SB 65 amends Pennsylvania's vehicle code to strengthen school bus safety rules. It increases penalties for drivers who fail to stop for school buses with flashing red lights (5 points and a 60-day license suspension) and adds a $250-$500 fine with a $35 surcharge for violations. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to include school bus safety education in driver license renewal notices and share materials with school districts. All surcharges from violations fund the School Bus Safety Grant Program to improve school bus safety measures.
HB 1701 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change how school districts handle facility projects. It requires school entities to hold voter referendums or public hearings before constructing new buildings or leasing space, directly affecting school districts and communities. The bill establishes a Public School Facility Advisory Committee to advise on facility planning and repeals outdated requirements for schools to conduct building condition assessments. It also imposes new duties on the Department of Education to oversee school facility planning and funding. (HB 1701, passed October 2025)
HB 1407 updates Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules, effective July 1, 2027. It establishes new grade spans for certificates: "Primary" (pre-K through grade 6), "Secondary" (grades 7-12), and "Specialized" (pre-K through grade 12). Current teachers with early childhood certificates can add grades 5-6 by passing an assessment or earning continuing education credits, while those with elementary/middle certificates can expand to grades 7-12 using similar pathways. The bill also requires teacher preparation programs to adjust coursework and field placements for early childhood certification, and abrogates outdated regulations inconsistent with these changes.
This bill converts an existing cosmetology training pilot program at career and technical centers (CTCs) into a permanent program under Pennsylvania's Public School Code. It requires participating CTCs and secondary schools to submit annual reports to the State Board of Cosmetology on training metrics. The legislation formalizes ongoing operations from the pilot phase, ensuring existing contracts, rules, and agreements remain valid without change. It directly affects career centers and schools offering cosmetology training within the state's public education system.
HB 1626 establishes a pilot program allowing career and technical centers (CTCs) and secondary schools in Pennsylvania to offer barber training under the State Board of Barber Examiners. The bill requires participating schools to report student and program data annually by June 30 through 2025. It specifies the pilot program expires three years after enactment (2025) but allows conversion to a permanent program without disrupting existing contracts or rules established during the pilot. This directly affects CTCs and schools participating in barber training, creating a structured pathway for students seeking barbering credentials.
HB 354 requires Pennsylvania school entities to implement "What Is Your Pennsylvania Story" guidelines, a program designed to collect and share student and community narratives about Pennsylvania's history and culture. The bill directly affects all public and nonpublic schools, including charter schools, by mandating participation in this storytelling initiative. The Department of Education must develop and enforce these guidelines, including standards for content and submission processes. The bill became law on July 7, 2025, after receiving final approval from the governor.
HB 1336 allocates funds from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund (PSERS) and the PSERS Defined Contribution Fund to cover the operational expenses of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board for fiscal year 2025-2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), including unpaid bills from the prior fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. The bill directly affects the Retirement Board by providing it with necessary funding to manage its operations and settle outstanding obligations. It is a procedural appropriations bill that does not alter retirement benefits or policy, but ensures the board has financial resources to function. The bill was enacted as Act No. 5A of 2025 after approval by both chambers and the Governor on June 27, 2025.
HB 1445 requires health insurers in Pennsylvania to cover medically necessary health services provided in schools - such as mental health care, behavioral health services, and speech therapy - without denying coverage solely because the service occurs in a school setting. It prohibits insurers from excluding coverage based on location (e.g., through "school setting" or "place of service" exclusions), applying to public, charter, cyber charter, and private schools. Exceptions allow denials if services are provided by unlicensed individuals, are not medically necessary per insurer policies, or conflict with existing legal obligations (like IEPs). This law directly affects students receiving school-based care, insurers, and school entities, ensuring coverage parity for services delivered on school premises.
HB 1403 modifies Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to make it easier for educators between jobs to maintain their licenses. It creates "inactive certification" for teachers not employed by a school district, allowing them to reactivate their license by either completing 30 hours of professional development within 18 months or securing a job offer that guarantees 30 hours of training during their first two years. The bill directly affects currently licensed teachers who are not actively teaching but wish to preserve their certification status. Key provisions include eliminating cost for inactive status and establishing two clear pathways to reactivation, with specific guidelines for schools to follow. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 1404 amends Pennsylvania's teacher certification rules to create new pathways for career-changers and technical educators. It establishes a "Career and Technical Second Career Certificate" valid for up to five years while completing 18 semester hours in an approved program, and adds "Career and Technical Intern" and "Career and Technical Instructional" certificates for those with occupational experience. The bill replaces outdated regulations (22 Pa. Code Ch. 49) and requires postbaccalaureate programs to offer flexible training for candidates with bachelor's degrees in relevant fields. These changes directly affect individuals seeking teaching roles in career and technical education programs who lack traditional teaching credentials.
