HB 1970 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in licensing of drivers, further providing for issuance and content of driver's license and for carrying and exhibiting driver's license on demand.

PRINTER'S NO.   2486

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 1970
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY NEILSON, RABB, WAXMAN, HARKINS, VENKAT, SANCHEZ,
        GIRAL, MARKOSEK, HILL-EVANS, BRENNAN, GUENST, DONAHUE,
        RIVERA, MAYES, FRANKEL, CIRESI, PARKER, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        GAYDOS, HANBIDGE, GALLAGHER AND DOUGHERTY, OCTOBER 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, OCTOBER 20, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for
 3      definitions; and, in licensing of drivers, further providing
 4      for issuance and content of driver's license and for carrying
 5      and exhibiting driver's license on demand.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.    The definition of "driver's license" in section
 9   102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is
10   amended and the section is amended by adding definitions to
11   read:
12   § 102.   Definitions.
13      Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
14   provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
15   provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
16   used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
17   indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
18      * * *
 1      "Data field."     A discrete piece of information that is
 2   printed or otherwise appears on a product.
 3      * * *
 4      "Driver's license."    A license or permit, including a
 5   physical driver's license or electronic driver's license, issued
 6   by the department under this title to drive a motor vehicle
 7   [issued under this title].
 8      * * *
 9      "Electronic driver's license."       An electronic representation
10   of a physical driver's license that is viewable on an electronic
11   product device. An electronic driver's license shall be
12   considered the same as a physical driver's license issued by the
13   department, except as follows:
14          (1)   Under section 1511 (relating to carrying and
15      exhibiting driver's license on demand).
16          (2)   Under the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320),
17      known as the Pennsylvania Election Code.
18      "Electronic identification card."      An electronic
19   representation of a physical identification card that is
20   viewable on an electronic product device. An electronic
21   identification card shall be considered the same as a physical
22   identification card driver's license issued by the department,
23   except as follows:
24          (1)   Under section 1511.
25          (2)   Under the Pennsylvania Election Code.
26      "Electronic product."     An electronic extension of the
27   department-issued physical product that conveys identity and
28   driving privilege information and is in compliance with the
29   American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators Mobile
30   Driver's License Implementations Guidelines, the ISO/IEC 18013-5

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 1   standard and any other driver's license implementation standards
 2   approved by the department and published in the Pennsylvania
 3   Bulletin.
 4      "Electronic product device."    A computer, tablet, smart phone
 5   or other electronic personal device used by an electronic
 6   product holder to access or display an electronic product.
 7      "Electronic product system."    The processes, equipment,
 8   programming and hardware that:
 9          (1)   is used to issue electronic products and to
10      administer the use of issued electronic products, including
11      verification of the information contained in a product using
12      a verification system and displaying a product holder's
13      profile; and
14          (2)   is designed to comply with the most recently
15      applicable standards of the American Association of Motor
16      Vehicle Administrators and International Organization for
17      Standardization for electronic products and electronic
18      product systems.
19      * * *
20      "Full profile."    An electronic representation of all data
21   fields included on a physical driver's license or identification
22   card regarding the product holder created by the department.
23      * * *
24      "Identification card."    A physical identification card or
25   electronic identification card issued by the department under
26   this title that identifies the product holder.
27      * * *
28      "ISO/IEC 18013-5 standard."    The interface specifications for
29   the implementation of a driving license in association with a
30   mobile device published by the International Organization for

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 1   Standardization.
 2      * * *
 3      "Limited profile."    An electronic representation created by
 4   the department containing less than all of the data fields
 5   printed or otherwise displayed on an individual's product.
 6      * * *
 7      "Physical driver's license."    A product issued under this
 8   title in a physical format, such as paper or plastic, that
 9   identifies the individual to whom the card was issued.
10      "Physical identification card."     A product issued under this
11   title in a physical format, such as paper or plastic, that
12   identifies the individual to whom the card was issued.
13      * * *
14      "Product."    A driver's license or an identification card
15   issued under this title.
16      "Product holder."    An individual to whom a product has been
17   issued.
18      * * *
19      "REAL ID Act of 2005."    The term shall mean the same as
20   defined under section 2 of the act of May 26, 2017 (P.L.6,
21   No.3), known as the Pennsylvania REAL ID Compliance Act.
22      * * *
23      "Third-party electronic product system."    An electronic
24   product system that is not maintained by the department or an
25   agent acting on behalf of the department. The term includes,
26   without limitation, an electronic wallet.
27      * * *
28      "Verification process."    A method of authenticating an
29   electronic product through the use of secure encrypted
30   communication.

