HB 830 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 student supports, further providing for policy relating to bullying.

This bill requires Pennsylvania public schools to adopt or update a bullying policy that includes clear disciplinary consequences for bullying incidents and designates a staff member to handle reports. Schools must notify parents within five days of a bullying or cyberbullying incident while following federal privacy laws. The policy may also include prevention and intervention programs, and the bill clarifies that bullying involves repeated, severe acts in a school setting that disrupt education or create a threatening environment. Cyberbullying is specifically defined as bullying occurring via electronic devices during school hours.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 10, 2025 Last action May 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0861 → Printer's No. PN3063 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Pennsylvania Public School Code to modernize the definition of cyberbullying and significantly strengthens the requirements for schools to handle bullying reports. The changes include expanding the definition of cyberbullying to cover computer networks and wireless devices, and mandating that schools investigate all bullying allegations and notify parents within 24 hours of a determination.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of what constitutes cyberbullying to include newer technologies like computer networks and wireless phones, and extends the applicability of strict investigation timelines to all bullying incidents.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of cyberbullying to explicitly include acts committed through computer networks and cellular telephones or other wireless devices.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that all incidents of alleged bullying must be investigated by the school entity.

Required schools to establish a specific procedure for investigating bullying reports.

Established a strict timeline requiring schools to notify parents and legal guardians of both the target and aggressor within 24 hours after determining bullying occurred.

Clarified that schools may contact parents before a final determination is made, but the formal notification must still follow the 24-hour rule.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2026

How they voted

136–65

Passed

Total votes 201

Apr 29, 2026

D Democratic102

102 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican99

34 Yea 65 Nay

65% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 1, 2026

Committee

Referred to Education

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third consideration and final passage

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Re-reported as committed

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Committee

Re-committed to Appropriations

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported as amended

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to Education

lower

1 primary · 32 co-sponsors