subject to several exceptions. The bill allows geolocation to be used when it is tied to legitimate cost or demand differences in serving consumers, when it is used to determine real-time or historical demand in the consumer’s vicinity and the price is shown immediately upon request, when it is needed to reflect location-based price differences caused by taxes, duties, fees, or other lawful charges, or when it is used to offer a promotion or discount. The bill also defines “hardware state” and “online device” for purposes of the new restriction and would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Impact

HB2512 would add a new consumer-protection limitation to Title 66 by regulating how transportation network companies may calculate and present fares. It would bar the use of certain device characteristics and some geolocation-based inputs for pricing, while preserving limited location-based pricing tied to legitimate operational costs, demand, taxes, or discounts. The practical effect would be to constrain dynamic or personalized pricing practices in the ride-hailing sector and to give consumers greater protection against pricing based on device surveillance or inferred device attributes.

Sentiment

The available record shows no committee transcript or vote history, so there is no documented debate or recorded support/opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to reflect a consumer-protection approach aimed at limiting surveillance-based pricing practices in transportation network services. The sponsors and co-sponsors suggest interest in regulating algorithmic fare-setting and protecting riders from discriminatory or opaque pricing methods.

Contention

The main points of potential contention are the scope of the pricing ban and the exceptions for geolocation-based pricing. Supporters would likely view the bill as preventing unfair or invasive fare-setting based on device data, while opponents may argue that the restrictions could limit legitimate dynamic pricing, operational flexibility, or location-sensitive cost recovery. The exception language—especially for real-time demand, local taxes and fees, and promotions—appears designed to balance consumer protection with business needs, but those carve-outs could also be a focus of debate over how broadly companies may still use location data.