Pennsylvania bill would force notice and public comment when colleges seek to close branch campuses

# What the bill would do House Bill 2789 would add a transparency step to the current process for closing a public college branch or campus. Under existing practice, an institution files an application with the Secretary of Education, who then approves or denies it. The Secretary is not currently required to notify the public when an application is filed.

HB 2789 would require the Secretary to give notice within seven days after receiving a campus-closure application. The notice must be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and trigger a 30-day public comment period. During that window, a hearing for public comment may be requested by legislators representing the affected community, the local government where the campus is located, or by a meaningful showing of public interest.

# Why lawmakers proposed it The legislation was proposed in response to a recent vote by Penn State's Board of Trustees to close seven branch campuses. That application is pending approval, and lawmakers say the state process did not require a public notice step when the closure application was filed.

HB 2789 aims to give residents, students, faculty, local officials and elected representatives a formal opportunity to review and respond before the Secretary reaches a final decision.

# What would change for communities Communities would get an official, time-bound window to weigh in. The 30-day comment period and potential hearing create a formal record of local concerns and objections. The Secretary would be required to respond in writing to objections raised during that period, so communities would receive a documented explanation of how their input affected the outcome.

# How the hearing request works

# Practical effects and next steps If passed, HB 2789 would likely slow the timeline between application filing and final decision by adding the mandatory notice and comment window. That could matter in situations where institutions move quickly to alter campus operations. The written response requirement would make the Secretary's reasoning public and tied to the record created during the comment period.

For this particular case involving Penn State's pending application, the bill would apply to any future or pending filings only if the law takes effect before the Secretary makes a final decision or if the bill includes retroactive provisions. The summary does not indicate retroactivity.

# What to watch

• Whether the bill defines "meaningful showing of public interest," which affects who can demand hearings.
• Decisions about publication format and how timely notices will be distributed beyond the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
• Any amendments that change timelines, hearing thresholds or the Secretary's written-response obligations.

The bill is a procedural change focused on transparency and public participation. It keeps the Secretary's substantive approval power intact while requiring notice, a 30-day comment period, a potential hearing, and a written response to objections.