HB 17 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses of study, further providing for subjects of instruction and flag code.
Last action — Act No. 2 of 2026, Feb. 11, 2026
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 08, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Josh Shapiro (Democratic) on February 04, 2026.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
Likely to advance
98% · high confidence
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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19 sponsors
1 primary, 18 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (16 R · 3 D) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Mandating Cursive Handwriting (Formerly HB1934)
Bill Text
- Printer's No. 0002 View text Current
Action History
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Act No. 2 of 2026, Feb. 11, 2026
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Approved by the Governor, Feb. 11, 2026
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Presented to the Governor, Feb. 4, 2026
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Signed in Senate, Feb. 4, 2026
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Signed in House, Feb. 4, 2026
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Third consideration and final passage, Feb. 3, 2026 (42-5)
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Re-reported as committed, Nov. 18, 2025
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Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, July 17, 2025
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Second consideration, July 17, 2025
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First consideration, July 16, 2025
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Reported as committed, July 16, 2025
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Referred to EDUCATION, June 25, 2025
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In the Senate
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(Remarks see House Journal Page 1025-1026), June 24, 2025
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Third consideration and final passage, June 24, 2025 (195-8)
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Re-reported as committed, June 24, 2025
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Re-committed to APPROPRIATIONS, June 23, 2025
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Second consideration, June 23, 2025
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Removed from table, June 18, 2025
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Laid on the table, May 7, 2025
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First consideration, May 7, 2025
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Reported as committed, May 7, 2025
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Referred to EDUCATION, Jan. 8, 2025
Sponsors
- Dane Watro · Primary
- Milou Mackenzie · Cosponsor
- Jill N. Cooper · Cosponsor
- Bryan Cutler · Cosponsor
- Joe Hamm · Cosponsor
- Ed Neilson · Cosponsor
- Kathy L. Rapp · Cosponsor
- Rob W. Kauffman · Cosponsor
- Robert Freeman · Cosponsor
- Tim Twardzik · Cosponsor
- R. Lee James · Cosponsor
- David H. Rowe · Cosponsor
- David H. Zimmerman · Cosponsor
- Mark M. Gillen · Cosponsor
- Doyle Heffley · Cosponsor
- Craig T. Staats · Cosponsor
- Donna Scheuren · Cosponsor
- Abigail Salisbury · Cosponsor
- Joe Emrick · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 18 co-sponsors · 234 not signed on · 12 voted No
Sponsors (1)
- Dane Watro Republican
Co-sponsors (18)
- Milou Mackenzie Republican
- Jill N. Cooper Republican
- Bryan Cutler Republican
- Joe Hamm Republican
- Ed Neilson Democratic
- Kathy L. Rapp Republican
- Rob W. Kauffman Republican
- Robert Freeman Democratic
- Tim Twardzik Republican
- R. Lee James Republican
- David H. Rowe Republican
- David H. Zimmerman Republican
- Mark M. Gillen Republican
- Doyle Heffley Republican
- Craig T. Staats Republican
- Donna Scheuren Republican
- Abigail Salisbury Democratic
- Joe Emrick Republican
Not signed on (234)
234 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 234 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Whip count is in markup.
Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session.
Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this.
Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing
Votes
Passed
42 Yea
·
5 Nay
·
3 Other
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 23 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Democratic | 19 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 42 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 84% | 10% | 0% | 6% |
How each member voted (50)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Amanda M. Cappelletti | Democratic | Yea |
| Anthony H. Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Art Haywood | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Carolyn T. Comitta | Democratic | Yea |
| Christine M. Tartaglione | Democratic | Yea |
| James Andrew Malone | Democratic | Yea |
| Jay Costa | Democratic | Yea |
| John I. Kane | Democratic | Yea |
| Judith L. Schwank | Democratic | Yea |
| Katie J. Muth | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Lindsey M. Williams | Democratic | Nay |
| Lisa M. Boscola | Democratic | Yea |
| Maria Collett | Democratic | Yea |
| Marty Flynn | Democratic | Yea |
| Nick Miller | Democratic | Yea |
| Nick Pisciottano | Democratic | Yea |
| Nikil Saval | Democratic | Yea |
| Patty Kim | Democratic | Yea |
| Sharif Street | Democratic | Yea |
| Steven J. Santarsiero | Democratic | Yea |
| Timothy P. Kearney | Democratic | Nay |
| Vincent J. Hughes | Democratic | Yea |
| Wayne D. Fontana | Democratic | Yea |
| Camera Bartolotta | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Gebhard | Republican | Nay |
| Cris Dush | Republican | Yea |
| Daniel Laughlin | Republican | Not Voting |
| David G. Argall | Republican | Yea |
| Dawn W. Keefer | Republican | Nay |
| Devlin J. Robinson | Republican | Yea |
| Doug Mastriano | Republican | Yea |
| Elder A. Vogel | Republican | Yea |
| Frank A. Farry | Republican | Yea |
| Gene Yaw | Republican | Yea |
| Greg Rothman | Republican | Yea |
| Jarrett Coleman | Republican | Nay |
| Joe Picozzi | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Pittman | Republican | Yea |
| Judy Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kim L. Ward | Republican | Yea |
| Kristin Phillips-Hill | Republican | Yea |
| Lisa Baker | Republican | Yea |
| Lynda Schlegel Culver | Republican | Yea |
| Michele Brooks | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick J. Stefano | Republican | Yea |
| Rosemary M. Brown | Republican | Yea |
| Scott E. Hutchinson | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Martin | Republican | Yea |
| Tracy Pennycuick | Republican | Yea |
| Wayne Langerholc | Republican | Yea |
Passed
195 Yea
·
8 Nay
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 93 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 97 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 195 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 96% | 4% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (203)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Rep. Torren Ecker | — | Yea |
| Rep. Seth Grove | — | Yea |
| Rep. Dan Miller | — | Nay |
| Rep. Louis Schmitt | — | Yea |
| Rep. Stephenie Scialabba | — | Yea |
| Rep. Joshua Siegel | — | Yea |
| Abigail Salisbury | Democratic | Yea |
| Aerion Abney | Democratic | Yea |
| Amen Brown | Democratic | Yea |
| Andre D. Carroll | Democratic | Yea |
| Anita Astorino Kulik | Democratic | Yea |
| Anthony A. Bellmon | Democratic | Yea |
| Arvind Venkat | Democratic | Nay |
| Ben Waxman | Democratic | Yea |
| Benjamin V. Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Brandon J. Markosek | Democratic | Yea |
| Brian Munroe | Democratic | Yea |
| Bridget M. Kosierowski | Democratic | Yea |
| Carol Hill-Evans | Democratic | Yea |
| Carol Kazeem | Democratic | Yea |
| Chris Pielli | Democratic | Yea |
| Christina D. Sappey | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher M. Rabb | Democratic | Nay |
| Dan Frankel | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan Goughnour | Democratic | Yea |
| Dan K. Williams | Democratic | Yea |
| Daniel J. Deasy | Democratic | Yea |
| Danielle Friel Otten | Democratic | Yea |
