HB 829 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to require school districts to offer full-day kindergarten for children aged three to five, lowering the age limit from four years. It updates the definition of "compulsory school age" to explicitly allow children as young as three to attend kindergarten without tuition, while maintaining the upper age limit at 18. The bill also adjusts transportation provisions to include free bus service for full-day kindergarten students, similar to existing rules for other grade levels. These changes directly affect public school districts, early learning programs, and families with children aged three to five.
HB 1047 creates a dedicated restricted account within the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund to specifically support agricultural research and extension services at Pennsylvania's land grant university. The bill mandates that the State Treasurer distribute these funds equally each month during the fiscal year, beginning within ten days of the appropriation. This payment is guaranteed to occur without delay, withholding, or blocking by other laws, regardless of whether the university receives other appropriations for the same fiscal year. The policy ensures dedicated, uninterrupted funding for these agricultural programs.
HB 1087 establishes Pennsylvania's Active Volunteer First Responder Education Tax Credit Program under the Tax Reform Code of 1971. It allows businesses to claim a tax credit for donating to eligible schools, with funds used to provide scholarships for certified volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services workers. To qualify, applicants must be Pennsylvania residents, certified volunteers with at least one year of service, enrolled in approved educational programs at participating institutions, and provide proof of membership from their agency. The Department of Community and Economic Development administers the program, requiring eligible schools to submit accreditation details and ensuring donations directly fund tuition and school-related fees for qualifying students. This program directly affects volunteer first responders seeking higher education and businesses contributing to their scholarships.
HB 2072 establishes a tuition waiver program for Native American students attending Pennsylvania colleges. It requires public and private colleges to waive tuition for students who are active members of tribes listed by the state (including tribes historically connected to Pennsylvania or the Carlisle Indian School). To qualify, students must apply to a college, enroll full- or part-time, and prove tribe membership through the state's published list. Colleges must report participation and retention data annually to the Department of Education. This program directly affects Native American students seeking higher education in Pennsylvania.
SB 86 would allow undocumented students who attended a Pennsylvania high school (public, nonpublic, charter, or cyber charter) for at least two years and graduated to pay in-state tuition at Pennsylvania's public colleges and universities, instead of higher out-of-state rates. It requires institutions to report these admissions to the state and ensures eligible students qualify for state financial aid through PHEAA without needing to provide Social Security numbers. The bill creates an alternative application process for financial aid that excludes Social Security number requirements for these students.
HB 1903 amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to update the Safe2Say Program, a school safety reporting system, by clarifying definitions and enhancing program requirements. It also adds new requirements for colleges and universities, mandating they establish written policies addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence, along with implementing an online reporting system for incidents. The bill directly affects public schools and postsecondary institutions by changing how they handle safety reporting and campus conduct policies. Key provisions include standardizing definitions for consistency and requiring institutions to provide accessible online reporting tools for students. These changes aim to improve clarity and accessibility in addressing safety and harassment concerns across educational settings.
HB 1421 allocates state funding for certain state-aided universities during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It specifies the amount of funding, requires payments to occur at set intervals, and mandates detailed recordkeeping by the universities. The bill also imposes new duties on the Auditor General to review these records and requires universities to submit financial statements. Additionally, it includes restrictions on the use of funds and addresses the Agricultural College Land Scrip Fund.
HB 1283 establishes the Integrated Student Supports Program and Fund, aiming to enhance K-12 student academic success and increase graduation rates in Pennsylvania public schools by removing academic and nonacademic barriers. The Department of Education will designate a third-party nonprofit organization to provide evidence-based community school services, covering areas like mental health support, college and career preparation, and parental engagement. The bill allows the Department to award competitive, dollar-for-dollar matching grants from the new fund to public school entities that develop strategic plans for implementing these integrated student supports. The designated organization will be required to submit annual reports on program outcomes, including graduation rates and student attendance.
HB 236 amends Pennsylvania's obscenity law to explicitly exempt public libraries, school/university libraries, and state or municipal archives from the offense of displaying obscene materials. The bill updates Section 5903(j) of Title 18 to clarify that recognized historical societies, museums, public libraries, and educational institution libraries are not subject to these restrictions. This change directly affects libraries and archives operating under educational or governmental supervision by removing ambiguity about their legal protections. The amendment does not create new offenses but ensures these institutions can legally display materials as part of their public service.
HB 1473 requires Pennsylvania's state-related universities (Penn State, Pitt, Temple, Lincoln University, and their branches) to submit an alternative education plan to the state Department of Education before closing any campus. The plan must detail how students in the affected region will maintain access to higher education, including options like partnerships with community colleges, satellite classrooms, or tuition assistance. The Department must approve or disapprove the plan within 30 days, and failure to submit a compliant plan or receiving disapproval results in the university losing state funding for that fiscal year. The bill aims to ensure taxpayer-funded institutions maintain educational access, particularly in rural and underprivileged areas, before proceeding with campus closures.
