Education

passed · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 201: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in intermediate units, further providing for powers and duties of the intermediate unit board of directors and for capital subsidy.

HB 201 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update how intermediate units (regional education agencies) manage facilities and receive state funding. It expands boards' authority to acquire land/buildings through purchase, lease, or gift (Section 914-A(11)), and requires pre-approval from the Secretary of Education for lease/loan agreements involving office, classroom, or warehouse space (Section 919.1-A(a)). The bill revises the capital subsidy calculation: the state will allocate funds based on each intermediate unit's student enrollment multiplied by the median per-student instructional cost across all districts, then applying a 0.03% rate. This directly affects intermediate units and school districts using their facilities, changing both facility management rules and state funding distribution.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill revises capital subsidy calculation for school infrastructure funding and expands intermediate units' authority to acquire facilities, directly strengthening school resource management and funding mechanisms.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 11, 2025

SB 733: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for exit counseling.

SB 733 requires Pennsylvania colleges and universities to provide mandatory financial aid exit counseling to students during their final academic term, unless they opt out. It specifically mandates that institutions attempt to contact students who transfer or withdraw without notice, mailing counseling materials to their last known address if direct contact fails. The bill directly affects undergraduate students leaving Pennsylvania higher education institutions, focusing on transparency around student loan repayment obligations. This amendment to the Public School Code updates accountability measures for student financial guidance upon enrollment departure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial aid exit counseling for transparency, strengthening student accountability and preventing debt issues upon leaving higher education institutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 21, 2025

SB 653: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in personal income tax, further providing for classes of income.

SB 653 amends the state's Tax Reform Code concerning personal income tax. The bill allows employees to deduct certain education-related expenses from their taxable income. Specifically, expenses for higher education or career and technical education that are reimbursed by an employer can be deducted, but only if that reimbursement was reported as Federal taxable income. This change would apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax relief by allowing deductions for education expenses, reducing taxable income for eligible employees under specific conditions.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables tax deductions for higher education expenses, reducing individual costs and supporting access to education.65% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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signed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 27, 2025

HB 1336: An Act making appropriations from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and from the PSERS Defined Contribution Fund to provide for expenses of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

HB 1336 allocates funds from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund (PSERS) and the PSERS Defined Contribution Fund to cover the operational expenses of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board for fiscal year 2025-2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), including unpaid bills from the prior fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill directly affects the Retirement Board by providing it with necessary funding to manage its operations and settle outstanding obligations. It is a procedural appropriations bill that does not alter retirement benefits or policy, but ensures the board has financial resources to function. The bill was enacted as Act No. 5A of 2025 after approval by both chambers and the Governor on June 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds retirement board operations for public school employees, supporting teacher benefits and retirement system stability.75% confidence

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 213: An Act recognizing two sexes, male and female; and providing for duties and prohibitions.

SB 213, the "Two Gender Protection Act," requires Pennsylvania state agencies to recognize only two biological sexes - male and female - as immutable categories in all official policies, documents, and operations. It mandates that state-issued identification and personnel records reflect biological sex (not gender identity), prohibits state funding for initiatives promoting "gender identity," and requires single-sex facilities (like prisons, shelters, and bathrooms) to be designated based on biological sex. The bill also directs agencies to remove language or policies referencing "gender" instead of "sex" and to end federal funding for programs supporting gender identity concepts. This bill directly affects state agencies, contractors, schools, and facilities receiving state funds, with implementation required within 120 days of enactment.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill prohibits state funding for initiatives promoting 'gender identity,' directly restricting educational programs related to curriculum and student support in schools.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 23, 2025

SB 951: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in community colleges, further providing for definitions and for financial program and reimbursement of payments.

SB 951 modifies Pennsylvania's community college funding formula to prioritize enrollment in first responder training programs. It adds a new allocation method that counts students in credit first responder programs at 1.5 times their enrollment and noncredit programs at full value, distributing additional funds based on weighted enrollment across all colleges. This directly affects community colleges offering these programs and their students, as funding levels will depend on how many enroll in first responder training (both credit and noncredit courses). The bill changes how existing state funds are distributed rather than creating new funding, with the new formula applying starting in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies funding formula to prioritize first responder programs via weighted enrollment (1.5x credit), increasing state allocations for these programs within community college budgets.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill modifies community college funding to prioritize first responder training programs, increasing financial support for these educational offerings through weighted enrollment allocations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Funding

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 5, 2025

HR 40: A Resolution recognizing the month of October 2025 as "Dyslexia Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

House Resolution 40 designates October 2025 as "Dyslexia Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania to promote public understanding of dyslexia, a neurological learning disability affecting word recognition and spelling that impacts approximately one in five people. The resolution emphasizes the need for early diagnosis, support resources, and advocacy for individuals with dyslexia, educators, and families. As a non-binding symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws but serves to raise awareness and encourage community efforts around dyslexia support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPromotes dyslexia awareness and support resources for students, educators, and families, advancing educational accessibility for learning disabilities.90% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 91: An Act amending the act of December 16, 1998 (P.L.980, No.129), known as the Police Officer, Firefighter, Correction Employee and National Guard Member Child Beneficiary Education Act, further providing for definitions and for Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program; and repealing provisions relating to retroactivity.

SB 91 amends Pennsylvania's law providing tuition waivers for children of public safety personnel who die in the line of duty. It updates definitions to include rescue squad and ambulance service members as firefighters and clarifies residency requirements for out-of-state police officers. The bill adjusts the retroactive date for the educational benefit to January 1, 2004, making it available for children of those killed since that date, and prohibits institutions from reimbursing tuition or fees paid between 2004 and the bill's effective date. The legislation repeals the previous retroactivity section and removes historical findings from the law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends tuition waiver program for children of public safety personnel, expanding eligibility and access to higher education benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1648: 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.

HB 1648 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to establish "mental health days" as an excused absence for students, directly affecting public, nonpublic, and private school students. Schools must adopt policies by the 2026-2027 school year allowing up to two consecutive days off for mental or physical fatigue due to mental health-related stressors, whether certified (like anxiety) or uncertified (like bullying or family trauma). The bill prohibits more than three mental health days in a week or two consecutive weeks, except as permitted by school policies. The state Department of Education will develop model guidelines within 90 days to help schools implement these policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mental health days as excused absences, directly improving student access to education by addressing mental health barriers without penalizing attendance.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health days as excused absences, enabling student access to mental health care without academic penalty, directly supporting mental health services in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 15, 2025

HB 1701: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in grounds and buildings, further providing for referendum or public hearing required prior to construction or lease; providing for school facilities; establishing the Public School Facility Advisory Committee; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, repealing provisions relating to building condition assessments; and imposing duties on the Department of Education.

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)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes Public School Facility Advisory Committee to improve school infrastructure planning, aligning with indicators for strengthening educational access and facilities.85% confidence

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