New Pennsylvania Laws: Distracted Driving, Electric Car Fees, and Healthcare Access
TL/DR –
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed over 150 new laws in the past year, including measures to regulate smartphone usage while driving, introduce fees for electric vehicles, crack down on street racing, expand health care access, and support first responders. The law against smartphone usage while driving, named after a victim of a distracted driver, now makes it a primary offense that can be ticketed, with data being collected on the race, ethnicity, gender, and age of the driver. Fees will be introduced for electric vehicle owners from April to contribute to road maintenance costs, and laws to penalize street racing and drifting will come into effect over the next year, as will measures to improve access to preventive screening for various cancers, genetic testing, telemedicine, and speech therapy.
Gov. Josh Shapiro Signs Over 150 New Laws in Pennsylvania
In the first few months of this year, several of the 150+ laws signed last year by Gov. Josh Shapiro will come into effect in Pennsylvania. These laws encompass various improvements including health, safety, and fairness in daily life.
Broader State Vehicle Laws to Combat Distracted Driving
In June, the Paul Miller Jr. law was signed by Shapiro, making the use of mobile devices while driving a ticketable offense. Following Paul Miller Jr.’s tragic death in 2010, the law aims to update Pennsylvania’s vehicle laws in line with technological advancements. The law, effective June 5, 2025, will initially result in warnings, with later violations carrying a $50 fine and other potential penalties.
Electric Vehicle Owners to Contribute More for Road Maintenance
With electric vehicle popularity on the rise, an additional registration fee will be implemented starting April. This new measure is set to replace the alternative fuels tax and will progressively increase in the coming years. The measure faced opposition due to potential hindrance on EV adoption.
Curbing Illegal Street Racing and Increasing Highway Safety
In response to escalating issues with illegal street racing and car meets, the “Putting the Brakes on Street Racing” Act was signed by Shapiro, imposing stiff fines and penalties for offenders. The law, effective from September, also cracks down on license plate flipping devices, carrying a $2,000 fine.
Pushing Greater Access to Health Care
Shapiro signed several laws aimed at expanding health care access. These include mandatory insurance coverage for preventative cancer screening, genetic testing, telemedicine, and biomarker testing, an emerging field in personalized treatment for chronic diseases.
Increased Coverage for Speech Therapy
Following a campaign led by former NBA star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a law was signed that mandates health insurance coverage for speech therapy for stuttering. The legislation took effect on Dec. 16.
Workers’ Compensation for First Responders with PTSD
Shapiro signed a law granting workers’ compensation for first responders recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder, which took effect in October 2025. The bill also updated the workers’ compensation law to allow claimants to receive their benefits via direct deposit.
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