Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: In Committee 5 R cosponsors

SB 698 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in grounds and buildings, further providing for acquisition of buildings, sites for school buildings and playgrounds, and disposing thereof; and, in charter schools, further providing for provisions applicable to charter schools and for applicability of other provisions of this act and of other acts and regulations.

Last action — Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, May 4, 2026

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

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 30, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 24% · moderate confidence
  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Requiring an Appraisal Before School Districts Purchase Real Estate

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

49 added · 112 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill SB 698 simplifies the language around how school districts can acquire buildings and playground sites. The revised version removes references to charter schools and other provisions that were previously included, focusing solely on the powers of school boards regarding property acquisition. This change is significant because it streamlines the process for school districts, making it clearer and more efficient for them to secure facilities necessary for education.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
709 PRINTER'S NO.
709 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1622 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
698 2025 INTRODUCED BY COLEMAN, BROWN, VOGEL AND STEFANO, APRIL 30, 2025 REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 30, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools;
698 2025 INTRODUCED BY COLEMAN, BROWN, VOGEL, STEFANO AND DUSH, APRIL 30, 2025 SENATOR CULVER, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, APRIL 20, 2026 AN ACT Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools;
amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in grounds and buildings, further providing for acquisition of buildings, sites for school buildings and playgrounds, and disposing thereof.
amending, revising, consolidating and changing the providing for acquisition of buildings, sites for schoolr buildings and playgrounds, and disposing thereof.;
AND, IN <-- CHARTER SCHOOLS, FURTHER PROVIDING FOR PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS AND FOR APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT AND OF OTHER ACTS AND REGULATIONS.
Section 703 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, <-- No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended to read:
Section 703 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended to read:
SECTION 1.
SECTIONS 703 AND 1732-A(A) OF THE ACT OF MARCH <-- 10, 1949 (P.L.30, NO.14), KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949, ARE AMENDED TO READ:
(2) The board of school directors of each district may <-- acquire real property by purchase under paragraph (1) for not more than the fair market value.
(2) The board of school directors of each district may acquire real property by purchase under paragraph (1) for not more than the fair market value.
(2) THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS OF EACH DISTRICT MAY <-- ACQUIRE REAL PROPERTY BY PURCHASE UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) FOR NOT MORE THAN THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE REAL PROPERTY.
(3) Documents related to the determination of fair market value under paragraph (2) shall be subject to and accessible under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the "Right-to-Know Law," and must be included in the documents made public under 65 Pa.C.S.
IF THE BOARD 20250SB0698PN1622 - 2 - OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS OBTAINS MORE THAN ONE APPRAISAL, THE PRICE PAID BY THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS MAY NOT EXCEED THE AVERAGE OF THE APPRAISALS.
THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS SHALL DETERMINE THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE REAL PROPERTY THROUGH AT LEAST ONE APPRAISAL OF THE REAL PROPERTY BY A PERSON AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM AN APPRAISAL OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY UNDER THE ACT OF JULY 10, 1990 (P.L.404, NO.98), KNOWN AS THE "REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS CERTIFICATION ACT." A PERSON MAKING AN APPRAISAL UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH MAY NOT HAVE A DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTEREST IN ANY ASPECT OF THE SALE OF THE REAL PROPERTY.
(3) Documents related to the determination of fair market <-- THE APPRAISED value under paragraph (2) shall be subject to and <-- accessible under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), known as the "Right-to-Know Law," and must be included in the <-- documents made public under 65 Pa.C.S.
"RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW." <-- SECTION 1732-A.
20250SB0698PN0709 - 2 -
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.-- (A) CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:
SECTIONS 108, 110, 111, 321, 325, 326, 327, 431, 436, 443, 510, 518, 527, 703, 708, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 752, 753, 755, 771, 776, 777, 808, 809, 810, 1109, 1111, 1112(A), 1301, 1310, 1317, 1317.1, 1317.2, 1318, 1326, 1327, 1327.2, 1329, 1330, 1332, 1333, 1333.1, 1333.2, 1333.3, 1303-A, 1513, 1517, 1518, 1521, 1523, 1531, 1547, 2014-A, ARTICLE XIII-A AND ARTICLE XIV.
ACT OF JULY 17, 1961 (P.L.776, NO.341), KNOWN AS THE "PENNSYLVANIA FAIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ACT." ACT OF JULY 19, 1965 (P.L.215, NO.116), ENTITLED "AN ACT 20250SB0698PN1622 - 3 - PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF EYE PROTECTIVE DEVICES BY PERSONS ENGAGED IN HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES OR EXPOSED TO KNOWN DANGERS IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES." SECTION 4 OF THE ACT OF JANUARY 25, 1966 (1965 P.L.1546, NO.541), ENTITLED "AN ACT PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROVIDING FUNDS TO SECURE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR QUALIFIED STUDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA WHO NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ATTEND POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION, AND PROVIDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS ACT." ACT OF JULY 12, 1972 (P.L.765, NO.181), ENTITLED "AN ACT RELATING TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND THEIR ABUSE, PROVIDING FOR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AND GRANTS TO EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES, OTHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCIES, INSTITUTIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS." ACT OF DECEMBER 15, 1986 (P.L.1595, NO.175), KNOWN AS THE "ANTIHAZING LAW." * * * SECTION 2.
SECTION 1749-A(A)(1) OF THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SUBPARAGRAPH TO READ:
SECTION 1749-A.
APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT AND OF OTHER ACTS AND REGULATIONS.
(A) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.--CYBER CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING:
(1) THE FOLLOWING:
* * * (XIII.1) SECTION 703.
* * * SECTION 3.
THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
20250SB0698PN1622 - 4 -
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Action History

  1. Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, May 4, 2026

  2. Second consideration, May 4, 2026

  3. First consideration, April 20, 2026

  4. Reported as amended, April 20, 2026

  5. Referred to EDUCATION, April 30, 2025

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 248 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (4)

Not signed on (248)

248 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

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 SB 698 do?
Requiring an Appraisal Before School Districts Purchase Real Estate
Who sponsors SB 698?
SB 698 is sponsored by Rosemary M. Brown (Republican), Jarrett Coleman (Republican), Elder A. Vogel (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), and Cris Dush (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 698?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced April 30, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 698?
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