Pennsylvania SB 1156: An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in financial responsibility, further providing for required financial responsibility and providing for online verification of financial responsibility.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1415
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1156
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY ROTHMAN, FONTANA, LAUGHLIN, BROWN, BARTOLOTTA,
STEFANO, LANGERHOLC, BAKER, DUSH, FLYNN AND BROOKS,
JANUARY 30, 2026
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 30, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in financial responsibility, further providing for
required financial responsibility and providing for online
verification of financial responsibility.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1786(b), (c), (e)(2) and (3) and (g)(1)
of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are
amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
read:
§ 1786. Required financial responsibility.
* * *
(b) Self-certification.--
(1) The Department of Transportation shall require that
each motor vehicle registrant certify that the registrant is
financially responsible at the time of registration or
renewal thereof. The department shall refuse to register or
renew the registration of a vehicle for failure to comply
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with this requirement or falsification of self-certification.
(2) The department shall verify financial responsibility
information self-certified by a motor vehicle registrant
through the verification system established under section
1786.1 (relating to online verification of financial
responsibility). If the verification system provides no
evidence of financial responsibility, the department shall
send the owner or registrant a notice providing the owner or
registrant the opportunity to provide proof of financial
responsibility to the department.
(c) Consent to produce proof of financial responsibility.--
(1) Upon registering a motor vehicle or renewing a motor
vehicle registration, the owner of the motor vehicle shall be
deemed to have given consent to produce proof, upon request,
to the Department of Transportation or a police officer that
the vehicle registrant has the financial responsibility
required by this chapter. Proof of financial responsibility
may be satisfied under this chapter by production of a
financial responsibility identification card in paper or
electronic form.
(2) If an owner of a motor vehicle [is providing]
provides electronic proof of financial responsibility to a
police officer, the police officer shall only view content
that is reasonably necessary to demonstrate proof of
financial responsibility.
(3) The owner of the electronic device assumes liability
for any damage to the electronic device containing the
financial responsibility identification card while in
possession of the police officer or agents of the department.
(4) Proof of financial responsibility may be satisfied
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through the online verification system established under
section 1786.1. A motor vehicle owner or registrant is not
required to provide a financial responsibility identification
card if coverage is confirmed through the online verification
system.
* * *
(e) Obligations upon lapse, termination or cancellation of
financial responsibility.--
* * *
(2) (i) An insurer who has issued a contract of motor
vehicle liability insurance, or any approved self-
insurance entity, shall notify the department in a timely
manner and in a method prescribed by the department's
regulations. This subparagraph shall not apply to an
insurer that participated in the verification system
established under section 1786.1.
(ii) Upon request of an owner or registrant in the
case of an appeal brought by an owner or registrant for
suspension under this section, an insurer shall provide a
copy of the notice of cancellation or a copy of the
insurer's filing procedures with proof that the notice
was written in the normal course of business and placed
in the normal course of mailing. The department shall not
be required to produce such copy or any other proof that
notice of termination, lapse or cancellation was provided
to the owner or registrant in order to satisfy the burden
of proof in a proceeding under this section.
(3) An insurer who has issued a contract of motor
vehicle liability insurance and knows or has reason to
believe that the contract is only for the purpose of
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providing proof of financial responsibility shall notify the
department if the insurance has been canceled or terminated
by the insured or by the insurer. The insurer shall notify
the department not later than ten days following the
effective date of the cancellation or termination. This
paragraph shall not apply to an insurer that participates in
the verification system established under section 1786.1.
* * *
(g) Defenses.--
(1) No person shall be convicted of failing to produce
proof of financial responsibil