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.
This bill allocates state funding to four Pennsylvania universities - the Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, and Lincoln University - for the fiscal year 2026-2027. It establishes that payments will be made monthly based on estimated costs submitted by each university, and requires these institutions to maintain detailed records of how funds are spent. The Auditor General is tasked with reviewing expenditure reports, auditing spending against permitted purposes, and recovering any misused funds. Additionally, the bill places specific restrictions on how the University of Pittsburgh may use its appropriation, prohibiting funds for an environmental law clinic and limiting usage to instruction and student-related services.
SB 9 requires public schools and colleges in Pennsylvania to explicitly label athletic teams as "male," "female," or "coed" based on students' sex assigned at birth. It prohibits male students from participating on teams designated for females, directly affecting student-athletes and school athletic programs. The bill creates legal causes of action allowing students to sue institutions for denying athletic opportunities or causing harm due to violations, and protects schools from penalties for maintaining sex-segregated teams. It also permits schools to sue entities that unfairly target them for enforcing these designations, with all claims needing to be filed within two years of the harm.
HB 681 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update school health services and physical education requirements. It requires school districts to submit annual health reports, establishes an interagency council to coordinate child health, nutrition, and physical education services, and revises physical education curriculum standards. The bill directly affects Pennsylvania public schools and students by mandating new reporting, coordination, and updated physical education guidelines. It passed the legislature on June 11, 2025, and is now referred to the Education committee for further action.
SB 998 would create a grant program to fund expansions of nursing education programs at colleges and universities. It requires the Department of Community and Economic Development to administer grants for institutions aiming to increase nursing program capacity, directly affecting nursing schools and future nursing students. Key provisions include establishing grant criteria, application processes, and reporting requirements for funded programs. The bill is currently pending in the Appropriations committee after committee review.
SB 315 amends Pennsylvania's 1949 education code to update school funding, safety, and instructional requirements. It establishes new school safety grants, updates teacher certification standards, and strengthens truancy prevention measures for all public and charter schools. The bill adds funding for career and technical education equipment, expands mental health support through school safety programs, and modifies higher education scholarship rules. As Act No. 47 of 2025, it became law on November 12, 2025, affecting students, teachers, school districts, and higher education institutions statewide.
SB 432 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to create new educational pathways for foster and adopted children attending state universities and colleges. The bill requires public higher education institutions to develop and implement specific support programs, including academic advising and financial aid coordination, for eligible students who were in foster care or adopted. It directly affects current and future foster youth and adopted children pursuing higher education within Pennsylvania's public university system. Key provisions establish standardized support mechanisms to improve access and retention for this population in state-funded institutions.
SB 934 requires cyber charter schools and parents to notify a student's school district of residence within 10 days of enrollment and provide proof of residency by November 1 and March 1 each school year using a standardized form. If a school district disputes residency, the department must review the case within 15 days, and cyber charter schools must return funds to the district if a student is confirmed not to reside there. Homeless students are exempt from providing home address information under federal guidelines. This bill directly affects cyber charter schools, parents, and school districts in Pennsylvania by clarifying enrollment rules and dispute resolution processes.
SB 927 requires Pennsylvania cyber charter schools to conduct weekly real-time check-ins with each enrolled student to verify participation and ensure well-being. Specifically, schools must ensure students are visibly seen and communicated with by staff (via webcam or in person) at least once per week during instructional days. This applies only to cyber charter schools, not traditional public or brick-and-mortar schools. The requirement can be met during synchronous online classes when students turn on their webcams. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.
