SB 720 Pennsylvania Senate · 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 health services, providing for initial vision examination.

SB 720 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to modify vision health requirements for school-aged children in public and nonpublic schools. It mandates that children receive a comprehensive eye health and vision examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist before their first school admission, and again in fourth and eighth grades. The bill also requires an annual vision screening or eye examination. If a child fails a school-provided vision screening, a comprehensive eye health and vision examination becomes mandatory, to be completed within 120 days or before the next school year.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 2, 2025 Last action Jun 9, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1802 Printer's No. PN1806 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill update corrects formatting errors and clarifies the scope of vision screening requirements. It expands the list of recommended educational adjustments to include part-time eyeglasses and sight-saving glasses, and it updates the definition of a 'nonpublic school' to explicitly include compliance with federal civil rights laws.
Scope change
The bill's scope was slightly expanded by adding 'cyber charter schools' to the definition of a 'school entity' and clarifying the civil rights requirements for nonpublic schools.
REQUIREMENT

Added 'eyeglasses for part-time use in school' and 'sight-saving eyeglasses' to the list of recommended educational adjustments for students with vision issues.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'nonpublic school' to explicitly state that it must meet the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

SCOPE

Added 'cyber charter school' to the list of institutions included in the definition of 'school entity'.

MODIFIED

Corrected printer's numbers, page headers, and removed placeholder text from the bill text.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Amendments
1
Jun 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported as amended
upper
May 2, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors