An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in grounds and buildings, providing for radon testing.
HB289 would amend the Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949 to create a statewide radon testing and mitigation program for school buildings. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each existing school building would have to be tested for radon gas, and any building with radon levels at or above 4 picocuries per liter would have to be mitigated and retested until levels fall below that threshold. The bill also requires initial testing for school buildings within one year of the effective date or within one year of completion of construction, whichever is later, and sets ongoing retesting schedules based on whether elevated radon is found.
The bill further requires radon testing and mitigation to be performed by individuals certified under Pennsylvania’s Radon Certification Act and to follow specified ANSI-AARST standards for testing, mitigation, and radon-resistant new construction. New school buildings would have to be built using radon-resistant construction techniques. Schools would also have to report testing results, mitigation plans, and post-mitigation results within 60 days to school governing bodies, parents’ organizations, employee organizations, school websites and social media, and several state and local agencies.
In practical terms, the bill would add new compliance duties for school entities, including public, charter, private, and nonpublic schools, and would likely increase testing, mitigation, and reporting obligations across the education system. It would also expand the role of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and county health departments in receiving and tracking radon-related information. The act would take effect 120 days after enactment.
The available voting history suggests the bill has received meaningful committee support, with both an amendment and the amended bill reported out of the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee by 17-9 votes. The absence of committee transcript excerpts limits insight into detailed debate, but the recorded votes indicate some bipartisan or cross-faction support alongside notable opposition. Overall, the bill appears to be framed as a public health and school safety measure, with support likely centered on reducing radon exposure risks and concern likely focused on compliance costs, administrative burden, and implementation timelines for school entities.
HB289 would amend the Public School Code of 1949 by adding a new section on radon testing, thereby imposing mandatory testing, mitigation, retesting, reporting, and construction standards on school entities. It would affect existing school buildings, new school construction, and the responsibilities of certified radon professionals, while directing reports to state education and environmental agencies and local stakeholders.
The committee vote history indicates generally favorable momentum for the bill, with both the amendment and the amended bill advancing 17-9 in the House Environmental & Natural Resource Protection Committee. That suggests support for the bill’s public health goals, though the level of opposition shows the proposal is not unanimous and likely raises implementation concerns for some members.
The main points of contention are likely the cost and logistics of testing and mitigation, the frequency of required retesting, and the mandate that schools use certified professionals and follow specific technical standards. Opponents may also be concerned about the administrative burden of reporting to multiple entities and the requirement that new school buildings use radon-resistant construction techniques, while supporters are likely focused on student and staff health protection and early detection of a known indoor air hazard.