‘Vehicle choice’ bill on the move in Pennsylvania

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(The Center Square) – Protecting drivers’ rights to own any type of vehicle so desired – whether gas-powered, diesel, hybrid or electric – cleared a major legislative hurdle on Monday.

The state Senate approved a bill that bans vehicle purchase mandates 28-22, with one Republican and one Democrat defecting on the Republican-backed measure.

“With the Senate’s approval of this bill, we are reaffirming that Pennsylvanians deserve more choices, not fewer,” Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Washington, said on Tuesday. “Government mandates too often pick winners and losers, drive up costs for families and stifle innovation. This legislation protects consumer freedom and ensures emerging technologies can compete and evolve on their own merits.”

Bartolotta introduced the legislation in July before it received a party-line vote in the Senate Transportation Committee last month.

“Senate Bill 990 is very simple,” she said at the time. “It would ban the mandate of the sale of any specific vehicle type in the commonwealth."

Thirteen states have passed similar legislation, while another five are considering it. The bill awaits consideration in the Democrat-led House of Representatives, where support is outweighed.