New legislation introduced by state Sen. Jarett Coleman requiring Pennsylvania school districts to notify parents and school employees of any weapon possession incidents on school property is heading to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk.
Senate Bill 246 expands requirements that previously mandated districts report to the Pennsylvania Department of Education incidents “relating to expulsions for possession of a weapon on school grounds, school-sponsored activities or public conveyances providing transportation to a school or school-sponsored activity.”
The bill now would require public and private schools notify parents and staff within 24 hours of any incident in which a knife, gun or any other weapon is brought to school property, school-sponsored events or school transportation.
Coleman, a Republican who represents parts of Lehigh and Bucks counties and who previously served on the Parkland School Board, said in a news release that his experience with the Parkland School District inspired his sponsorship of the bill.
“This legislation stems from an incident in the Parkland School District when parents learned about a weapon incident from police reports and the local news,” Coleman said. “I was shocked to learn that the district didn’t have to notify them immediately. Parents send their children to school with the expectation for them to receive a quality education in a safe environment, and they deserve to know what’s happening.”
The Senate voted 48-2 Wednesday to approve a final version of the bill. The only nay votes were Sens. Amanda Cappelletti D-17, Montgomery and Delaware counties, and Lindsey Williams, D-38, Allegheny County. Williams previously had expressed concern that the bill would cause unnecessary anxiety among parents, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Recent weapons incidents at Lehigh Valley schools include a Tuesday report of Catasauqua police apprehending a student at Innovative Arts Academy who they said was carrying a firearm on school grounds. Police said the student “did not appear as a threat to the greater student body.”
Originally Published: October 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM EDT