HB 2152 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 school safety and security, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for secondary school start times.

HB 2152 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to allow school districts to use state grant funds for shifting secondary school start times to no earlier than 8:30 a.m., requiring the new time to be at least 15 minutes later than current start times. School entities must adopt a policy for the later start time and inform communities about the health and academic benefits of adequate sleep for students before implementation. The Department of Education must provide guidance and support to schools planning this change, including public awareness campaigns. This applies to all Pennsylvania school districts and charter schools serving grades 7-12.
Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Feb 4, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN2779 Printer's No. PN2879 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was updated to reflect its progression from the original committee version to a later amended version, adding a specific requirement that new school start times must occur at least 15 minutes later than current times. It also reorganized the definitions section to clarify the scope of 'secondary school' and updated the page numbering.
Scope change
The bill's applicability was narrowed by adding a mandatory threshold requiring new start times to be at least 15 minutes later than existing times, rather than just setting an absolute earliest time of 8:30 a.m.
REQUIREMENT

Added a specific requirement that any new secondary school start time must occur at least 15 minutes later than the current start time, preventing schools from simply adopting the 8:30 a.m. cutoff if they are already starting that early.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the definitions section to explicitly define 'secondary school' as instruction in grades seven through twelve or any combination of those grades.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill text to reflect its status as an amended version reported from the Committee on Education on February 4, 2026, and adjusted page numbering.

Floor votes · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

260
Passed
Total votes 26
Feb 4, 2026
D Democratic14
14 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican12
12 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Feb 4, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (26-0)
house
Feb 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported as amended
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Committee
Referred to Education
lower
1 primary · 28 co-sponsors

Sponsors