Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 7 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 185 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in lighting equipment, further providing for general lighting requirements.

Last action — Laid on the table (Pursuant to House Rule 71), Nov. 17, 2025

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (7 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Aftermarket Brake Light Strips on Vehicles

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

9 added · 51 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill SB 185 introduces specific requirements for rear lighting retrofits on vehicles weighing 14,000 pounds or less. It now specifies that these ornamental lights must match the color and brightness of the vehicle's existing stop lamps and outlines safety criteria for their installation. This change is important as it helps to ensure that additional lighting does not confuse other drivers on the road, enhancing safety while allowing for customization of vehicle lighting.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
123 PRINTER'S NO.
123 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
487 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
185 2025 INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, LANGERHOLC, STEFANO, ARGALL, CULVER AND ROBINSON, JANUARY 24, 2025 REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 24, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated general lighting requirements.t, further providing for The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
185 2025 INTRODUCED BY HUTCHINSON, LANGERHOLC, STEFANO, ARGALL, CULVER, ROBINSON, DUSH AND FLYNN, JANUARY 24, 2025 SENATOR J.
WARD, TRANSPORTATION, AS AMENDED, MARCH 26, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in lighting equipment, further providing for general lighting requirements.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
* * * (b.1) Rear lighting retrofit.--A vehicle, other than a motor <-- carrier vehicle, with a gross vehicle weight of 14,000 pounds or less may be operated on a highway with an ornamental lamp bar or auxiliary lighting strip in combination with the stop lamps of the vehicle's rear lighting system, to which the following shall apply:
* * * (b.1) Rear lighting retrofit.--A vehicle, other than a motor carrier vehicle, with a gross vehicle weight of 14,000 pounds or less may be operated on a highway with an ornamental lamp bar or auxiliary lighting strip in combination with the stop lamps of the vehicle's rear lighting system, to which the following shall apply:
(B.1) REAR LIGHTING RETROFIT.-- <-- (1) A VEHICLE, OTHER THAN A MOTOR CARRIER VEHICLE, WITH A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT OF 14,000 POUNDS OR LESS MAY BE OPERATED ON A HIGHWAY WITH AN ORNAMENTAL LAMP BAR OR AUXILIARY LIGHTING STRIP IN COMBINATION WITH THE STOP LAMPS OF THE VEHICLE'S REAR LIGHTING SYSTEM, TO WHICH THE FOLLOWING SHALL APPLY:
(I) THE ORNAMENTAL LAMP BAR OR AUXILIARY LIGHTING STRIP SHALL BE:
(A) THE SAME COLOR AND SIMILAR ILLUMINATION AS THE VEHICLE'S STOP LAMPS.
(B) IN SAFE OPERATING CONDITION.
(C) HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.
IF A VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE ON THE REAR EXTERIOR ON THE VEHICLE, LIGHTING EQUIPMENT THAT IS MOUNTED WITHIN THE INNER WHEEL SHALL NOT PROTRUDE OUTSIDE OF THE WHEEL AT ANY POINT, OPERATE IN COMBINATION WITH THE STOP LAMPS AND COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBSECTION.
(II) THE ORNAMENTAL LAMP BAR OR AUXILIARY LIGHTING STRIP MAY:
(A) CONTAIN LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE BULBS.
(B) OPERATE WITH A VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNAL.
(III) THE ORNAMENTAL LAMP BAR OR AUXILIARY LIGHTING STRIP MAY NOT FEATURE FLASHING OR REVOLVING LIGHTS, UNLESS THE ORNAMENTAL LAMP BAR OR AUXILIARY STRIP IS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNAL.
20250SB0185PN0487 - 2 - (IV) A VEHICLE MAY NOT HAVE MORE THAN ONE ORNAMENTAL LAMP BAR OR AUXILIARY LIGHTING STRIP EQUIPPED.
(2) THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO A VEHICLE WITH ORIGINAL REAR LIGHTING EQUIPMENT FROM A MANUFACTURER THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH AN ORNAMENTAL LAMP BAR OR AUXILIARY LIGHTING STRIP.
(3) AS USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, THE TERM "ORNAMENTAL LAMP BAR OR AUXILIARY LIGHTING STRIP" SHALL MEAN NONORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FROM A MANUFACTURER, NON-BATTERY-POWERED LIGHTING EQUIPMENT THAT IS NO LONGER THAN 60 INCHES IN LENGTH, NO WIDER THAN 2 INCHES, NO DEEPER THAN ONE INCH AND IS HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED IN THIS SUBSECTION.
20250SB0185PN0487 - 3 -
20250SB0185PN0123 - 2 -
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Action History

  1. Laid on the table (Pursuant to House Rule 71), Nov. 17, 2025

  2. Removed from table, Sept. 10, 2025

  3. Laid on the table, June 17, 2025

  4. First consideration, June 17, 2025

  5. Reported as committed, June 17, 2025

  6. Referred to TRANSPORTATION, April 3, 2025

  7. In the House

  8. (Remarks see Senate Journal Page 259), April 1, 2025

  9. Third consideration and final passage, April 1, 2025 (48-1)

  10. Second consideration, March 31, 2025

  11. First consideration, March 26, 2025

  12. Reported as amended, March 26, 2025

  13. Referred to TRANSPORTATION, Jan. 24, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 245 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (245)

245 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 245 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Final Passage

Passed 48 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 27000
Democratic 20100
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 48100
% of votes cast 98%2%0%0%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Anthony Williams — Yea
Amanda M. Cappelletti Democratic Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Carolyn T. Comitta Democratic Yea
Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic Yea
Jay Costa Democratic Yea
John I. Kane Democratic Yea
Judith L. Schwank Democratic Yea
Katie J. Muth Democratic Nay
Lindsey M. Williams Democratic Yea
Lisa M. Boscola Democratic Yea
Maria Collett Democratic Yea
Marty Flynn Democratic Yea
Nick Miller Democratic Yea
Nick Pisciottano Democratic Yea
Nikil Saval Democratic Yea
Patty Kim Democratic Yea
Sharif Street Democratic Yea
Steven J. Santarsiero Democratic Yea
Timothy P. Kearney Democratic Yea
Vincent J. Hughes Democratic Yea
Wayne D. Fontana Democratic Yea
Camera Bartolotta Republican Yea
Chris Gebhard Republican Yea
Cris Dush Republican Yea
Daniel Laughlin Republican Yea
David G. Argall Republican Yea
Dawn W. Keefer Republican Yea
Devlin J. Robinson Republican Yea
Doug Mastriano Republican Yea
Elder A. Vogel Republican Yea
Frank A. Farry Republican Yea
Gene Yaw Republican Yea
Greg Rothman Republican Yea
Jarrett Coleman Republican Yea
Joe Picozzi Republican Yea
Joe Pittman Republican Yea
Judy Ward Republican Yea
Kim L. Ward Republican Yea
Kristin Phillips-Hill Republican Yea
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Lynda Schlegel Culver Republican Yea
Michele Brooks Republican Yea
Patrick J. Stefano Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea
Scott E. Hutchinson Republican Yea
Scott Martin Republican Yea
Tracy Pennycuick Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

transportation
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 185 do?
Aftermarket Brake Light Strips on Vehicles
Who sponsors SB 185?
SB 185 is sponsored by Cris Dush (Republican), Scott E. Hutchinson (Republican), Wayne Langerholc (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), David G. Argall (Republican), Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Devlin J. Robinson (Republican), and Marty Flynn (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 185?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 24, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 185?
Track SB 185 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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