Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 8 D cosponsors

HB 342 — 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, providing for mindfulness techniques.

Last action — Referred to EDUCATION, Jan. 27, 2025

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 27, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (8 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Teaching Mindfulness in Schools

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill mandates the implementation of mindfulness techniques in classroom instruction for students from kindergarten through grade twelve in Pennsylvania.

  • Section 1516.2

    Mindfulness Techniques.--(a) Each school entity shall adopt a policy for providing classroom instruction to students in kindergarten through grade twelve in techniques of mindfulness for a minimum of fifteen minutes each school day.

    This adds a requirement for schools to teach mindfulness techniques daily.

  • Section 1516.2

    (b) The mindfulness techniques required by subsection (a) are not intended to be and shall not be conducted as a religious service or exercise.

    This clarifies that mindfulness instruction should not be religious in nature.

  • Section 1516.2

    (c) The Department of Education shall: (1) Develop and distribute to school entities a model policy on the teaching of mindfulness, which shall be consistent with subsection (a). (2) Develop a model mindfulness curriculum and make the curriculum available to all school entities and, upon request, to nonpublic schools. (3) Develop and post on its publicly accessible Internet website materials and guidelines on current best practice techniques in the teaching of mindfulness as required under subsection (a).

    This mandates the Department of Education to develop resources and guidelines for implementing mindfulness education.

  • Section 1516.2

    (d) As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Mindfulness" shall mean the practice of being aware of one's body, mind and feelings in the present moment. "Nonpublic school" shall mean a nonprofit school, other than a school entity, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this act. "School entity" shall mean a school district, joint school district, charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area career and technical school.

    This section defines key terms related to the implementation of mindfulness techniques in schools.

Action History

  1. Referred to EDUCATION, Jan. 27, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 245 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (245)

245 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 342 do?
Teaching Mindfulness in Schools
Who sponsors HB 342?
HB 342 is sponsored by G. Roni Green (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), Kristine C. Howard (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Chris Pielli (Democratic), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), and Danielle Friel Otten (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 342?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 27, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 342?
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