Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 40 R · 8 D cosponsors

HB 685 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in duties and powers of boards of school directors, providing for admission fees for school-sponsored activities.

Last action — Laid on the table

  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 February 20, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

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

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

Likely to advance 62% · high confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 50 sponsors

    1 primary, 49 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (40 R · 8 D) — cross-party backing.

  • 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.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

41 added · 8 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated bill, HB 685, now specifies that schools and associations must accept cash for admission to school-sponsored activities but can also accept other forms of payment. It adds clarity by stating that they can refuse large denominations if they significantly exceed the ticket price. This change ensures that all attendees have a cash option, which is important for accessibility and fairness at school events. Additionally, references to private and parochial school provisions were removed, focusing the bill more specifically on the entities involved.

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PRINTER'S NO.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
701 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
701 PRINTER'S NO.
685 2025 INTRODUCED BY MOUL, CONKLIN, SMITH, COOK, REICHARD, HARKINS, VENKAT, ZIMMERMAN, JAMES, CAUSER, MENTZER, STAATS, PICKETT, BANTA, ROWE, ROAE, NEILSON, KRUPA, RIVERA, WHITE, SCHMITT, TWARDZIK, E.
1025 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.
685 2025 INTRODUCED BY MOUL, CONKLIN, SMITH, COOK, REICHARD, HARKINS, BANTA, ROWE, ROAE, NEILSON, KRUPA, RIVERA, WHITE, SCHMITT,, TWARDZIK, E.
JONES, HAMM, FRIEL, KLUNK, MUSTELLO, GILLEN AND BASHLINE, FEBRUARY 20, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, FEBRUARY 20, 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;
JONES, HAMM, FRIEL, KLUNK, MUSTELLO, GILLEN AND BASHLINE, FEBRUARY 20, 2025 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 18, 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 schools;
Admission Fees for School-Sponsored Activities.--(a) When a fee is charged for admission to a school-sponsored activity, United States currency shall be accepted as a form of payment for admission on the date of the activity.
Admission Fees for School-Sponsored <-- Activities.--(a) When a fee is charged for admission to a school-sponsored activity, United States currency shall be accepted as a form of payment for admission on the date of the activity.
SECTION 511.1.
ADMISSION FEES FOR SCHOOL-SPONSORED <-- ACTIVITIES.--(A) IF A SCHOOL ENTITY, NONPUBLIC SCHOOL OR ASSOCIATION COLLECTS A FEE FOR ADMISSION TO A SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITY, CASH SHALL BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF PAYMENT FOR ADMISSION.
(B) IN ADDITION TO ACCEPTING CASH AS PAYMENT FOR ADMISSION, A SCHOOL ENTITY, NONPUBLIC SCHOOL OR ASSOCIATION MAY ACCEPT OTHER PAYMENT METHODS FOR ADMISSION TO THE SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITY.
20250HB0685PN1025 - 2 - (C) A SCHOOL ENTITY, NONPUBLIC SCHOOL OR ASSOCIATION MAY REFUSE TO ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR ADMISSION THAT IS IN A DENOMINATION THAT SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF THE FEE UNDER SUBSECTION (A).
(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:
"ASSOCIATION" SHALL MEAN THE PENNSYLVANIA INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.
"CASH" SHALL MEAN ALL COINS AND CURRENCIES RECOGNIZED AS LEGAL TENDER UNDER 31 U.S.C.
§ 5103 (RELATING TO LEGAL TENDER).
"INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ACTIVITY" SHALL MEAN AN ATHLETIC CONTEST OR COMPETITIONS CONDUCTED BETWEEN OR AMONG SCHOOL ENTITIES OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.
"NONPUBLIC SCHOOL" SHALL MEAN AS DEFINED IN SECTION 923.3- A(B).
"SCHOOL ENTITY" SHALL MEAN A SCHOOL DISTRICT, INTERMEDIATE UNIT, AREA CAREER AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL, CHARTER SCHOOL, CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL OR REGIONAL CHARTER SCHOOL.
"SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITY" SHALL MEAN AN ASSEMBLY, FIELD TRIP, CLASS TRIP, GRADUATION CEREMONY, INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ACTIVITY, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY, CLUB, GROUP, TEAM OR ANY ACTIVITY SPONSORED, HELD OR APPROVED BY A SCHOOL ENTITY OR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL.
20250HB0685PN0701 - 2 -
20250HB0685PN1025 - 3 -
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Action History

