Labor & Employment

signed · Pennsylvania · House May 6, 2026

HB 797: An Act amending the act of May 25, 1933 (P.L.1050, No.242), referred to as the Second Class City Firemen Relief Law, further providing for requirements of membership, for married persons and pensions to surviving spouses and for eligibility of surviving spouses.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Second Class City Firemen Relief Law to update pension eligibility rules for surviving spouses of fire department members. It modifies membership requirements for married firefighters and adjusts how pensions are calculated and provided to surviving spouses after a member's death. The changes directly affect married firefighters employed in second-class cities and their spouses who may qualify for pension benefits under this law. The bill focuses on clarifying and adjusting existing pension provisions rather than creating new benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends pension eligibility rules for surviving spouses of firefighters, clarifying and maintaining benefit access under employment-related retirement law.85% confidence

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 25, 2025

HB 27: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in licensing of health care facilities, providing for surgical smoke evacuation systems.

HB 27 amends the Health Care Facilities Act to require hospitals and surgical clinics to install systems that remove smoke generated during certain medical procedures. This directly affects healthcare facilities performing surgeries where smoke is produced, such as those using lasers or electrosurgery. The bill mandates these evacuation systems as part of facility licensing standards under the existing 1979 law. The change focuses on improving air quality and safety for both patients and medical staff during operations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates surgical smoke evacuation systems in healthcare facilities to improve air quality, directly reducing a specific indoor pollutant (surgical smoke) under pollution control, aligning with environmental topic's pollution control focus.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates surgical smoke evacuation systems to improve air quality and safety for patients/staff, directly enhancing healthcare facility safety standards under existing law.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates surgical smoke evacuation systems in healthcare facilities, directly improving workplace safety for medical staff per bill summary's focus on safety for 'medical...' personnel.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 166: An Act making appropriations from the State Employees' Retirement Fund and from the SERS Defined Contribution Fund to provide for expenses of the State Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

SB 166 is an appropriations bill that allocates funds for the operational expenses of the State Employees' Retirement Board. It appropriates $39,795,000 from the State Employees' Retirement Fund and $5,979,000 from the SERS Defined Contribution Fund. These funds are designated to cover salaries, travel, contractual services, and other costs necessary for the board to manage state employee retirement plans. The appropriations apply to the fiscal year from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and also cover any unpaid bills from the prior fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds operational expenses for the State Employees' Retirement Board, an essential state program, through specific appropriations for the fiscal year.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds retirement board operations to maintain state employee benefits, directly supporting employment-related retirement security.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Public Employees Retirement Benefits

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 1052: An Act providing for the licensure of fire-resistant material applicators; establishing the Fireproofing Applicator Licensing Board; and imposing penalties.

HB 1052 requires fire-resistant material applicators in Pennsylvania to obtain a license from the newly established Fireproofing Applicator Licensing Board. The bill directly affects workers applying fire-resistant materials (like sprayed cement or fiber) to building surfaces, mandating they complete accredited training and meet experience requirements. Key provisions include the board setting professional standards, approving training programs, issuing licenses, enforcing penalties for unlicensed work, and maintaining a public online roster of licensed applicators. The law aims to standardize safety practices and oversight in this specialized construction field.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires training/licensing for fireproofing applicators, improving workplace safety standards through mandatory qualifications.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 4, 2025

HB 1765: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in employees, providing for insurance benefits for part-time police officers.

HB 1765 would require Pennsylvania municipalities to provide insurance benefits to part-time police officers. The bill amends state law to extend existing insurance coverage provisions - currently applicable to full-time municipal employees - to include part-time police officers specifically. This change would directly affect part-time police officers and the local governments that employ them, mandating that municipalities include these benefits in their employment terms. The bill is currently under review by the Local Government committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates municipalities to fund insurance benefits for part-time police, increasing public safety spending requirements.80% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExtends insurance benefits to part-time police officers, supporting law enforcement personnel welfare without direct reform impact.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends health insurance coverage to part-time police officers, expanding access to healthcare benefits for municipal employees under existing insurance provisions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends mandatory insurance benefits to part-time police officers, expanding worker benefits under Labor & Employment policies95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Insurance

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SB 440: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) tax credits relating to semiconductor manufacturing and biomedical manufacturing and research, further providing for definitions, for eligibility, for application and approval of tax credit and for sale or assignment.

