Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 3 R · 2 D cosponsors

HB 653 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school safety and security, providing for panic alerts.

Last action — Referred to Communications & Technology

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

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

Prognosis

Advancing 40% · 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.

  • 5 sponsors

    1 primary, 4 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 2 D) — cross-party backing.

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.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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

This bill requires each public school building in Pennsylvania to be equipped with a panic alert system linked to local law enforcement.

  • Section 1305.2-B

    Panic alerts. (a) Requirement.--Each public school building in this Commonwealth must be equipped with a panic alert system for use in a school security emergency, including, but not limited to, a nonfire evacuation, lockdown or active shooter situation. The panic alert must be directly linked to the local law enforcement agencies designated as first responders to the school's campus and must immediately transmit a signal or message to those authorities on activation. (b) Definitions.--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: "Panic alert." A silent security system notification generated by the manual activation of a device, including a mobile or computer application, wired panic button or wireless panic button, intended to communicate a life-threatening or emergency situation that requires a response from law enforcement. "Public school building." All buildings on a public elementary, middle or high school campus where instruction takes place. The term includes all locations where students are present during the school day.

    This adds a new requirement for public schools to have a panic alert system to enhance security during emergencies.

Action History

  1. Referred to Communications & Technology

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

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

Who sponsors HB 653?
HB 653 is sponsored by Marla Brown (Republican), Nikki Rivera (Democratic), R. Lee James (Republican), Bud Cook (Republican), and Liz Hanbidge (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 653?
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 653?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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