HB 1403 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, further providing for program of continuing professional and paraprofessional education.

HB 1403 modifies Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to make it easier for educators between jobs to maintain their licenses. It creates "inactive certification" for teachers not employed by a school district, allowing them to reactivate their license by either completing 30 hours of professional development within 18 months or securing a job offer that guarantees 30 hours of training during their first two years. The bill directly affects currently licensed teachers who are not actively teaching but wish to preserve their certification status. Key provisions include eliminating cost for inactive status and establishing two clear pathways to reactivation, with specific guidelines for schools to follow. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced May 5, 2025 Last action Jun 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1602 Printer's No. PN1685 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill text was updated from version PN 1602 to PN 1685, reflecting amendments made by the House of Representatives on May 12, 2025. The most significant policy change involves the removal of a specific condition that allowed educators to retain inactive certification if they received a job offer from a school promising 30 hours of training. This change tightens the requirements for educators seeking to reactivate their status, as the new language mandates that the school must not only offer but also ensure the completion of these training hours within the first two years of employment.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding educator certification reactivation has narrowed by removing a conditional exemption for inactive certifications based on a job offer alone.
ELIGIBILITY

Removed the provision allowing educators to keep inactive certification if they received a job offer from a school committed to providing 30 hours of training.

REQUIREMENT

Added language requiring the school to 'ensure that' the professional educator 'completes' the 30 hours of training, rather than just committing to provide the opportunity.

TECHNICAL

Updated the header and page numbers to reflect the new Printer's No. 1685 and the amended status of the bill.

Floor votes · House Jun 23, 2025

How they voted

2030
Passed
Total votes 203
Jun 23, 2025
D Democratic102
102 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican101
101 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Jun 24, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education
upper
Jun 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Jun 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 17, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
May 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
May 5, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education
lower
1 primary · 23 co-sponsors

Sponsors