SB 440 creates new tax credits under Pennsylvania’s PA EDGE program for semiconductor and biomedical manufacturing and research companies meeting specific criteria. It directly affects businesses that invest at least $200 million (or $20 million for early-stage semiconductor firms) in facilities, create 800 (or 100) permanent jobs, and meet local hiring and wage standards. The bill establishes two credit calculation methods: up to 2.5% of capital investment or up to $20,000 per job (capped at $20 million annually). Eligible companies must apply by March 1 each year, with credits approved by May 1, and the program prioritizes semiconductor projects with a minimum $1 million annual allocation. The tax credits reduce state tax liability for qualifying investments and job creation in these sectors.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSB 440 creates new tax credits for semiconductor/biomedical firms under PA EDGE, directly reducing tax liabilities for qualifying businesses per the Tax Reform Code amendment.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires companies to meet local wage standards to qualify for tax credits, directly advancing worker compensation standards in new job creation.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill provides tax credits for semiconductor manufacturing and biomedical research, directly funding technology sector growth through financial incentives for capital investment and job creation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 21, 2025

HB 1491: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in emergency medical services system, further providing for declaration of policy, for definitions, for emergency medical services system programs and for duties of department; establishing the State EMS Advisory Board; and further providing for emergency medical services patient care reports, for funding, for notification of trauma center closure, for State Advisory Board, for regional emergency medical services councils, for comprehensive plan, for contracts and grants and for scholarships for recruitment, training and retention.

HB 1491 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Health commissioner to continually assess and revise emergency medical services (EMS) agency functions to improve service quality, adapt to community needs, and boost recruitment/retention of EMS providers. It establishes a State EMS Advisory Board to advise on system improvements and updates definitions for key EMS roles and entities. The bill directly affects EMS agencies, providers, and the Department of Health by mandating ongoing system reviews and creating a formal advisory structure. Key provisions include requiring the commissioner to address recruitment challenges and ensure EMS systems meet evolving community demands.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates ongoing EMS system reviews, recruitment/retention boosts, and establishes advisory board to strengthen emergency medical services quality and access.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBoosts EMS provider recruitment/retention through mandated system reviews and advisory board, directly strengthening workforce retention in labor sector.95% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 9, 2025

SB 841: An Act amending the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care Facilities Act, in licensing of health care facilities, further providing for licensure.

SB 841 requires home health care agencies, home care registries, and their direct care workers (including those in Pennsylvania's Community Health Choices Program) to complete dementia-specific training. It mandates four hours of initial training and two hours of annual continued training covering Alzheimer's care, person-centered approaches, and dementia-related behaviors. Agencies must maintain documentation of this training in employee files and use department-approved curricula. The Department of Health will develop implementing regulations within one year, with the law taking effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates dementia training for home health care workers to improve care quality for Alzheimer's patients, aligning with patient access and care standards.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates dementia training for home care workers, enhancing job performance and workplace safety standards in healthcare settings.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medical Licensing Professional Licensing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 24, 2025

SB 940: An Act requiring lactation rooms in Commonwealth buildings; and imposing duties on Department of General Services.

SB 940 requires all Commonwealth buildings (state-owned or leased government offices) to provide private lactation rooms for individuals expressing breastmilk or nursing. These rooms must be at least 80 square feet, fully private with locking doors, and include a chair, table, electrical outlet, and ADA-compliant accessibility. The bill directly affects state employees and visitors who need to express breastmilk while at work, aligning with federal workplace accommodations under the Affordable Care Act. It mandates specific design standards to ensure privacy and functionality, without requiring additional amenities beyond the core specifications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires lactation rooms in state buildings, supporting maternal health access and aligning with federal healthcare accommodations under ACA.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires private lactation rooms for nursing employees in state buildings, enhancing workplace accommodations and aligning with federal worker protections under the Affordable Care Act.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2025

HB 1605: An Act amending Titles 24 (Education) and 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in membership, contributions and benefits, further providing for creditable nonschool service; and, in membership, credited service, classes of service, and eligibility for benefits, further providing for creditable nonstate service.

HB 1605 would amend Pennsylvania's retirement laws for public employees by expanding what counts as "creditable service" toward benefits. Specifically, it would allow education employees to include non-school service (such as work in non-school educational programs) and state government employees to include non-state service (such as local government work) in their retirement calculations. This change would directly affect public workers in education and state government retirement systems who have held diverse employment roles outside traditional school or state government settings. The bill is currently pending in the State Government committee.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands retirement benefits for education employees by including non-school service, directly supporting educators' financial security and retention.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands retirement benefits for public employees by including non-school/non-state service, strengthening employment benefits for education/state government workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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