The House of Representatives considered House Bill 17 88 (printer's number 2194) on Aug. 10, a measure described by the clerk as providing for the public transportation trust fund, public transportation operations, and funding for roads and bridges. The bill was taken up on second consideration, and members were told all amendments had been withdrawn. No final vote on the bill was recorded before the House adjourned.

Representative Bradford, chair of the Committee on Rules, urged urgency on the broader budget impasse while opposing the use of capital-dedicated trust funds as a short-term fix. Quoting letters from transit agencies, Bradford said SEPTA and other systems told lawmakers that “a 6 month budget that uses funds dedicated for capital purposes … is not a sustainable solution.” He cited agency concerns that tapping the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Trust Fund (PTTF) for operating expenses would reduce funds available for long-term capital projects and reimbursements.

Bradford read material attributed to SEPTA saying the authority faces a multi‑billion-dollar backlog and capital shortfalls. As quoted in the chamber, SEPTA described a roughly $10,000,000,000 backlog of vehicle and infrastructure needs, noted a $3,000,000,000 funding gap between forecasted capital revenue and expenses, and said the authority’s FY 2026 capital budget and 12‑year capital program had deferred or rescoped 44 projects and issued additional debt to balance the plan. Bradford said SEPTA “respectfully opposes this amendment.”

Representative Topper, the Republican leader and the member from Bedford, said passing the measure from one chamber would not avert the immediate crisis and emphasized that a final budget requires agreement between both chambers and the governor. “This is not a bill. This is not going to become law,” Topper said, arguing that the negotiating room must produce a full 12‑month budget rather than interim one‑chamber measures.

Later in the session the majority leader moved to recommit House Bill 17 88 to the House Appropriations Committee; the motion was made on the floor but no roll-call or voice vote on that recommit motion is recorded in the transcript excerpt. The House then approved a motion by Representative Delozier to adjourn; the presiding officer announced, “The ayes have it,” and the chamber stood adjourned until Aug. 11.

Discussion in the chamber emphasized two distinct points: (1) transit agencies and some lawmakers warned against using capital-dedicated PTTF dollars for short-term operating needs because of long-term capital consequences; and (2) other lawmakers said a single‑chamber action without an agreed budget from both chambers and the governor would not solve immediate operating shortfalls. The transcript records letters or statements from SEPTA and the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Authority (PRT) raising specific operational and capital concerns; those materials were read into the record during Representative Bradford’s remarks.

No final passage or formal vote on House Bill 17 88 is recorded in the provided transcript excerpt. The document shows the bill on second consideration, amendments withdrawn, a floor discussion that included agency correspondence read into the record, and a floor motion to recommit to appropriations for further consideration.