Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 24 D cosponsors

HB 823 — 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 fire and emergency evacuation drills.

Last action — Referred to EDUCATION, March 6, 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 March 06, 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.

  • 24 sponsors

    1 primary, 23 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (24 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

Trauma-Informed School Active Shooter Drill Practices

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

7 changes Share ↗

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

This bill replaces certain fire drill requirements with mandatory school security drills in Pennsylvania schools.

  • Section 1517(a.1)

    in place of a fire drill required under subsection (a) → in place of a fire drill required under subsection (a). After ninety (90) days from the commencement of each school year, each school entity may conduct two school security drills per school year in each school building in place of two fire drills required under subsection (a).

    This change allows schools to replace fire drills with security drills and introduces flexibility for additional drills after a certain period.

  • Section 1517(a.1)

    The school security drill shall be conducted while the school entity is in session and students are present under policies adopted by the chief school administrator.

    This stipulates that security drills must occur while classes are in session, ensuring all students experience the drill.

  • Section 1517(a.1)

    The chief school administrator shall notify and request assistance from the local law enforcement agency and emergency management agency before conducting the school security drill.

    This requires collaboration with local authorities for security drills, enhancing their effectiveness.

  • Section 1517(a.1)

    A school security drill shall be age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate and include trauma-informed approaches to address the concerns and well-being of students and school personnel.

    This ensures that security drills are suitable for students' age and mental health, promoting a supportive environment.

  • Section 1517(a.1)

    A school security drill shall not include any props, actors, simulations or other tactics intended to mimic an incident of violence or other emergency, including: Authentic or simulated weapons; Gunfire; Simulated fatalities, wounds or injuries; Simulated blood; An individual posing as an active shooter or a victim of an active shooter.

    This prohibits realistic and potentially traumatizing simulations during security drills, prioritizing student safety and mental health.

  • Section 1517(a.1)

    Immediately following a school security drill, each school entity shall implement a reasonable amount of time for teachers to debrief with their students. During the debrief period, students shall be allowed to access any mental health services available on campus.

    This introduces a debriefing period after drills, allowing students to process the experience and access mental health resources.

  • Section 1517(a.1)

    A school security drill shall be accompanied by an announcement prior to commencement that uses concise and age-appropriate language and, at a minimum, informs students that there is no immediate danger to life and safety.

    This ensures that students are adequately informed before drills, reducing anxiety and fear.

Action History

  1. Referred to EDUCATION, March 6, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 23 co-sponsors · 229 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (23)

Not signed on (229)

229 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 229 →

"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

public-safety education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 823 do?
Trauma-Informed School Active Shooter Drill Practices
Who sponsors HB 823?
HB 823 is sponsored by Keith S. Harris (Democratic), Dan K. Williams (Democratic), Ismail Smith-Wade-El (Democratic), Liz Hanbidge (Democratic), Carol Hill-Evans (Democratic), Carol Kazeem (Democratic), Jeanne McNeill (Democratic), Jose Giral (Democratic), Danielle Friel Otten (Democratic), Ben Waxman (Democratic), Malcolm Kenyatta (Democratic), Benjamin V. Sanchez (Democratic), La'Tasha D. Mayes (Democratic), Mandy Steele (Democratic), G. Roni Green (Democratic), Nikki Rivera (Democratic), Christopher M. Rabb (Democratic), Joseph C. Hohenstein (Democratic), Kristine C. Howard (Democratic), Darisha K. Parker (Democratic), Perry S. Warren (Democratic), Melissa Cerrato (Democratic), Tarik Khan (Democratic), and Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 823?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 06, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 823?
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Last checked for changes 4 months ago · updated continuously

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