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 1      "Verifier."     A person that seeks to confirm information about
 2   an electronic product holder via the department's verification
 3   process and the electronic product's data fields. The term does
 4   not include an employee of a criminal justice agency as defined
 5   in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9102 (relating to definitions) while in the
 6   performance of the employee's duties.
 7      * * *
 8      Section 2.     Section 1510 of Title 75 is amended by adding
 9   subsections to read:
10   § 1510.    Issuance and content of driver's license.
11      * * *
12      (k)    Electronic driver's license.--The department may issue
13   an electronic driver's license to an individual who holds a
14   physical driver's license issued under this title that complies
15   with the REAL ID Act of 2005. The department may create an
16   electronic product system that a licensee may access via an
17   electronic product device.
18      (l)    Electronic identification card.--The department may
19   issue an electronic identification card to an individual who
20   holds a physical identification card issued under this title
21   which complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005. The department may
22   create an electronic product system that an identification card
23   holder may access via an electronic product device.
24      (m)    Regulations regarding electronic driver's licenses and
25   electronic identification cards.--The department shall
26   promulgate regulations as necessary to issue and verify
27   electronic products issued by the department under this title or
28   by other government entities.
29      (n)    Electronic products.--
30             (1)   The department may issue only one electronic product

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 1      to an individual. The data fields in the electronic product
 2      shall match the data fields held by the department for the
 3      product holder at the time the electronic product is issued.
 4            (2)   Changes and updates to data fields held by the
 5      department shall be reflected in the data fields in the
 6      electronic product. The department shall update the data
 7      fields of electronic products when the department updates the
 8      records of holders of electronic products, but not later than
 9      30 days of updating the records. An electronic product device
10      shall permit the update of the data fields of the electronic
11      product with the department periodically to determine the
12      operating system and application compliance and to update the
13      data fields on the electronic product.
14            (3)   The department shall include an attribute on a
15      driver's record indicating the presence of a physical,
16      cognitive or communication impairment, if applicable. The
17      department shall establish a procedure by which a driver may
18      request the inclusion of the designation on the driver's
19      official driving record.
20      (o)   Third-party electronic product systems.--The department
21   may issue electronic products through a third-party electronic
22   product system owned, operated or controlled by a third party.
23   Prior to issuing electronic products through a third-party
24   electronic product system, the department must enter into an
25   agreement with the third party to protect the confidentiality of
26   the information contained in records held by the department or
27   the data fields of electronic credentials as required by this
28   title.
29      (p)   Messenger and agent services.--A messenger or agent
30   service authorized under Chapter 75 (relating to messenger

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 1   service) shall require a physical driver's license or physical
 2   identification card when transferring ownership of a vehicle or
 3   issuing a registration plate or temporary registration plate if
 4   a form of identification is required under this title.
 5      (q)   Electronic driver's license and electronic
 6   identification card verification process.--
 7            (1)   The department shall develop a verification process
 8      that operates when the department issues electronic products.
 9            (2)   An individual who is issued an electronic product
10      may give consent to a verifier to verify information about
11      the product holder via the department's verification process.
12            (3)   The product holder shall determine which data fields
13      are available to the verifier via the product holder's
14      electronic product device. The product holder may make either
15      a full profile, a limited profile or no data fields available
16      to the verifier.
17            (4)   If there is a discrepancy between the information on
18      an individual's physical driver's license or physical
19      identification card and the information in a verification
20      from the department via the verification process, the
21      information from the verification process shall be considered
22      the accurate and current information.
23            (5)   The department may enter into agreements with other
24      government entities that issue electronic credentials to
25      allow for verification of those credentials through the
26      department's verification process. The department may enter
27      into agreements with other government entities and
28      jurisdictions that operate a similar verification process for
29      the purpose of verifying electronic products issued under
30      this title.

