07/15/2026
The Pennsylvania Towing Association would like to provide an important update regarding Senate Bill 779, sponsored by Senator Picozzi.
As of July 12th, SB779, as amended, has passed both the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support and is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signature. While the final version removed the most severe penalty language—including mandatory misdemeanor charges and jail time—the bill still moves the Towing and Storage Standards Act (Act 110 of 2012) into Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code. This change continues to raise serious concerns about the potential for misuse and malicious prosecution by less-than-scrupulous district attorney offices.
From the beginning, the Pennsylvania Towing Association has been actively monitoring this legislation since its introduction in 2025. We have engaged with lawmakers, advocated for amendments, and worked to mitigate the most harmful provisions. Some of those efforts were successful, particularly in removing the harshest criminal penalties. However, we were ultimately facing a heavily funded and highly organized effort backed by the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, which had strong bipartisan support throughout the legislative process.
To put this into perspective, SB779 passed the Senate in May 2025 with a 49-1 vote. On July 12th, it passed the House 193-9 and then returned to the Senate where it again passed 49-1 in its amended form. These margins are extraordinarily difficult to overcome under any circumstances.
We understand the frustration being expressed across the industry. However, it is important to address a difficult reality: the level of engagement and support from the towing industry has been critically low. Our membership is at historic lows, funding for advocacy efforts is nearly nonexistent, and participation in meetings and legislative outreach has been minimal.
In fact, only a handful of individuals consistently attend meetings and contribute financially—often covering more of the association’s expenses than the broader membership combined. These same individuals are also the ones dedicating their time to legislative advocacy, communication with lawmakers, and efforts to protect the industry.
At the same time, we have seen criticism directed at the Association for not doing enough. We must be clear—effective advocacy requires collective effort. It requires participation, financial support, and a willingness to engage in the legislative process. Without that, even the most dedicated efforts face significant limitations, especially when opposing well-funded organizations with active and engaged memberships.
Additionally, divisions within the industry and a lack of unified strategy further weakened our position. Opportunities for compromise and coordinated action were limited, making an already difficult situation even more challenging.
While this outcome is not what we had hoped for, it is important to recognize that the bill could have been significantly worse. The removal of mandatory criminal penalties was a direct result of advocacy efforts. However, concerns remain regarding how the law may be interpreted and enforced moving forward.
This moment should serve as a wake-up call for the entire towing industry in Pennsylvania.
We encourage every operator, owner, and stakeholder to take a hard look at their level of involvement. Ask yourself: Am I doing enough to support my industry, or am I expecting others to carry that burden for me?
If we want to influence future legislation, protect our businesses, and ensure fair treatment under the law, we must come together as an industry. That means joining the Association, contributing financially, attending meetings, participating in outreach efforts, and making your voice heard with elected officials.
The Pennsylvania Towing Association remains committed to advocating for the industry, but we cannot do it alone.
Your involvement is not optional—it is essential.
