Legislation

Introduced on May 30, 2025 (Latest Action: June 4)

Pennsylvania State Legislature

House Bill 1500

This Act amends the Public School Code of 1949, introducing provisions for Cyber Charter School Funding and Policy Council. It includes updates on definitions, funding, evaluation, as well as requirements and prohibitions for cyber charter schools. It establishes fund balance accountability, enrollment procedures, and wellness checks, while also addressing extraordinary special education program expenses. The Act, in Section 1752-A, also imposes a moratorium on Cyber Charter Schools through the 2029-2030 School Year. Detailed information available here.

Partisan Bill (Democrat 39-0)

Introduced on May 28, 2025 (First Consideration: June 3)

Pennsylvania State Legislature

Senate Bill 790

An Act amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law, in agency response, providing for vexatious requesters. The proposers contend that many public entities in Pennsylvania report being overwhelmed by burdensome Right-to-Know Law requests, some of which are made with vexatious intent. This legislation would allow agencies to petition the Office of Open Records for relief. Then, “if warranted,” the office may mediate or hold a hearing and can limit future requests from the requester for up to one year.Detailed information available here.

Bipartisan Bill introduced by Senators Dush (R), Brooks (R), Laughlin (R), Fontana (D) AND Stefano (R)

Introduced on May 5, 2025 (Referred to Committee, May 22)

Pennsylvania State Legislature

House Bill 1396

This Act amends the Pennsylvania election code by authorizing ballot drop boxes, in-person early voting, and electronic poll books. It introduces pre- and post-election audits, updates procedures for absentee and mail-in voting, and revises deadlines for voter registration. The bill also reforms recount and fraud investigation processes, adjusts election infrastructure, and repeals certain registration and voting provisions. Detailed information available here.

Partisan bill (Democrat 9-0) introduced by prime sponsor Representative McClinton (D), with co-sponsors Davis (D), Green (D), Inglis (D), Kazeem (D), Khan (D), Venkat (D), Warren (D) and Webster (D)

Introduced on April 28, 2025 (Referred to Committee, June 5)

Pennsylvania State Legislature

Senate Bill 686

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation, further providing for the offense of tampering with public records or information. This bill would make the destruction or alteration of documents that are subject to Right-to-Know (RTK) requests a felony of the third degree, when these actions are committed intentionally. Currently, the RTK law mentions no criminal offense for destroying or altering records subject to a request. The Right-to-Know (RTK) law is an important check on public officials to hold them accountable for their actions regarding matters of public concern. The law is entirely thwarted, however, when officials and their staff or other individuals destroy or alter records which have been requested under the law, and which the public has the right to examine. Detailed information available here.

Introduced by prime sponsor Senator Dush (R), with co-sponsors Coleman (R), Phillips-Hill (R), Stefano (R) and Ward (R)

Introduced on April 7, 2025

Pennsylvania State Legislature

House Bill 1162

An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in county boards of elections, further providing for powers and duties of county boards; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter’s certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges and for ballots to be issued by election officers only, ballots not to be removed and official ballots only to be deposited or counted; in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots, for date of application for absentee ballot, for official absentee voters ballots, for voting by absentee electors and for canvassing of official absentee absentee ballots and mail-in ballots; in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots, for official mail-in elector ballots and for voting by mail-in electors. Detailed information available here.

Partisan bill (Republican 7-0) introduced by prime sponsor Representative Fink (R), with co-sponsors Anderson (R), Bernstine (R), Gleim (R), Hamm (R), Kauffman (R), Staats (R) and Zimmerman (R)

Introduced on April 7, 2025

Pennsylvania State Legislature

House Bill 1158

An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in preliminary provisions, providing for designation of Election Day as legal holiday; and, in election districts and polling places, further providing for public buildings to be used where possible and portable polling places. Detailed information available here.

Partisan bill (Republican 7-0) introduced by prime sponsor Representative Fink (R), with co-sponsors Anderson (R), Bernstine (R), Gleim (R), Hamm (R), Kauffman (R) and Staats (R)

Introduced on March 17, 2025 (Re-committed to Appropriations, May 12)

Pennsylvania State Legislature

House Bill 771

An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in the Secretary of the Commonwealth, further providing for requirements relating to voter identification; in preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, further providing for manner of applying to vote, persons entitled to vote, voter’s certificates, entries to be made in district register, numbered lists of voters and challenges; and, in voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for canvassing of official absentee ballots and mail-in ballots. Detailed information available here.

Bipartisan Bill introduced by prime sponsor Representative Mehaffie (R), with co-sponsors Burns (D), Gaydos (R), Greiner (R), Kuzma (R), Labs (R), Mackenzie (R), Neilson (D) and Staats (R)