HB 460 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 child abuse recognition and reporting training; and, in terms and courses of study, providing for child abuse awareness and prevention.

HB 460 requires all teachers in Pennsylvania public schools to complete child abuse recognition and reporting training as part of their certification process. It amends the Public School Code of 1949 to integrate this training into both initial certification and ongoing educator requirements. The bill directly affects educators by mandating specific training to identify and report suspected abuse, ensuring schools meet updated child safety standards. This change applies to all public school teachers, including those seeking certification or renewing credentials.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0444 → Printer's No. PN2860 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its applicability by adding new sponsors and including private academic schools alongside public schools and nonpublic schools. The amendments also updated the effective date to the 2027-2028 school year and clarified definitions to ensure private academic schools are covered under the new child abuse awareness and prevention education requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include private academic schools, which were not explicitly mentioned in the original version, ensuring they must also offer age-appropriate child abuse awareness and prevention education.

SCOPE

Added private academic schools to the list of institutions required to offer child abuse awareness and prevention education programs.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the education program requirement to begin with the 2027-2028 school year.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'private academic school' referencing the Private Academic Schools Act to clarify which institutions are subject to the new requirements.

Added a definition for 'sexual abuse or exploitation' to ensure consistency with existing state law.

REQUIREMENT

Explicitly required that the child abuse awareness and prevention programs include information regarding the prevention of sexual abuse or exploitation.

Floor votes · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

105–93

Passed

Total votes 198

Feb 4, 2026

D Democratic100

99 Yea 1 Nay

99% Yea

R Republican98

6 Yea 92 Nay

93% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Referred to Education

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Oct 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as committed

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Children & Youth

lower

1 primary · 22 co-sponsors