HB 1605 would amend Pennsylvania's retirement laws for public employees by expanding what counts as "creditable service" toward benefits. Specifically, it would allow education employees to include non-school service (such as work in non-school educational programs) and state government employees to include non-state service (such as local government work) in their retirement calculations. This change would directly affect public workers in education and state government retirement systems who have held diverse employment roles outside traditional school or state government settings. The bill is currently pending in the State Government committee.
HB 786 changes Pennsylvania's educational gratuity program to require only one year of Pennsylvania residency immediately before applying, down from the previous five-year requirement. The program provides financial assistance to children of disabled or deceased veterans who are between 16 and 23 years old. This amendment, effective 60 days after enactment, simplifies eligibility by reducing the residency threshold for qualifying applicants.
SB 547 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to expand access to advanced courses for secondary students (grades 7-12) and support school entities in meeting new benchmarks. It establishes the "Access to Advanced Courses for All Students Grant Program" to fund educator training, exam fee assistance for students, and nationally normed assessments. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, schools must report course offerings and student participation, while the Department of Education will set access benchmarks and identify schools needing support. The bill directly affects school districts, charter schools, and their students by requiring expanded opportunities in core academic areas like math, science, and computer science. It also adds new teacher professional development options, including workplace visits and advanced coursework coaching.
HB 352 requires cities of the first class (like Philadelphia) to send tax money collected from nonresident workers back to the municipality and school district where those workers live. It directly affects people who work in large cities but reside in smaller towns or municipalities outside the city limits. The bill mandates that cities remit an amount equal to the tax their nonresident employees would have paid to their home municipality and school district, changing how wage tax revenue is distributed. This is a concrete policy change to the 1932 Sterling Act, not a procedural or commemorative measure.
HB 806 protects student journalists in Pennsylvania public and private schools by prohibiting school officials from reviewing or censoring school-sponsored media content before publication (prior restraint). It requires schools to adopt policies by the 2025-2026 school year, granting student editors final approval authority over content while banning censorship except for legally unprotected speech like libel, obscenity, or material disruption. The bill defines key terms (e.g., "student journalist," "student editor") and ensures student-media advisors cannot be punished for supporting protected student expression. It directly affects all Pennsylvania school entities, including districts, charter schools, and private schools with journalism programs.
HB 1489 establishes the Lifeline Scholarship Program, enabling eligible Pennsylvania students to receive financial assistance for tuition and fees at participating nonpublic schools. To qualify, students must be Pennsylvania residents, not have a high school diploma, and meet income criteria (household income below 350% of the federal poverty level) or reside within a low-achieving school's attendance boundary. The State Treasury administers the Lifeline Scholarship Fund, allowing parents to apply for funds covering tuition, school-related fees, and special education services at qualifying nonprofit nonpublic schools. This program amends the Public School Code of 1949 to create a new funding mechanism for student enrollment in nonpublic schools.
HB 1354 requires Pennsylvania public school districts to allow private school students who reside in the district to participate in after-school sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities if their private school does not offer the same activity and they meet all participation requirements. The law directly affects private school students seeking access to public school programs and public school districts managing extracurricular offerings. It mandates inclusion only when the private school does not provide equivalent opportunities, without changing funding or administrative requirements. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
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.
Senate Bill 706 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949, specifically addressing limitations on educational tax credits. The bill mandates that the department administering these credits must ensure they are approved equitably for contributions from business firms headquartered in each specified region of the Commonwealth. This includes regions like the northcentral, northeast, and southeast. Additionally, any approved tax credits for firms in one region that go unclaimed must be promptly reallocated to business firms in other regions of Pennsylvania.
HB 667 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to protect classroom teachers' instructional and planning time. It prohibits requiring teachers to attend administrative meetings during teaching hours unless covered by another qualified teacher or substitute. If meetings occur during a teacher's designated planning period (time for lesson prep, parent communication, or grading), schools must offer compensatory time or replace the diverted time. The bill applies to all public school districts, joint districts, intermediate units, and career schools, taking effect 60 days after enactment.
