PA Closer To Ending Annual Vehicle Emissions Test

HARRISBURG, PA — The state is moving ahead with plans to get rid of ending annual auto emissions testing in the 25 of the 67 counties in which it is required.

The state Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would remove the most heavily populated counties from the testing. The legislation also prohibits additional counties from being added to the program.

The most populated counties in the state are Philadelphia and Montgomery counties in the eastern part of the state and Allegheny County in the western part. Millions of motorists would be impacted by the lifting of the emissions requirement.

“People are being squeezed from every direction, and the last thing they should be forced to bankroll are outdated mandates that do nothing but drain their wallets,” state Sen.Wayne Langerholc, the Cambria County Republican who was the bill's primary sponsor, said in a statement.

The measure now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. If the House approves the bill, it would require Gov. Josh Shapiro's signature to become law.

Whether that will occur is unclear.

The Senate passed legislation, sponsored by Langerholc, to reform the emissions program in February 2025, as well as each legislative session since the 2019-2020 legislative session.

All of those measures have failed in the House.

“It is beyond time that the House of Representatives bring vehicle emissions reform to a vote and give Pennsylvania motorists much needed relief," Langerholc said.