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HB 2656

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in community colleges, further providing for definitions, for powers and duties of State Board of Education, for plans and procedures for establishing, for election or appointment and term and organization of board of trustees, for powers and duties of board of trustees, for students, for tuition, for withdrawal of sponsorship and dissolution of community college, for participation in or admission to established community college, for degrees and for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in institutions of higher education, further providing for long-term strategic planning and providing for additional powers and duties; and, in the State Board of Education, further providing for membership, for powers and duties of the board, for powers and duties of Council of Basic Education and Council of Higher Education and for reports and recommendations.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Manny Guzman and 2 co-sponsors

HB 2656 would overhaul governance, planning, and funding for Pennsylvania community colleges and higher education, expanding state oversight and restructuring board powers.

Referred to Education
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2656

Summary of HB 2656 (2025-2026) – Pennsylvania

Purpose and intent

  • HB 2656 would amend the Public School Code of 1949 (Title 24) with broad changes related to community colleges, higher education institutions, and governance and planning at the state level.
  • The bill appears to be a comprehensive update aimed at reconfiguring definitions, board powers, planning procedures, governance structures, student-related provisions, tuition and withdrawal policies, degree programs, and financial/reimbursement provisions across community colleges and higher education institutions.
  • It also expands or clarifies responsibilities of the State Board of Education and related councils (Council of Basic Education and Council of Higher Education).

Key provisions and changes (substantive areas)

  • Community Colleges
    • Revisions to definitions and the powers/duties of the State Board of Education as they apply to community colleges.
    • Provisions related to planning, establishment procedures, board composition (election or appointment, terms, organization) and the powers/duties of community college boards of trustees.
    • Rules around student eligibility, tuition, withdrawal of sponsorship, and dissolution of community colleges.
    • Provisions governing participation in or admission to established community colleges.
    • Revisions or additions to how degrees are granted and how financial programs and reimbursement of payments are handled for community colleges.
  • Institutions of Higher Education (non-community college)
    • Adds or adjusts long-term strategic planning requirements.
    • Grants additional powers and duties to the relevant authorities (likely the State Board and related bodies) to align with the strategic planning framework.
  • State Board of Education
    • Expands or clarifies membership, powers and duties.
    • Details related to the Council of Basic Education and Council of Higher Education, including their powers and duties.
    • Requires or updates reporting and recommendations processes.
  • Definitions and terminology
    • The act would amend definitions to reflect new governance, planning, and programmatic structures across community colleges and higher education institutions.
  • Financial program and reimbursement
    • Adjustments to how financial programs are administered and how payments are reimbursed within the system, potentially affecting funding flows to community colleges and partner institutions.
  • Plans, procedures, and governance
    • Revisions to the plans and procedures for establishing or reorganizing community colleges, including board election/appointment processes and term lengths.
    • Updates to the structure and authority of boards of trustees and their interaction with state-level education agencies.

Who/what is affected

  • Community colleges in Pennsylvania and their boards of trustees, administrators, students, and sponsorship/tuition arrangements.
  • Institutions of higher education governed under the Public School Code (beyond community colleges), along with their governance planning requirements.
  • State education authorities: State Board of Education and its related councils (Council of Basic Education and Council of Higher Education) and their reporting/recommendation roles.
  • Potentially affected groups include students seeking degrees, trustees, college administrators, and state policymakers involved in budgeting and governance.

Procedural/timeline aspects

  • The bill would be introduced and referred to the Education Committee (as of the most recent action, HB 2656 was referred to Education).
  • If advanced, it would move through committee hearings, potential amendments, and floor votes in the House and Senate, followed by any necessary reconciliation.
  • Dates, fiscal notes, and implementation timelines would be determined during the legislative process and any accompanying fiscal impact statements.

Notable considerations

  • The scope indicates a comprehensive reform of governance and planning across public postsecondary education in Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on community colleges.
  • The changes could affect funding mechanisms, governance structures, and long-range planning timelines for both community colleges and state-level educational bodies.
  • Stakeholders likely to seek clarification or negotiation include community college boards, student governance groups, higher education associations, and school-state relations committees.

If you’d like, I can break down the bill’s provisions section by section (once the official bill text is available) or compare it to current code provisions to show exact shifts in authority, funding, and governance.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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