Harrisburg, PA, May 13, 2025 – Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 246 with overwhelming bipartisan support in a 45–4 vote. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Christine Tartaglione (D–2) and Jarrett Coleman (R–16), will ensure that parents and school staff are promptly notified when a weapon is discovered on school grounds or during school activities.
“Every parent deserves to know when there’s a safety threat at their child’s school—especially one involving a weapon,” said Senator Tartaglione. “Right now, if a weapon is found but doesn’t result in an expulsion, there’s no requirement that families are ever informed. That’s unacceptable. Safety shouldn’t be a secret.”
Under current law, school districts are only required to report incidents involving weapons to the Department of Education when they result in expulsions. Senate Bill 246 closes that gap by requiring timely notice to parents, guardians, and school personnel whenever a weapon is found, regardless of disciplinary outcomes.
“This bill doesn’t point fingers or assign blame. It’s a simple, common-sense step to ensure families can trust that schools are being transparent and proactive about safety,” Tartaglione said.
Senate Bill 246 builds on the bipartisan progress of a similar measure that passed the Senate last session. Senator Tartaglione emphasized that this legislation is about peace of mind for families and making sure schools are open and honest in how they handle potential threats.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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