| Danilo Burgos | Democratic | Yea |
| Darisha K. Parker | Democratic | Yea |
| Dave Madsen | Democratic | Yea |
| David M. Delloso | Democratic | Yea |
| Ed Neilson | Democratic | Yea |
| Eddie Day Pashinski | Democratic | Yea |
| Elizabeth Fiedler | Democratic | Yea |
| Emily Kinkead | Democratic | Yea |
| Frank Burns | Democratic | Yea |
| G. Roni Green | Democratic | Yea |
| Gina H. Curry | Democratic | Yea |
| Greg Scott | Democratic | Yea |
| Greg Vitali | Democratic | Nay |
| Heather Boyd | Democratic | Nay |
| Ismail Smith-Wade-El | Democratic | Yea |
| Jacklyn Rusnock | Democratic | Yea |
| Jared G. Solomon | Democratic | Yea |
| Jason Dawkins | Democratic | Yea |
| Jeanne McNeill | Democratic | Yea |
| Jennifer O'Mara | Democratic | Yea |
| Jessica Benham | Democratic | Yea |
| Jim Haddock | Democratic | Yea |
| Jim Prokopiak | Democratic | Yea |
| Joanna E. McClinton | Democratic | Yea |
| Joe Ciresi | Democratic | Yea |
| Joe McAndrew | Democratic | Yea |
| Joe Webster | Democratic | Yea |
| Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz | Democratic | Yea |
| John C. Inglis III | Democratic | Yea |
| Jordan A. Harris | Democratic | Yea |
| Jose Giral | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph C. Hohenstein | Democratic | Nay |
| Justin C. Fleming | Democratic | Yea |
| Keith S. Harris | Democratic | Yea |
| Kristine C. Howard | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle Donahue | Democratic | Yea |
| Kyle J. Mullins | Democratic | Yea |
| La'Tasha D. Mayes | Democratic | Yea |
| Leanne Krueger | Democratic | Yea |
| Lindsay Powell | Democratic | Yea |
| Lisa A. Borowski | Democratic | Yea |
| Liz Hanbidge | Democratic | Yea |
| Malcolm Kenyatta | Democratic | Yea |
| Mandy Steele | Democratic | Yea |
| Manuel Guzman | Democratic | Yea |
| Mary Jo Daley | Democratic | Yea |
| MaryLouise Isaacson | Democratic | Yea |
| Matthew D. Bradford | Democratic | Yea |
| Maureen E. Madden | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa Cerrato | Democratic | Yea |
| Melissa L. Shusterman | Democratic | Yea |
| Michael H. Schlossberg | Democratic | Yea |
| Morgan Cephas | Democratic | Yea |
| Nancy Guenst | Democratic | Yea |
| Napoleon J. Nelson | Democratic | Yea |
| Nathan Davidson | Democratic | Yea |
| Nikki Rivera | Democratic | Nay |
| Pat Gallagher | Democratic | Yea |
| Patrick J. Harkins | Democratic | Yea |
| Paul Friel | Democratic | Yea |
| Paul Takac | Democratic | Yea |
| Perry S. Warren | Democratic | Nay |
| Peter Schweyer | Democratic | Yea |
| Regina G. Young | Democratic | Yea |
| Rick Krajewski | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert E. Merski | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert F. Matzie | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert Freeman | Democratic | Yea |
| Ryan A. Bizzarro | Democratic | Yea |
| Scott Conklin | Democratic | Yea |
| Sean Dougherty | Democratic | Yea |
| Steve Samuelson | Democratic | Yea |
| Steven R. Malagari | Democratic | Yea |
| Tarah Probst | Democratic | Yea |
| Tarik Khan | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Brennan | Democratic | Yea |
| Tim Briggs | Democratic | Yea |
| Tina M. Davis | Democratic | Yea |
| Aaron Bernstine | Republican | Yea |
| Abby Major | Republican | Yea |
| Alec J. Ryncavage | Republican | Yea |
| Andrew Kuzma | Republican | Yea |
| Ann Flood | Republican | Yea |
| Barbara Gleim | Republican | Yea |
| Brad Roae | Republican | Yea |
| Brenda M. Pugh | Republican | Yea |
| Brett R. Miller | Republican | Yea |
| Brian C. Rasel | Republican | Yea |
| Brian Smith | Republican | Yea |
| Bryan Cutler | Republican | Yea |
| Bud Cook | Republican | Yea |
| Carl Walker Metzgar | Republican | Yea |
| Chad G. Reichard | Republican | Yea |
| Charity Grimm Krupa | Republican | Yea |
| Clint Owlett | Republican | Yea |
| Craig T. Staats | Republican | Yea |
| Craig Williams | Republican | Yea |
| Dallas Kephart | Republican | Yea |
| Dan Moul | Republican | Yea |
| Dane Watro | Republican | Yea |
| David H. Rowe | Republican | Yea |
| David H. Zimmerman | Republican | Yea |
