SB 781 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 pupils and attendance, further providing for definitions and providing for mental health days.

SB 781 creates a new "mental health day" category allowing Pennsylvania students to miss school excused for mental or physical fatigue due to mental health needs, whether diagnosed (like anxiety or depression) or not (such as trauma from school incidents or academic stress). It permits up to two consecutive days per week for mental health days, with schools required to adopt policies by the 2026-2027 school year. The bill defines "uncertified" mental health needs broadly to include un-diagnosed stressors like grief, bullying, or burnout, while limiting additional days beyond the two-day weekly cap. The state department must develop model policies and guidelines within 90 days of the bill's effective date.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 22, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025
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Total actions
1
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0
Committee
1
May 22, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education
upper
1 primary · 10 co-sponsors

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