PA Unplugged Legislation Tracker

Prohibits schools from using AI, including AI chatbots, to provide students with services that amount to the work of a school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker. Schools may not use AI to diagnose a student's mental health condition, provide therapy or counseling, or recommend a treatment plan, and an AI system may not be presented as a substitute for those professionals. AI vendors may not contract with schools to supply such systems. School mental health staff may still use AI for administrative tasks. Sponsored by Rep. Melissa Shusterman.

Allows schools to train educators on the use of AI in education. Training must cover the uses and limits of AI for instruction, verifying AI-generated content, academic integrity, student privacy and data security, bias and ethics, and the school's own AI policies. Department-approved training counts toward continuing professional education, and schools must make a reasonable effort to offer it during paid working hours. Directs the Department of Education to provide grants for the training if funding is made available. Sponsored by Rep. Chris Pielli.

Requires makers of generative AI systems with more than 1 million monthly users to embed provenance data in the images, video, and audio their systems create or materially alter, and to offer a free public tool for checking whether content came from their system. Online platforms with more than 2 million monthly users must detect that provenance data, show users when content is AI-generated or altered, and not strip the data out. Enforced by the Attorney General, with civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation. Not specific to children. Sponsored by Rep. Jason Ortitay.

Commissions a study on the impact of artificial intelligence on Pennsylvania's workforce and education system, including how AI tools are being used in schools and potential effects on student learning.

Places a duty on covered entities to act in the best interests of children who use their online services, products, or features, and requires them to complete data protection impact assessments. Prohibits certain practices by covered entities and imposes penalties for violations.

The omnibus School Code bill signed with the 2026–27 state budget. Requires at least 30 minutes of daily recess in full-day kindergarten through grade 5, and 15 minutes in half-day kindergarten. Schools may not cut lunch time to provide it, and when possible recess must be outdoors and free of electronic devices. Schools may still withhold recess as a disciplinary measure. Also adds social media literacy to state academic standards, covering the effects of social media and mobile device use on students' mental health and learning, online safety, and device security. The Task Force on Child Protection in the Digital Age must send its recommendations by December 31, 2026. Signed into law as Act 20 of 2026.

House companion to SB112. Passed the House unanimously. Same framework: comprehensive consumer data privacy protections with specific provisions for children's data, duties for data controllers and processors, and enforcement penalties.

Requires websites where more than one-third of content is harmful to minors to implement age verification (government ID, digital ID, or bank info). Platforms cannot retain identifying data after verification. Exceptions for news organizations and ISPs. Takes effect 90 days after passage.