Schuylkill County Lawmakers Unite Behind Study to Swap Keystone Exams for ACT/SAT

Context The Pennsylvania House passed 17 bills and the Senate passed nine during the week, while the U.S. Congress held sessions but approved no legislation. Schuylkill County’s delegation—Representatives Barton (R‑124), Stehr (R‑107), Twardzik (R‑123), and Watro (R‑116)—weighed several measures affecting education, energy, housing, and public safety.

Key Facts HB 1752, which commissions an independent study to assess whether the ACT or SAT could replace the Keystone Exams, passed the House 191‑10. All four Schuylkill County representatives voted Yea. The bill notes a 2019 Auditor General report that found Keystone Exam administration and scoring costs about $17.6 million annually. HB 2076, creating state regulations for geothermal energy production and allowing use of abandoned oil and gas wells, passed 118‑83; Barton, Stehr, and Watro voted Nay, while Twardzik voted Yea. HB 558, proposing a $20 cap on rental application fees, passed 148‑53; Barton, Twardzik, and Watro voted Yea, Stehr voted Nay. SB 1284, raising the minimum sentence for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer to 20 years, passed the Senate 41‑8; Senator Argall (R) voted Yea. SB 822, which gives state firearms regulations precedence over stricter local ordinances, passed the Senate 30‑20; Argall also voted Yea.

What It Means The unanimous support for HB 1752 signals bipartisan interest in reducing testing costs and giving schools more flexibility under federal accountability rules. If the Senate approves the study, findings could influence whether Pennsylvania shifts to a national college‑entrance exam for high‑school assessment. Observers should watch the Senate’s vote on HB 1752 and any subsequent recommendations from the commissioned study.