Key legislators
Who's moving technology in Pennsylvania
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bills
All technology bills
This bill allows Pennsylvania municipalities to temporarily pause the review of new applications for high-impact data centers, which are defined by their significant electrical power usage. Under the new rules, local governments can impose a moratorium lasting up to 18 months to conduct studies on infrastructure capacity, public safety, and environmental impacts before approving such facilities. The measure is optional and does not affect existing data centers or other types of development, but it requires municipalities to hold public hearings and make reasonable progress on planning activities during the pause. Additionally, the bill provides a process for applicants to request waivers if strict enforcement would cause unique hardship, ensuring that the pause serves as a planning tool rather than a permanent ban.
SB 1014 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code of 1949 to require public schools to adopt a "bell-to-bell phone-free policy" during the entire school day. This policy directly affects all public K-12 schools and students by prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices during instructional time. The key provision mandates that schools establish and enforce this policy, though the bill does not specify exemptions or implementation details. The legislation focuses on reducing distractions in classrooms by limiting student phone access from the start to the end of the school day. It is currently pending in the Education committee.
SB 376 bans the installation or use of TikTok (or any app developed by ByteDance Limited) on state-owned electronic devices and state wireless networks in Pennsylvania. It requires state employees to remove such applications from devices within three months of the law taking effect, with exceptions for law enforcement, security, or risk mitigation activities. The law directly affects state employees using devices paid for with state funds or accessing state networks. It specifically targets TikTok and any future apps by ByteDance, not other social media platforms.
