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
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
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 chanceBased 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
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In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
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5 sponsors
1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.
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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 removedPlain-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.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
709 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1622698 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFCOLEMAN, PENNSYLVANIABROWN, SENATEVOGEL BILLAND SessionSTEFANO, APRIL 30, 2025 REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 30, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.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;
698amending, 2025revising, INTRODUCEDconsolidating BYand COLEMAN,changing BROWN,the VOGEL,laws STEFANOrelating ANDthereto," DUSH,in APRILgrounds 30,and 2025buildings, SENATORfurther CULVER,providing EDUCATION,for ASacquisition AMENDED, APRIL 20, 2026 AN ACT Amending the act of Marchbuildings, 10,sites 1949for (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system,buildings includingand certainplaygrounds, provisions applicable as well to private and parochialdisposing schools;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 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.
(3) Documents related to the determination of fair market value under paragraph (2) THEshall BOARDbe OFsubject SCHOOLto DIRECTORSand OFaccessible EACHunder DISTRICTthe MAYact <--of ACQUIREFebruary REAL14, PROPERTY2008 BY(P.L.6, PURCHASENo.3), UNDERknown PARAGRAPHas (1)the FOR"Right-to-Know NOTLaw," MOREand THANmust THEbe APPRAISEDincluded VALUEin OFthe THEdocuments REALmade PROPERTY.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-KNOW20250SB0698PN0709 LAW."- <--2 SECTION- 1732-A.
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 -
Action History
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Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, May 4, 2026
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Second consideration, May 4, 2026
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First consideration, April 20, 2026
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Reported as amended, April 20, 2026
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Referred to EDUCATION, April 30, 2025
Sponsors
- Rosemary M. Brown · Cosponsor
- Jarrett Coleman · Primary
- Elder A. Vogel · Cosponsor
- Patrick J. Stefano · Cosponsor
- Cris Dush · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 4 co-sponsors · 248 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Jarrett Coleman Republican
Co-sponsors (4)
- Rosemary M. Brown Republican
- Elder A. Vogel Republican
- Patrick J. Stefano Republican
- Cris Dush Republican
Not signed on (248)
248 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 248 →"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.
Subjects
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?
- Track SB 698 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
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