An Act amending the act of December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as the Unemployment Compensation Law, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions.
HB 1157 amends Pennsylvania's 1936 Unemployment Compensation Law to update how "agricultural labor" is defined for unemployment insurance coverage. It specifies that agricultural work counts as "employment" if employers paid $20,000+ in cash wages to agricultural workers in a calendar quarter, or employed 10+ workers across 20 different weeks (with historical exceptions). This change directly affects Pennsylvania agricultural employers meeting these thresholds and their workers, potentially expanding unemployment coverage eligibility for some farm laborers. The amendment applies to service performed after December 31, 2025.
Bill status
in committee
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Apr 7, 2025
Last action Apr 23, 2025
Floor votes · House Apr 23, 2025
How they voted
23–3
Passed
Total votes 26
Apr 23, 2025
D
Democratic14
100% Yea
R
Republican12
75% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
5
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Apr 23, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (23-3)
house
Apr 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Agriculture & Rural Affairs
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Christina Sappey
DDemocratic
Co
Ben Sanchez
DDemocratic
Co
Carol Hill-Evans
DDemocratic
Co
CW
Catherine Wallen
RRepublican
Co
Danielle Otten
DDemocratic
Co
Eddie Pashinski
DDemocratic
Co
Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz
DDemocratic
Co
Maureen Madden
DDemocratic
Co
Missy Cerrato
DDemocratic
Co
Torren Ecker
RRepublican
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