News & Insights

On October 20, 2026, the Pennsylvania House passed Senate Bill 65, which was subsequently signed into law by Governor Shapiro on October 22, 2026. Pennsylvania school bus contractors may recall that this bill was introduced in January 2025, in a continued effort to disincentive illegal passing and unsafe driving near school buses and school bus stops. While Senate Bill 65 will not directly affect school bus operations, school bus contractors should be aware of the changes this new law puts into effect.

Senate Bill 65 amends two sections of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. First, 75 Pa. C.S. §3345, which is the statute governing driver duties when approaching a school bus, has been amended to update driver stopping distance and penalties for failing to stop for a school bus. More specifically, this new legislation requires drivers to stop at least fifteen (15) feet from a school bus when the red signal lights on the school bus are flashing and the stop arm has been activated. Previously, the stopping distance was ten (10) feet. The legislation also increases fines for motorists who fail to stop when a school bus has its red signal lights and stop arm activated. The fine has been increase from $250 and a $35 surcharge, to a range of $250 - $500 and a $35 surcharge, for first time offenders, and a fine of at least $500 and a $35 surcharge for subsequent offenders. Subsequent offenders are required to attend a PennDOT driver improvement school and undergo a special examination. Notably, the legislation includes a new penalty for drivers who fail to proceed past the school bus with caution when the amber signal lights are flashing. The new penalty is a fine of $100 and a $35 surcharge for first-time offenders, and a fine of at least $250 and a $35 surcharge for subsequent offenders. Subsequent offenders are also required to attend a PennDOT driver improvement school and undergo a special examination.

SB 65 further amends §3345 to require PennDOT to provide educational materials regarding school bus stopping requirements and penalties with driver's license renewals. PennDOT must also provide these materials to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for distribution to school districts, which may share the information with students and families. Additionally, SB 65 amends 75 Pa. C.S. §1535, which is the statute establishing a point system for certain motor vehicle violations, by requiring points for those who fail to proceed past a school bus when amber lights are flashing, as well as those who fail to stop for a school bus when the school bus is transporting disabled persons. The new legislation under SB 65 takes effect in one year; however, the sections requiring PennDOT to distribute driver education materials takes effect on December 21, 2026. If you have any questions on the new requirements under SB 65, contact us at help@rckelly.com or 215-896-3846.