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 1      (r)   Verification process.--
 2            (1)   A verifier shall authenticate an electronic product
 3      in accordance with applicable American Association of Motor
 4      Vehicle Administrators Standards prior to acceptance of the
 5      electronic product.
 6            (2)   Electronic product data shall be subject to all
 7      jurisdictional data security and privacy protection laws and
 8      regulations.
 9            (3)   A verifier shall only request electronic product
10      data elements that are necessary to complete the transaction
11      for which that data is being requested.
12      (s)   Privacy and tracking.--A verifier may only retain
13   electronic product data elements for which the verifier
14   explicitly obtained consent from the electronic product holder.
15   A verifier must inform the electronic product holder of the use
16   and retention period of the electronic data elements.
17      (t)   Reports to General Assembly.--Reports to the General
18   Assembly shall be in accordance with the following:
19            (1)   Within 120 days of the effective date of this
20      section, the department shall present an initial report to
21      the individuals listed under paragraph (3) providing details
22      on estimated costs associated with the implementation and
23      maintenance of electronic driver's licenses and electronic
24      identification cards. The report shall also include all
25      estimated initial and recurring costs to establish and
26      maintain a process that allows individuals to apply for an
27      electronic driver's license or electronic identification
28      card.
29            (2)   Except for the year the initial report is presented,
30      the department shall submit an annual report to the

20250HB1970PN2486                    - 8 -
 1      individuals listed under paragraph (3) no later than July 1
 2      of each year, providing details on costs incurred by the
 3      department under this section. At a minimum, the report shall
 4      include:
 5                   (i)    The cost to the department to issue electronic
 6             driver's licenses and electronic identification cards.
 7                   (ii)    The total number of electronic driver's
 8             licenses and electronic identification cards applied for.
 9                   (iii)     The total number of electronic driver's
10             licenses and electronic identification cards issued.
11             (3)   The reports required under paragraphs (1) and (2)
12      shall be submitted to the following individuals:
13                   (i)    The President pro tempore of the Senate.
14                   (ii)    The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
15                   (iii)     The Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the
16             Senate.
17                   (iv)    The Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the
18             House of Representatives.
19                   (v)     The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
20             Transportation Committee of the Senate.
21                   (vi)    The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
22             Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives.
23      Section 3.         Section 1511 of Title 75 is amended to read:
24   § 1511.    Carrying and exhibiting driver's license on demand.
25      (a)    General rule.--Every licensee shall possess a physical
26   driver's license issued to the licensee at all times when
27   driving a motor vehicle and shall exhibit [the] a physical
28   driver's license upon demand by a police officer, and when
29   requested by the police officer the licensee shall write the
30   licensee's name in the presence of the officer in order to

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 1   provide identity.
 2      (b)   Production to avoid penalty.--No person shall be
 3   convicted of violating this section or section 1501(a) (relating
 4   to drivers required to be licensed) if the person:
 5            (1)   produces at the headquarters of the police officer
 6      who demanded to see the person's license, within 15 days of
 7      the demand, a driver's license valid in this Commonwealth at
 8      the time of the demand; or
 9            (2)   if a citation has been filed, produces at the office
10      of the issuing authority, within 15 days of the filing of the
11      citation, a driver's license valid in this Commonwealth on
12      the date of the citation.
13      (c)   Surrender of electronic product device not required.--A
14   statute or regulation that requires an individual to surrender a
15   driver's license or identification card to law enforcement shall
16   not apply to an electronic product device. If an individual
17   chooses to surrender an electronic product device to a law
18   enforcement officer who inadvertently causes damage to the
19   electronic device, the law enforcement officer shall not be
20   liable for the damage to the electronic product device.
21      (d)   Privacy of information on electronic product device.--
22            (1)   If a licensee exhibits an electronic driver's
23      license upon demand by a police officer under this section,
24      the police officer may review only the full profile of the
25      product holder's electronic driver's license via the
26      electronic product device.
27            (2)   If the police officer inadvertently reviews
28      information on the electronic product device in addition to
29      the licensee's full profile, the inadvertently reviewed
30      information may not be used as evidence in a civil or

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 1      criminal trial.
 2      (e)   Immunity.--If a licensee or identification card holder
 3   chooses to exhibit an electronic product or an electronic
 4   product device under this title, the individual viewing the
 5   electronic product in good faith for a purpose under this title
 6   shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability that arises
 7   from the licensee's choice, including, but not limited to:
 8            (1)   the inadvertent viewing of materials on the
 9      electronic product device other than the electronic product;
10            (2)   the inadvertent deletion of information from the
11      electronic product device;
12            (3)   the inadvertent interception of a communication
13      while in possession of the electronic product device; or
14            (4)   any breakage that may occur to the electronic
15      product device.
16      Section 4.    This act shall take effect immediately.




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