Why It Matters

House Bill 2413, now Act No. 12A of 2026, appropriates more than $33 million to the University of Pennsylvania Trustees, including $31,560,000 for veterinary activities and $1,793,000 for the Center for Infectious Diseases. The law appropriates $31,560,000 for veterinary activities and $1,793,000 for the university's Center for Infectious Diseases for the fiscal year running July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The governor approved the bill on July 12. ​

What the Law Does

The law directs the Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture to pay the university quarterly from both appropriations. Those payments come with conditions: the university's Board of Trustees must keep at least four non-elected members appointed by the Senate and House leaders, and those members must have full voting rights.

The university must also give the Department of Agriculture and the chairs and minority chairs of both chambers' appropriations committees any financial information they request, and must report its finances under the accounting standards the bill names.

By Sept. 30, 2027, the Trustees must file a report, on forms the Department of Agriculture provides, showing how the state money was spent to cut costs for Pennsylvania resident students or to serve Pennsylvania residents.

By the Numbers

Pennsylvania has 13,018,639 residents of all ages, according to 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates. About 35 percent of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 92 percent have a high school diploma or equivalent. The state's median household income is $77,971, and the poverty rate is 11.7 percent. About 1 in 7 Pennsylvania residents has a disability, and 5.6 percent have no health insurance.

Legislative Status

Rep. Jordan Harris is a Democrat who represents Pennsylvania's 186th District. Rep. Tarik Khan (D-PA) is listed as a cosponsor.

The House Appropriations Committee approved the bill 37-0 on March 25. The House voted 99 to 102 against motion A2898 on April 15, and the motion failed. The bill cleared final passage on July 1 and again on July 12, when the governor approved it.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed the bill into law on July 12, making it Act No. 12A of 2026.

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