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.
HB 1935 requires individuals convicted of terroristic threats to pay restitution for costs incurred during evacuations, including emergency response, transportation, and employee wages for first responders. It also mandates a sentencing enhancement for threats targeting schools or institutions of higher education, which the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing must consider. The bill defines "school entity" to include public, charter, private, and cyber charter schools, and "institution of higher education" to cover specific universities like Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and others. These changes directly affect offenders who make terroristic threats in educational settings, holding them financially accountable for the costs their actions trigger.
HB 1663 establishes Pennsylvania's Statewide Imagination Library Program under the Public School Code of 1949, creating a dedicated funding account managed by the Department of Education. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania children, particularly those from birth through age five, by providing free books through the program. Key provisions require the Department of Education to administer the program and manage the Imagination Library of Pennsylvania Restricted Account for funding. The bill is currently under review in the Children & Youth committee after being removed from the legislative table in November 2025.
HB 1676 establishes Pennsylvania's Nursing Shortage Assistance Program, which provides state grants to "qualified nursing servicers" to help nursing students repay loans after graduation. The program requires partner hospitals to match state funds 1:1 for loan repayment and commit to hiring graduates, with grants only covering tuition expenses (not administrative costs). Nursing students working at participating hospitals may receive up to $10,000 annually or $30,000 total in loan repayment assistance. The Department of Labor and Industry administers the program, sets application rules, and reports annually on its effectiveness to the legislature.
HB 1701 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change how school districts handle facility projects. It requires school entities to hold voter referendums or public hearings before constructing new buildings or leasing space, directly affecting school districts and communities. The bill establishes a Public School Facility Advisory Committee to advise on facility planning and repeals outdated requirements for schools to conduct building condition assessments. It also imposes new duties on the Department of Education to oversee school facility planning and funding. (HB 1701, passed October 2025)
HB 354 requires Pennsylvania school entities to implement "What Is Your Pennsylvania Story" guidelines, a program designed to collect and share student and community narratives about Pennsylvania's history and culture. The bill directly affects all public and nonpublic schools, including charter schools, by mandating participation in this storytelling initiative. The Department of Education must develop and enforce these guidelines, including standards for content and submission processes. The bill became law on July 7, 2025, after receiving final approval from the governor.
HB 1445 requires health insurers in Pennsylvania to cover medically necessary health services provided in schools - such as mental health care, behavioral health services, and speech therapy - without denying coverage solely because the service occurs in a school setting. It prohibits insurers from excluding coverage based on location (e.g., through "school setting" or "place of service" exclusions), applying to public, charter, cyber charter, and private schools. Exceptions allow denials if services are provided by unlicensed individuals, are not medically necessary per insurer policies, or conflict with existing legal obligations (like IEPs). This law directly affects students receiving school-based care, insurers, and school entities, ensuring coverage parity for services delivered on school premises.
HB 1500 establishes a Cyber Charter School Funding and Policy Council to develop recommendations on funding, governance, and accountability for cyber charter schools by April 2026. The bill requires public school entities to report advertising and sponsorship spending annually, and mandates detailed cost-tracking for special education services based on individualized student plans. It also adds provisions for student wellness checks, enrollment notifications, and fund balance limits for cyber charter schools, while maintaining a moratorium on new cyber charter school approvals. The law directly affects cyber charter schools, public school districts, and students with disabilities in Pennsylvania.
HB 265 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to change eligibility rules for workers at educational institutions, such as teachers or staff employed on a term-by-term basis. It removes a prior requirement that these workers must prove they would not return to the same institution for the next academic term to receive benefits during breaks between terms. This change applies to service performed after the bill's effective date and aligns with federal guidelines (26 U.S.C. § 3304(a)(6)). The bill directly affects temporary and part-time employees in schools and colleges who experience academic breaks.
HB 819 amends Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to require expanded professional development options, including manufacturing workplace visits and coaching for advanced courses. It establishes a grant program to help schools that lack access to rigorous courses - such as AP, IB, dual enrollment, or career-focused programs - by funding educator training and course offerings. The law mandates school entities to provide these courses and sets benchmarks for eligibility, with the Department of Education overseeing implementation. This directly affects teachers (through updated certification requirements) and schools struggling to offer college-level coursework.
