Pennsylvania House Bill 2735 updates the Public School Code of 1949 to restrict school districts from increasing real property taxes unless their projected ending fund balances meet specific limits. The bill establishes a sliding scale where larger districts with higher total budgeted expenditures must maintain lower percentages of committed, assigned, and unassigned funds compared to smaller districts. To ensure compliance, each district that approves a tax increase must submit certification data to the Department of Education by August 15 of each year starting in 2027.
This bill limits how much school districts that span multiple counties or municipalities can increase their property tax rates. It allows a district's tax rate to rise only by the amount of a specific index adjustment plus any prior year's rate, unless the increase is due to a formal reassessment of property values or a successful voter referendum. The rules apply to tax years starting after June 30, 2026, and are designed to prevent significant jumps in local property taxes for these multi-jurisdictional districts.
This Pennsylvania bill updates the Public School Code to strictly limit the use of artificial intelligence in charter and cyber charter schools. It defines artificial intelligence as machine-based systems that make predictions or decisions and prohibits these schools from using AI to replace human teachers for direct instruction. The law requires local school boards and the state Department of Education to reject applications from schools relying on such models and allows for the nonrenewal or immediate termination of charters that adopt them. Additionally, the bill clarifies the powers and duties of the State Board of Education regarding charter school oversight.
This bill repeals the Pennsylvania Medical Education Loan Assistance Program, which previously provided financial incentives to students pursuing medical, nursing, biomedical, and life sciences education. The program allowed eligible students to access loans with favorable terms, including low interest rates and fees, to encourage them to practice medicine or nursing in Pennsylvania, particularly in underserved areas. By removing this legislation, the state will no longer administer this specific loan assistance program for medical education.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania that would ban all taxes on real property, including land and buildings owned by individuals or businesses. The change would take effect on July 1, 2030, and would apply to taxes imposed by the state government, local municipalities, school districts, or any other political subdivision within the Commonwealth. To become law, the amendment must pass both houses of the General Assembly and then be approved by voters in a statewide election. The bill argues that taxing property violates the inherent right to own and protect property, a principle recognized since Pennsylvania's founding in 1776.
HB 2209 requires all state-funded institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to implement a mandatory one-credit course on "the dangers and realities of communism and socialism" starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The course must cover specific topics including definitions of capitalism, communism, and socialism; historical examples like China, Cuba, and the Soviet Union; comparisons between free markets and communist systems; and the impact on civil liberties. It applies to all public universities, community colleges, and state-funded private institutions as defined in the bill. The law mandates this curriculum for all students at these institutions, with no exemption for existing courses. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 2250 requires Pennsylvania school districts (second, third, and fourth class) to obtain voter approval via referendum or hold a public hearing before constructing new schools or making substantial additions to existing buildings. It sets specific cost thresholds based on student capacity: $2,800 per elementary student, $4,200 for middle school students, and $5,200 for high school students. If a project exceeds initial cost estimates by 8% or surpasses these per-pupil limits, a second public hearing is mandated before final state approval. This bill directly affects school districts by adding procedural steps for major construction decisions, ensuring community input before significant spending.
HB 2153 amends Pennsylvania's Taxpayer Relief Act to redirect property tax revenue from data centers toward tax relief for homeowners and farmers. It defines "data center" as facilities primarily housing AI infrastructure (including servers, power systems, and AI equipment) and requires school districts to use all revenue from data center property taxes to fund homestead and farmstead tax exclusions. In the first fiscal year data center taxes are fully collected, all revenue must cover these exclusions; in subsequent years, the amount equals the first year's revenue. School districts must itemize these exclusions on tax bills, showing the original tax, exclusion amount, and final payment. This directly affects school districts collecting data center taxes and homeowners/farmers receiving reduced tax bills.
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.
HB 1081 imposes a temporary ban on cyber charter schools and their management companies from buying, leasing, or owning new property. The ban takes effect 60 days after the bill becomes law and does not apply to property already owned or acquired before that date. This policy directly affects cyber charter schools and the educational management service providers that operate them, restricting their ability to expand physical facilities through new property transactions. The bill does not impact existing buildings or operations of these schools.
