An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in higher education accountability and transparency, providing for requirements for significant reduction of operations of State-related universities.

HB 1474 requires Pennsylvania's state-related universities (including Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and Lincoln University) to create detailed plans before closing branch campuses or significantly reducing operations. The bill mandates that universities submit plans including financial analysis, community impact studies, student impact reports, and access alternatives to the board, followed by a 90-day public comment period with at least three public hearings. Before any closure can proceed, the plan must be approved by the full General Assembly, not just the university board. This directly affects students, rural communities reliant on branch campuses, and local economies by adding legislative oversight to campus closures. The law applies to all state-related universities and their branch campuses starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.