HB 538 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 sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking education, prevention and response at institutions of higher education and private licensed schools, further providing for scope of article, for definitions, for education program and for follow-up; and making an editorial change.

HB 538 requires colleges and private licensed schools to implement education, prevention, and response programs addressing sexual violence, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking for students and staff. It updates the 1949 Public School Code by adding specific definitions, mandating annual training, and requiring follow-up procedures after incidents. The bill expands existing requirements to cover all institutions of higher education, ensuring consistent policies across affected schools. This is a substantive policy change focused on improving safety protocols, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Jun 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1946 → Printer's No. PN2147 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify the definition of a 'human trafficking organization' to specifically include 'human trafficking PREVENTION organizations,' ensuring the focus is on prevention rather than just general outreach. The list of oversight groups was expanded to include major state and national coalitions focused on respect, domestic violence, and crime. Additionally, the required education curriculum was updated to include new topics on risk factors for trafficking and how to identify potential victims, while removing a specific mention of 'dating violence' in one section to align with other parts of the text.

Scope change

The scope of the definition for organizations consulted by schools was broadened to explicitly include prevention-focused groups, and the educational requirements were expanded to cover victim identification and risk factors.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'human trafficking organization' to 'human trafficking PREVENTION organization' to emphasize prevention efforts.

Expanded the list of relevant oversight organizations to include the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the National Children's Alliance, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific curriculum requirements for schools to teach risk factors that make individuals vulnerable to human trafficking and methods to identify potential victims.

Removed the word 'and' before 'stalking' in a specific subsection of the curriculum requirements, likely to improve grammatical flow or consistency with other sections.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 3, 2026 · House Jun 23, 2025

How they voted

20–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 22

Feb 3, 2026

D Democratic8

7 Yea 1

87% Yea

R Republican14

13 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 3, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (20-0-2)

senate

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Re-reported as committed

upper

Jul 17, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to Appropriations

upper

Jul 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported as amended

upper

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 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported as committed

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education

lower

1 primary · 12 co-sponsors