Labor & Employment (Labor Standards)

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2331: An Act providing for the investigations by the Department of Labor and Industry of employee injuries at warehouse distribution centers; and imposing penalties.

This Pennsylvania bill requires the Department of Labor and Industry to investigate warehouse distribution centers that report an annual employee injury rate 30% or higher than the state average. The law defines warehouse distribution centers using specific industry classification codes and gives the department authority to enter facilities, review records, interview workers, and consolidate complaints during investigations. Employers found with injury rates at or above the threshold face escalating civil penalties, starting at $6,250 for the first violation and increasing to $25,000 for subsequent violations. The bill also mandates that employers notify their employees when an investigation is underway and allows the Attorney General's office to pursue civil or criminal actions for violations.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates investigations of high-injury warehouses and empowers DOLI to enforce safety standards, directly protecting worker health and workplace safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workers' Compensation Workplace Safety

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 1204: An Act providing for regulations for employers to protect employees from heat-related injury or heat-related illness caused by heat stress; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry and the Secretary of Labor and Industry; establishing the Heat Protection Enforcement Fund; and imposing penalties.

This bill establishes workplace heat protection standards in Pennsylvania to safeguard employees from heat-related injuries and illnesses caused by heat stress. It requires the Department of Labor and Industry to create regulations within one year that mandate employers implement cooling measures, such as job rotation, misting equipment, and access to water, when heat index levels reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The law applies to all employers except emergency responders and fire service personnel during nonemergency situations, while also creating a dedicated enforcement fund and setting penalties for noncompliance.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes workplace heat protection standards to safeguard employees from heat-related injuries and illnesses, directly improving workplace safety and protecting workers' rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2332: An Act requiring certain warehouses to provide written descriptions of employment quotas; imposing powers and duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

This Pennsylvania bill, known as the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, requires warehouses with 100 or more employees to provide written and verbal notice of employment quotas to workers upon hiring or within 30 days. The law defines quotas as specific production standards tied to time periods where failure to meet them could lead to disciplinary action, and mandates that employers explain these quotas, potential consequences, and any associated bonuses in a language the employee understands. Additionally, the bill prohibits employers from taking adverse employment actions against workers if they fail to provide adequate notice of quotas as required, while also requiring employers to notify employees of any quota changes at least five business days before enforcement. The Department of Labor and Industry gains authority to enforce these requirements and impose penalties on non-compliant employers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill requires warehouses to disclose employment quotas and potential consequences to workers, enhancing transparency and protecting worker rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 903: An Act prohibiting the employment of unauthorized employees; requiring meat packing and food preparation industry employers to verify the Social Security numbers of employees; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

This bill requires employers in Pennsylvania's meat packing and food preparation industries to verify the work authorization status of their employees using the federal E-Verify system. It applies specifically to businesses with 100 or more employees at a single facility or those licensed under state food safety and meat hygiene laws. Employers must keep verification records for the duration of employment or three years, whichever is longer, and the Department of Labor and Industry will be authorized to investigate complaints and inspect business records for compliance. The legislation prohibits knowingly hiring unauthorized employees and establishes a formal complaint process for individuals alleging violations. Penalties for non-compliance are imposed through existing state legal frameworks.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill mandates E-Verify for meat packing industry, restricting employment access for unauthorized immigrants and increasing state enforcement cooperation92% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts employment by requiring E-Verify verification, limiting workers' rights to work regardless of status and imposing additional employer burdens.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization Labor Standards

Track

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 2189: An Act amending the act of January 17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as The Minimum Wage Act of 1968, further providing for definitions, for minimum wages and for exemptions.

HB 2189 amends Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act of 1968 to increase the state's minimum wage to $11 per hour starting January 1, 2027, $13 per hour on January 1, 2028, and $15 per hour on January 1, 2029. After 2029, the minimum wage will automatically adjust annually based on inflation data from the Consumer Price Index for the Pennsylvania-New Jersey- Delaware-Maryland area. This bill directly affects all Pennsylvania employers and workers covered under the Minimum Wage Act, including tipped employees who retain their tips. The changes apply to all non-exempt workers in the state, with no new exemptions or special rules added beyond the wage schedule and adjustment mechanism.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases minimum wage to $15/hr by 2029 with inflation adjustments, directly strengthening worker compensation and wages.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2133: An Act providing for rights of employees and for filing complaints.

