Pennsylvania parents will soon be notified if their child’s school is the site of a weapon-related incident.

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Allentown, to increase transparency and parental notification in the event of weapon-related incidents in Pennsylvania schools has been signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro.

Senate Bill 246, now Act 44 of 2025, received overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers of the General Assembly. It requires schools to notify parents, guardians and school employees within 24 hours if a weapon is discovered on school property, at a school-sponsored event or on school transportation. The law applies to public, nonpublic and private schools across the commonwealth.

The bill passed the Senate 48-2 and the House 202-1 before being signed into law on Nov. 6. It will take effect in 60 days. State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-Oil City, and Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren, both voted in favor of the legislation.

“There is broad agreement from Republicans and Democrats that schools must be forthcoming when dangerous incidents take place,” Coleman said. “This legislation paves the way for empowering parents and helps rebuild the trust between our school districts and the families they are serving.”

Under previous law, schools were required to report such incidents to law enforcement and the Department of Education, but not to parents or staff. Coleman said the new law closes that gap by mandating direct communication using methods likely to reach families and employees quickly.

An incident that occurred in the Parkland School District, in which parents only learned about a weapon being brought to school through police reports and the media, brought to light the need for this law to ensure Pennsylvania schools provide the utmost transparency to parents and school employees.

“Parents deserve to be informed immediately when their child’s safety could be at risk,” Coleman said.

Coleman introduced the bill in 2024, and it passed the Senate Education Committee in June 2024.