SB 468 — An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for interstate agreements for research and deployment of unmanned aircraft systems.

Bill Text

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This bill establishes a new chapter in Pennsylvania law for the regulation and deployment of unmanned aircraft systems.

• Title 74

  CHAPTER 67 UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS SUBCHAPTER A INTERSTATE AGREEMENTS FOR RESEARCH AND DEPLOYMENT Sec. 6701. Definitions. 6702. Interstate agreements.

  A new chapter and subchapter relating to unmanned aircraft systems is added to Pennsylvania law.

• § 6701

  "Department." The Department of Transportation of the Commonwealth. "Educational partner." A school entity or an institution of higher education. "Institution of higher education." As defined in section 1501-L of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949. "School entity." A public school, including a charter school or cyber charter school, private school, nonpublic school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school, operating within this Commonwealth. "Unmanned aircraft system" or "UAS." An aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

  Definitions related to unmanned aircraft systems and their operational context are established.

• § 6702

  (a) Agreements authorized.--The department, on behalf of the Commonwealth, may negotiate one or more interstate agreements with an agency or educational partner recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration for the research, testing, deployment, training or education of unmanned aircraft systems. (b) Approval required.--The Governor shall approve or disapprove each agreement negotiated by the department under subsection (a). An agreement shall become effective upon approval by the Governor. (c) Administration of agreement.--Following approval under subsection (b), the department shall approve at least one entity to administer the research, testing and deployment of, and training or education or use of, a UAS on behalf of the department. To be approved, an entity must be: (1) located on or near an airport in this Commonwealth; (2) an educational partner that offers aviation courses.

  The bill permits the Department of Transportation to negotiate interstate agreements regarding unmanned aircraft systems, subject to gubernatorial approval.

• § 6702

  (d) Location.--An interstate agreement shall operate in: (1) A county of the fourth class with a population between 133,000 and 134,000 based on the most recent Federal decennial census. (2) A county of the sixth class with a population between 74,000 and 75,000 based on the most recent Federal decennial census. (3) Any other county in this Commonwealth as approved by the department.

  Specific location criteria for interstate agreements relevant to unmanned aircraft systems are established.

• § 6702

  (e) Operation of UAS.--A UAS may operate under this subchapter in this Commonwealth only if the UAS is: (1) operated by a party to an interstate agreement entered into under this section or otherwise authorized by a party or the department consistent with an interstate agreement entered into under this section; (2) authorized to operate and is operating in compliance with all Federal, State or local laws, regulations and guidelines.

  Regulates the operation of unmanned aircraft systems under the new chapter.

• § 6702

  (f) Regulations.-- (1) The department may promulgate temporary regulations to implement this subchapter that shall expire no later than three years after publication or upon promulgation of final-form regulations, whichever is earlier. The temporary regulations shall not be subject to the following: (i) Section 612 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929. (ii) Sections 201, 202, 203, 204 and 205 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law. (iii) Section 204(b) of the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act. (iv) The act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act. (2) The department's authority to adopt temporary regulations under paragraph (1) shall expire three years after the effective date of this paragraph.

  The bill grants the department the authority to issue temporary regulations for the chapter's implementation.

• § 6702

  (g) Publication of interstate agreements.--The department shall transmit a notice to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the next available issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin when an interstate agreement under this section is entered into and becomes effective.

  Mandates publication requirements for interstate agreements related to unmanned aircraft systems.

Action History

1. February 03, 2026

   Laid on the table

2. February 03, 2026

   First consideration

3. February 03, 2026

   Reported as committed

4. June 24, 2025

   Referred to Transportation

5. June 23, 2025

   Third consideration and final passage

6. June 10, 2025

   Re-reported as committed

7. June 09, 2025

   Re-referred to Appropriations

8. June 09, 2025

   Second consideration

9. June 04, 2025

   First consideration

10. June 04, 2025

    Reported as amended

11. March 18, 2025

    Referred to Transportation

Sponsors

• Wayne Langerholc · Primary
• Patrick J. Stefano · Cosponsor
• Judy Ward · Cosponsor
• Doug Mastriano · Cosponsor
• Tracy Pennycuick · Cosponsor
• Elder A. Vogel · Cosponsor

Votes

Subjects