HB 2133, the "Right to Disconnect Act," gives employees of Pennsylvania employers with 75+ workers the right to ignore work communications during nonworking hours (outside scheduled shifts). Employers must create written policies establishing this right, with exceptions for emergencies or last-minute schedule changes. Employees can file complaints with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry if an employer repeatedly violates this right (defined as three documented instances), with appeals potentially going to the Attorney General. The law aims to protect employees' personal time from work-related contact during nonwork hours.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants employees right to ignore work communications outside hours, requiring employer policies and complaint mechanisms, protecting work-life balance and worker rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 17, 2025

HB 2105: An Act providing for employer self-audit program to foster collaboration with employers to voluntarily remedy unpaid wages owed to an affected employee or cure a negligent violation that was the result of an employer inadvertently violating a labor act.

HB 2105 establishes an employer self-audit program in Pennsylvania, allowing businesses to voluntarily correct accidental unpaid wages or minor labor violations before enforcement action. It directly affects employers who unintentionally violated specific labor laws (like the Minimum Wage Act or Wage Payment Law) by requiring them to submit detailed audits, payroll records, and payment calculations for affected employees. Employers must demonstrate they corrected the issue, weren’t under investigation, and reviewed compliance resources before applying. The program focuses only on "negligent" (non-willful) violations, excluding cases involving falsified records or serious harm. This bill aims to foster cooperation between employers and the Department of Labor, not impose penalties for past mistakes.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates employers to voluntarily correct unpaid wages and minor violations, directly protecting workers' right to receive owed compensation under labor laws.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1357: An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in personal income tax, further providing for definitions and providing for provisions for overtime pay.

HB 1357 amends Pennsylvania's tax code to allow employees to deduct overtime pay from their taxable income when filing personal income tax returns. The bill defines "overtime pay" as compensation earned for hours worked beyond 40 per week (per federal standards) and requires employers to withhold tax on this amount. Employees who received overtime in 2026 or later can subtract the full overtime amount from their taxable income, potentially resulting in a tax refund if the deduction lowers their liability below zero. This directly affects Pennsylvania employees who earn overtime and employers who withhold taxes on such earnings. The changes apply to tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows overtime pay deduction from taxable income, reducing tax burden for workers - direct tax relief under Budget & Taxes policy.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows employees to deduct overtime pay from taxable income, increasing disposable income and aligning with worker benefit protections under labor policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Labor Standards

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 716: An Act amending the act of July 14, 1961 (P.L.637, No.329), known as the Wage Payment and Collection Law, further providing for notification; providing for duty of employer; and imposing criminal and civil penalties.

HB 716 amends Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law to require employers to provide employees with specific pay details (including rate, time of payment, and fringe benefits) at hiring and to post a summary of the law in a visible workplace location. Employers who fail to meet these notification or posting requirements face a $500 fine per violation. The bill also extends the time limit for employees to file legal claims for unpaid wages: if an employer didn't provide required notice or post the summary, the deadline becomes the later of three years after wages were due or the day the requirements were satisfied. This affects all employers in Pennsylvania subject to the Wage Payment and Collection Law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employers to provide pay details at hiring and post wage law summaries, imposes $500 fines for non-compliance, and extends time for unpaid wage claims - directly strengthening worker protections under wage payment laws.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 818: An Act amending the act of October 6, 1998 (P.L.705, No.92), known as the Keystone Opportunity Zone, Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone and Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone Act, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; and, in keystone opportunity zones, further providing for qualified businesses.

SB 818 amends Pennsylvania's Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) Act to add new requirements for businesses seeking tax benefits. It mandates that businesses making capital investments over $25,000 for facility construction, repair, or renovation must ensure 70% of workers are "skilled craft laborers" (as defined by apprenticeship completion or equivalent experience) and that all workers receive the state-mandated prevailing wage. Violations of these wage requirements - such as intentional nonpayment - require businesses to refund all tax benefits received for that year. This affects KOZ businesses pursuing tax exemptions, deductions, abatements, or credits, directly linking labor standards to tax incentives. The bill integrates Pennsylvania's prevailing wage laws into KOZ tax compliance, effective 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesAdds wage/labor requirements to KOZ tax benefits, restricting eligibility and limiting tax advantages for businesses.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates state-mandated prevailing wage for all workers, directly protecting compensation standards under Labor & Employment policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Labor Standards

Track