HB 1850 amends Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code of 1971 to create a new tax credit for teachers. The bill directly affects eligible K-12 teachers by allowing them to reduce their state income tax liability. Its key provision establishes a specific dollar amount credit for teachers meeting certain criteria, such as years of service or teaching in designated subjects. This change would lower the taxable income for qualifying educators under Pennsylvania's tax system. The bill is currently in the Finance Committee for review.
HB 82 establishes a grant program to train school bus drivers in recognizing symptoms of severe allergic reactions and safely administering epinephrine auto-injectors. School entities, including public school districts and charter schools, may require drivers to complete this training before transporting students. The Department of Education will administer the program, providing grants to fund training programs that teach drivers to identify anaphylaxis symptoms and use epinephrine devices. This policy directly affects school bus drivers, students with allergies, and school entities responsible for transportation safety.
SB 290 allocates $242 million to Penn State, $151.5 million to Pitt, $158.2 million to Temple, and $21.9 million to Lincoln University for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, funding their general operations. It requires universities to submit monthly cost estimates to the state, submit detailed spending reports within 120 days of the fiscal year-end, and use funds only for approved purposes like instruction and student services. The bill restricts Pitt from using funds for its environmental law clinic and mandates that all spending be audited by the Auditor General, who can recover misused funds. These provisions ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with state financial reporting standards.
HB 249 requires Pennsylvania school entities (including districts, charter schools, and career schools) to develop a written school counseling plan focused on academic and career development for all students. The plan, created by a certified counselor, must include four components: foundation (vision/goals), management (data-driven), delivery (direct services like classroom instruction and individual counseling), and accountability (regular analysis), while excluding medical guidance, social and emotional learning, critical race theory, and behavioral health from its framework. School counselors must dedicate sufficient time to direct services (e.g., student counseling) and indirect services (e.g., parent consultations), and the plan must be reviewed annually with input from school staff, parents, and students. This bill directly affects schools and counselors by standardizing counseling services under state-mandated requirements.
SB 116 allows high school juniors and seniors (age 16+) attending public or nonpublic schools in Pennsylvania to earn elective graduation credits for work at qualifying care facilities. Students may receive one elective credit for every 250 hours worked (up to a maximum of two credits) at a congregate care facility, such as a nursing home, personal care home, or assisted living residence. Schools must establish an application process requiring details like facility contact information, job description, and verified hours, and must approve applications before awarding credit. The bill directly affects students seeking to fulfill graduation requirements through work experience in healthcare or care settings.
HB 1829 requires Pennsylvania public schools to disclose information about sports opportunities available to students and to conduct an annual evaluation of these opportunities. The bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to mandate these requirements for all public school districts in the state. Key provisions include the annual disclosure of details about sports programs (such as team offerings and participation opportunities) and the annual review process to assess accessibility and availability. This policy change would require schools to regularly report on and evaluate their athletic programs.
HB 1132 prohibits Pennsylvania public schools from selling or offering "unhealthy ultra-processed foods" as competitive foods during the school day. It defines "ultra-processed food" as items containing specific additives like artificial colors, stabilizers, non-nutritive sweeteners, or flavor enhancers (excluding natural seasonings), and "unhealthy" as failing FDA standards for the term "healthy" on labels. Competitive foods - such as vending machine snacks or cafeteria items sold alongside school meals - are banned if they contain these unhealthy items. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, directly affecting public school food vendors, students, and school nutrition programs across Pennsylvania.
SB 304 creates a new "Military Education Scholarship Account" program under Pennsylvania's Public School Code, designed to provide financial support for education expenses for children of active-duty military members (including National Guard and reserve members on active duty) or children of service members killed in action. Parents of eligible school-age children can apply for a state-controlled account holding funds that may be used for approved education costs at private schools, colleges, or approved tutoring programs. The program prohibits use of these funds alongside other state scholarship programs like the Educational Improvement Tax Credit. If a child moves out of state or the agreement ends, remaining funds revert to the child's local school district.
This is a House Resolution (not a bill), urging Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) leadership to be transparent about any potential closure of its 12 Commonwealth campuses. It asks the university president to publicly share criteria for closures, demonstrate alignment with Penn State’s land-grant mission, and detail plans to maintain educational access for affected students and communities. The resolution emphasizes that campus closures would disproportionately impact rural and underserved areas, reduce local economic activity, and undermine public trust. It does not create new laws or funding but formally requests Penn State to engage communities and provide clear, open communication before making closure decisions.
HB 1246 requires Pennsylvania public and charter schools to maintain indoor temperatures between 68°F and 79°F in occupied areas to support learning. If temperatures fall below 63°F or exceed 89°F, schools must relocate students/staff within two hours and report the incident to the Department of Environmental Protection within 24 hours. Schools with more than four such relocations in a year will face inspections to ensure compliance with indoor air quality standards. The bill also mandates reviewing short-term fixes (like portable heaters) and long-term solutions (like upgraded heating systems) for extreme temperatures. This applies to all school districts, charter schools, and career technical schools operating in Pennsylvania.