| David M. Maloney | Republican | Yea |
| Donna Scheuren | Republican | Yea |
| Doyle Heffley | Republican | Yea |
| Eric Davanzo | Republican | Yea |
| Eric J. Weaknecht | Republican | Yea |
| Eric R. Nelson | Republican | Yea |
| Gary W. Day | Republican | Yea |
| Jack Rader | Republican | Yea |
| Jacob D. Banta | Republican | Yea |
| James B. Struzzi | Republican | Yea |
| Jamie Barton | Republican | Yea |
| Jamie L. Flick | Republican | Yea |
| Jamie Walsh | Republican | Yea |
| Jason Ortitay | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Olsommer | Republican | Yea |
| Jeremy Shaffer | Republican | Yea |
| Jesse Topper | Republican | Yea |
| Jill N. Cooper | Republican | Yea |
| Jim Rigby | Republican | Yea |
| Joanne Stehr | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Emrick | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Hamm | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Hogan | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Kerwin | Republican | Yea |
| John A. Lawrence | Republican | Yea |
| John A. Schlegel | Republican | Yea |
| Jonathan Fritz | Republican | Yea |
| Joseph D'Orsie | Republican | Yea |
| Josh Bashline | Republican | Yea |
| Joshua D. Kail | Republican | Yea |
| Kate A. Klunk | Republican | Yea |
| Kathleen C. Tomlinson | Republican | Yea |
| Kathy L. Rapp | Republican | Yea |
| Keith J. Greiner | Republican | Yea |
| Kerry A. Benninghoff | Republican | Yea |
| Kristin Marcell | Republican | Yea |
| Leslie Rossi | Republican | Yea |
| Marc S. Anderson | Republican | Yea |
| Marci Mustello | Republican | Yea |
| Mark M. Gillen | Republican | Yea |
| Marla Brown | Republican | Yea |
| Martin T. Causer | Republican | Yea |
| Martina A. White | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Stender | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Armanini | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Jones | Republican | Yea |
| Milou Mackenzie | Republican | Yea |
| Mindy Fee | Republican | Yea |
| Natalie Mihalek | Republican | Yea |
| Parke Wentling | Republican | Yea |
| Perry A. Stambaugh | Republican | Yea |
| R. Lee James | Republican | Yea |
| Rich Irvin | Republican | Yea |
| Rob W. Kauffman | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Leadbeter | Republican | Yea |
| Roman Kozak | Republican | Yea |
| Russ Diamond | Republican | Yea |
| Ryan Warner | Republican | Yea |
| Scott Barger | Republican | Yea |
| Shelby Labs | Republican | Yea |
| Sheryl M. Delozier | Republican | Yea |
| Stephanie Borowicz | Republican | Yea |
| Steven C. Mentzer | Republican | Yea |
| Thomas H. Kutz | Republican | Yea |
| Thomas L. Mehaffie | Republican | Yea |
| Tim Twardzik | Republican | Yea |
| Timothy J. O'Neal | Republican | Yea |
| Timothy R. Bonner | Republican | Yea |
| Tina Pickett | Republican | Yea |
| Tom Jones | Republican | Yea |
| Valerie S. Gaydos | Republican | Yea |
| Wendy Fink | Republican | Yea |
| Zachary Mako | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Cross-referencing the record.
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Matching · Ranking · Engrossing
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 17 do?
- Mandating Cursive Handwriting (Formerly HB1934)
- Who sponsors HB 17?
- HB 17 is sponsored by Dane Watro (Republican), Milou Mackenzie (Republican), Jill N. Cooper (Republican), Bryan Cutler (Republican), Joe Hamm (Republican), Ed Neilson (Democratic), Kathy L. Rapp (Republican), Rob W. Kauffman (Republican), Robert Freeman (Democratic), Tim Twardzik (Republican), R. Lee James (Republican), David H. Rowe (Republican), David H. Zimmerman (Republican), Mark M. Gillen (Republican), Doyle Heffley (Republican), Craig T. Staats (Republican), Donna Scheuren (Republican), Abigail Salisbury (Democratic), and Joe Emrick (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 17?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 08, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 17?
- Track HB 17 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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