PA Senate Votes To Advance Bill Exempting Newer Vehicles From Annual Emissions Testing

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Senate voted this week to advance a proposal that would eliminate annual emissions testing for newer vehicles.

The legislative body voted 29-20 in favor of Senate Bill 777, which would exempt certain newer vehicles from having to undergo annual testing as part compliance with the Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Program.

One of the yay votes and a cosponsor of the bill is Sen. Bob Mensch, R-24, whose district covers the Montgomeryville-Lansdale region.

The main sponsor of the bill is Sen. Wayne Langerholc, a Republican from Clearfield County just west of the State College region.

The proposal would exempt from emissions testing those vehicles five years old or younger. It would apply to those 25 out of 67 counties where emissions tests are currently required for registered vehicle owners.

The bill says that a one-time emissions exemption sticker would need to be applied to the windshield of those newer vehicles who would qualify for the exemption.

The bill was sent to the House Transportation Committee on Thursday following its passage in the Senate.

The senators who favor the legislation say it is unnecessary for newer vehicles that are better designed and more fuel efficient to have to undergo an emissions test that 99 percent of vehicles pass anyway, and that the only thing the testing does is force drivers to shuck out extra money to line state coffers.