Education

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 22, 2026

HR 500: A Resolution designating the year of 2026 as the "80th Anniversary Year of the State YMCA of Pennsylvania Youth and Government Program" in Pennsylvania.

This bill designates 2026 as the 80th Anniversary Year of the State YMCA of Pennsylvania Youth and Government Program. The resolution formally recognizes the program's eight-decade history of engaging high school students in hands-on civic education and leadership training. It also commends the organization for its long-standing commitment to developing future leaders and providing financial assistance to participants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill recognizes a program providing civic education and leadership training to high school students.75% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 7, 2026

SB 1326: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in preliminary provisions, further providing for criminal history of employees and prospective employees and conviction of certain offenses and for employment history review.

Senate Bill 1326 updates Pennsylvania's Public School Code to strengthen background checks for school employees by expanding the scope of criminal history reviews to include those who work on school premises but do not have direct contact with children. Effective July 1, 2026, the bill requires schools and independent contractors to verify employment history and certification status for all applicants in positions involving children or on-site work. Additionally, independent contractors must disclose any past investigations or disciplinary actions related to abuse or sexual misconduct before assigning employees to schools, and schools may reject such assignments if they object to the disclosed history.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens background checks and employment history reviews for school staff, enhancing public safety and protecting vulnerable populations from potential criminal threats.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens student safety by expanding background checks, protecting the education environment.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 18, 2026

HB 2424: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in charter schools, further providing for funding for charter schools.

This Pennsylvania bill amends the Public School Code to clarify special education evaluation procedures for students enrolled in charter schools. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the local school district of residence will conduct initial disability evaluations for these students rather than the charter school. The district or an intermediate unit must issue a report on eligibility and service recommendations to parents and the charter school entity. While intermediate units can charge fees for these evaluations, charter schools remain responsible for providing the special education services outlined in the report.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill clarifies special education evaluation procedures for charter school students, ensuring they receive proper assessments and services, thereby protecting educational access and compliance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2338: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for safeguarding personal expression at K-12 schools.

This Pennsylvania bill, HB 2338, amends the Public School Code of 1949 to protect student expression in K-12 schools by requiring school entities to adopt policies safeguarding religious, political, and ideological speech. The legislation prohibits discrimination or penalties against students for expressing viewpoints in class, assignments, presentations, or student-led gatherings, provided such expression occurs in the same time, place, and manner as other students. While protecting student speech, the bill allows schools to restrict unprotected expression like threats, obscenity, or conduct that substantially disrupts school operations. Students who believe their rights are violated can file lawsuits seeking damages and other relief, with the state waiving immunity to allow such cases in federal court.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects student expression rights in K-12 schools, enhancing educational environment and safeguarding student speech without restricting curriculum or funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 10, 2026

SB 366: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in career and technical education, providing for temporary waiver.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949 to allow the Secretary of Education to temporarily waive a requirement that career and technical education programs must end by twelfth grade. The change directly affects students in vocational and technical education programs and gives the state education secretary the authority to approve programs that extend beyond high school graduation. The waiver is limited to three years or until final regulations are issued, whichever happens first, and does not prevent existing programs from ending in twelfth grade. Students already enrolled in these programs before the waiver expires will not be affected by the change.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing career and technical education programs to extend beyond high school graduation, benefiting vocational students.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 2291: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in tobacco products tax, further providing for licensing of retailers.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's tax code to establish a new licensing requirement for tobacco retailers, mandating that applicants meet specific criteria to obtain or renew their retail licenses. The law introduces a distance restriction effective January 1, 2027, prohibiting tobacco retailers from operating within 1,000 feet of any school property line, while also requiring applicants to demonstrate adequate premises for revenue protection, maintain accurate tax reporting, and have no history of tax violations. The measure directly affects tobacco retailers and applicants seeking to sell tobacco products in Pennsylvania, adding compliance steps to the existing licensing process.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens tobacco tax enforcement and retailer licensing, promoting fiscal responsibility and revenue protection through stricter compliance measures.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill prohibits tobacco retailers within 1,000 feet of schools, protecting student health and creating a safer educational environment75% confidence

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 2307: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for extraordinary special education program expenses.

This bill creates a new funding mechanism for Pennsylvania school districts and charter schools to cover extraordinary special education expenses for students with disabilities. It allocates one percent of the state special education appropriation annually from 2016-2017 through 2025-2026, then increases this to two percent starting in 2026-2027, with specific rules for how funds are distributed based on student enrollment duration and expense levels. The legislation covers costs for specialized services including transportation, therapy, and mobility training, while establishing caps and prioritization rules to ensure equitable distribution across districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new funding mechanism for special education expenses, increasing state appropriation allocation from 1% to 2% annually, directly supporting budget and education funding.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes new funding mechanism for special education expenses, increasing allocation from 1% to 2% of state appropriation to support students with disabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Funding Special Education

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 9, 2026

HR 434: A Resolution recognizing the week of March 9 through 13, 2026, as "Civic Learning Week" in Pennsylvania.

This House Resolution designates the week of March 9 through 13, 2026, as "Civic Learning Week" throughout Pennsylvania to highlight the importance of civic education. The measure is a symbolic recognition that does not create new laws, funding, or mandatory requirements for schools or government agencies. It acknowledges the role of civic education in preparing students for democratic participation and notes that Philadelphia will host a national forum on civic learning during that week. The resolution is introduced by multiple legislators and referred to the Committee on Education for consideration.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill promotes civic education recognition and highlights its importance for democratic participation, though symbolic only75% confidence

Track

signed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 12, 2026

HB 2413: An Act making appropriations to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania.

This bill allocates $31.56 million to the University of Pennsylvania for veterinary activities and an additional $1.793 million for its Center for Infectious Diseases during the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding is distributed quarterly by the Department of Agriculture and comes with conditions requiring at least four non-elected board members appointed by legislative leaders to have full voting rights on the university's board. The university must also provide financial reports and explain how state funds were used to benefit Pennsylvania residents by September 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $33.35M in state funding to University of Pennsylvania for veterinary and infectious disease programs, directly advancing budget appropriations for public health services.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides $31.56M funding for University of Pennsylvania veterinary activities and $1.793M for infectious diseases center, representing financial support for higher education institutions.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

signed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 12, 2026

HB 2407: 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, 2026, to June 30, 2027, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

This bill allocates approximately $67 million from two retirement funds to cover the operating expenses of Pennsylvania's Public School Employees' Retirement Board for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding includes about $65.5 million from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and $1.5 million from the PSERS Defined Contribution Fund to pay for staff salaries, travel, contractual services, and other administrative costs. The legislation also authorizes payment of any outstanding bills from the previous fiscal year that were not yet settled. These funds will support the board's management of retirement benefits for public school employees and the administration of the defined contribution plan.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $67M to fund Public School Employees' Retirement Board operations, directly supporting fiscal management and essential public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $67M to fund retirement board operations supporting public school employees' benefits and administrative functions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions State Budget