PA House Transportation Committee unanimously approves e-scooter legislation

The Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee unanimously approved legislation Monday to establish the state’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for e-scooters.

House Bill 1633 passed with a 26-0 vote, advancing the measure to the full House of Representatives.

The bill establishes operating, purchase and ownership rules for e-scooters across Pennsylvania. It also gives individual municipalities the authority to decide whether to permit shared e-scooter programs, such as Lime. Pennsylvania currently lacks a legal framework for operating e-scooters despite their widespread use throughout the state.

State Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, serves as the prime sponsor of the legislation. Kinkead advocated for closing statutory gaps to ensure public safety while expanding transit options.

“E-scooters have become an essential micro-mobility option across the nation and Pennsylvania is falling behind by failing to allow e-scooter share programs and provide local governments with the proper tools to regulate their use and keep people safe,” Kinkead said. “It is irresponsible for lawmakers to continue allowing e-scooters to exist in a legal gray area. This bill is about addressing the gaps in our existing law – establishing rules for the safe and responsible use of e-scooters while ensuring that Pennsylvanians have access to every option to get them where they need to go.”

Kinkead collaborated with state Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, to expand the original bill beyond shared programs so that it also addresses private e-scooter ownership. O’Mara emphasized the urgency of legislative action following a fatal incident in Delaware County last year in which a 12-year-old girl died in an e-scooter accident.

“As a Delaware County legislator and a mom, I’m grateful that we’re addressing e-scooter use,” O’Mara said. “Our Delco community suffered a horrible tragedy last year when a 12-year-old girl died after an e-scooter accident. Pennsylvania is currently the only state in the nation without regulations for private e-scooter use and our General Assembly has a responsibility to act. I’m grateful for Rep. Kinkead’s leadership on this issue and her partnership on amending her bill.”

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