  1. Laid on the table

  2. First consideration

  3. Reported as amended

  4. Referred to Commerce

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 49 co-sponsors · 203 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (49)

Not signed on (203)

203 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 203 →

"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

Committee vote (Commerce): Report Bill As Amended

Passed 26 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14000
Republican 12000
Total 26000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (26)
Member Party Vote
Amen Brown Democratic Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Anthony A. Bellmon Democratic Yea
Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic Yea
Brian Munroe Democratic Yea
Chris Pielli Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Darisha K. Parker Democratic Yea
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz Democratic Yea
Keith S. Harris Democratic Yea
Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic Yea
Morgan Cephas Democratic Yea
Napoleon J. Nelson Democratic Yea
Scott Conklin Democratic Yea
Barbara Gleim Republican Yea
Donna Scheuren Republican Yea
Jeff Olsommer Republican Yea
Jeremy Shaffer Republican Yea
John A. Lawrence Republican Yea
Joseph D'Orsie Republican Yea
Kristin Marcell Republican Yea
Marla Brown Republican Yea
Scott Barger Republican Yea
Shelby Labs Republican Yea
Tim Twardzik Republican Yea
Valerie S. Gaydos Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Committee vote (Commerce): Adopt Amendment

Passed 26 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 14000
Republican 12000
Total 26000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (26)
Member Party Vote
Amen Brown Democratic Yea
Andre D. Carroll Democratic Yea
Anthony A. Bellmon Democratic Yea
Benjamin V. Sanchez Democratic Yea
Brian Munroe Democratic Yea
Chris Pielli Democratic Yea
Christopher M. Rabb Democratic Yea
Darisha K. Parker Democratic Yea
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz Democratic Yea
Keith S. Harris Democratic Yea
Malcolm Kenyatta Democratic Yea
Morgan Cephas Democratic Yea
Napoleon J. Nelson Democratic Yea
Scott Conklin Democratic Yea
Barbara Gleim Republican Yea
Donna Scheuren Republican Yea
Jeff Olsommer Republican Yea
Jeremy Shaffer Republican Yea
John A. Lawrence Republican Yea
Joseph D'Orsie Republican Yea
Kristin Marcell Republican Yea
Marla Brown Republican Yea
Scott Barger Republican Yea
Shelby Labs Republican Yea
Tim Twardzik Republican Yea
Valerie S. Gaydos Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 685?
HB 685 is sponsored by Torren Ecker, Louis Schmitt, Tom Jones (Republican), Joe Hamm (Republican), Paul Friel (Democratic), Kate A. Klunk (Republican), Marci Mustello (Republican), Mark M. Gillen (Republican), Josh Bashline (Republican), Keith S. Harris (Democratic), Tarik Khan (Democratic), Dan Moul (Republican), Scott Conklin (Democratic), Brian Smith (Republican), Bud Cook (Republican), Chad G. Reichard (Republican), Patrick J. Harkins (Democratic), Arvind Venkat (Democratic), David H. Zimmerman (Republican), R. Lee James (Republican), Martin T. Causer (Republican), Steven C. Mentzer (Republican), Craig T. Staats (Republican), Tina Pickett (Republican), Jacob D. Banta (Republican), David H. Rowe (Republican), Brad Roae (Republican), Ed Neilson (Democratic), Charity Grimm Krupa (Republican), Nikki Rivera (Democratic), Martina A. White (Republican), Tim Twardzik (Republican), Eric R. Nelson (Republican), Zachary Mako (Republican), Ann Flood (Republican), Jack Rader (Republican), Timothy R. Bonner (Republican), Perry A. Stambaugh (Republican), Milou Mackenzie (Republican), Joe Emrick (Republican), Jamie L. Flick (Republican), Michael Stender (Republican), Andrew Kuzma (Republican), Valerie S. Gaydos (Republican), Eric Davanzo (Republican), Keith J. Greiner (Republican), Carl Walker Metzgar (Republican), Aaron Bernstine (Republican), Rich Irvin (Republican), and Bryan Cutler (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 685?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 20, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 685?
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