Labor & Employment

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 1157: 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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment insurance eligibility for agricultural workers by lowering coverage thresholds, directly advancing worker benefits under unemployment compensation law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 23, 2025

HB 1292: An Act amending Title 64 (Public Authorities and Quasi-Public Corporations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, further providing for grant applications and process.

HB 1292 requires broadband grant programs under Pennsylvania's Broadband Development Authority to comply with the state's prevailing wage law. It mandates that grant materials include prevailing wage requirements and directs the Department of Labor to create new wage classifications specifically for broadband infrastructure workers, such as teledata linemen, groundmen, and cable splicers. The department must set fair wages based on federal standards and include labor market surveys to determine rates. This affects broadband project funders and contractors receiving state grants, ensuring workers on these projects earn locally established fair wages.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires prevailing wages for broadband workers, mandates new wage classifications based on federal standards, protecting workers' earnings per labor standards.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates prevailing wages for broadband infrastructure workers to expand grant-funded broadband access, directly advancing internet infrastructure development per topic description.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Broadband Access

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 28, 2025

SB 679: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in preliminary provisions, providing for minimum hourly wage or living wage for education support professionals; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for majority vote required and recording; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

Senate Bill 679 proposes to establish a minimum hourly wage or a living wage for education support professionals in Pennsylvania's public schools, such as aides, custodians, and cafeteria staff. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, these employees would be paid at least $20 per hour or a living wage, whichever is greater, with overtime at one and a half times that rate. The Department of Labor and Industry would be responsible for determining and annually adjusting the living wage for each school entity. Public school entities would receive supplemental reimbursements from the Department of Education to help cover these increased wage costs, including payments for existing contracts that fall below the new minimum.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates $20/hour minimum wage or living wage for education support staff (aides, custodians, cafeteria workers), strengthening workforce stability in K-12 schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes $20/hr minimum wage for school support staff, requiring annual living wage adjustments by Labor Dept, directly increasing compensation for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 1349: An Act amending Title 74 (Transportation) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in administrative practice and procedure, providing for project labor agreement.

HB 1349 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation to establish a project labor agreement for highway construction projects (including federally funded ones) when it determines such agreements promote labor stability, cost efficiency, and quality. The bill mandates that contractors and subcontractors on these projects must agree to the agreement, which includes requirements for 10% of the workforce to come from local hiring halls, goals for apprenticeship hours (including underrepresented groups), and guarantees against strikes. It directly affects highway construction contractors, subcontractors, and labor organizations involved in state or federally funded projects. The department must publicly notify about the agreement during bidding and submit annual reports tracking project usage and workforce statistics.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates project labor agreements requiring 10% local hiring and apprenticeship goals, advancing worker opportunities and employment standards in highway construction projects.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates project labor agreements for highway construction to promote cost efficiency, quality, and local hiring, directly supporting infrastructure development within transportation policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Roads & Highways Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 5, 2025

SB 710: An Act amending the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act, in strikes, providing for health care benefits during strikes.

SB 710 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act. This bill directly affects public employers and their employees who are participating in a strike. Its key provision prohibits public employers from discontinuing health care benefits for public employees during the period they are engaged in a strike. This change ensures the continuation of health coverage for public sector workers during labor disputes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents discontinuation of health benefits during strikes, ensuring continuous coverage for public employees during labor disputes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents discontinuation of health benefits during strikes, protecting workers' rights and benefits under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 1255: A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for workers' rights.

HB 1255 proposes a constitutional amendment to Pennsylvania's Constitution, adding Section 30 to guarantee employees the right to organize, bargain collectively over wages and working conditions, and protect workplace safety. It specifically prohibits laws that interfere with these rights, including bans on union membership as a condition of employment. The amendment must pass both legislative chambers and then be approved by Pennsylvania voters at the next qualifying election. This would establish a constitutional right affecting all Pennsylvania workers and employers, not just current labor laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGuarantees right to organize, collective bargaining, and workplace safety; prohibits laws interfering with these rights like union membership bans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 24, 2025

HB 1023: An Act amending the act of January 17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as The Minimum Wage Act of 1968, providing for employment in executive capacity, for employment in administrative capacity and for employment in professional capacity.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act to establish new salary thresholds for employees classified as exempt in executive, administrative, or professional roles, affecting employers and workers in these positions. It defines "executive capacity" as requiring management duties, directing two or more employees, and having hiring/firing authority, with a minimum weekly salary starting at $844 (effective October 2027), rising to $1,128 by 2029, and then adjusting every three years based on Pennsylvania's 10th percentile wage for exempt workers. Employers may meet up to 10% of the salary requirement through nondiscretionary bonuses, incentives, or commissions paid annually. The bill does not alter minimum wage rates for non-exempt workers but clarifies exemption criteria for specific job classifications.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRaises salary thresholds for exempt workers, expanding overtime eligibility and strengthening wage protections under Pennsylvania's Minimum Wage Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 4, 2025

SB 562: 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 compensation, further providing for benefits based on service for educational institutions.

SB 562 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to change how benefits are calculated for workers at educational institutions between academic terms. It removes the requirement that individuals must have "reasonable assurance" of returning to work at the same institution during the next academic year to qualify for benefits. This directly affects teachers, staff, and other employees at schools or colleges who work between academic terms. The change applies to services performed on or after the bill's effective date, ensuring benefits are payable regardless of return assurances, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves requirement for 'reasonable assurance' of return to work, improving unemployment benefit access for education workers between academic terms.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves 'reasonable assurance' requirement, expanding unemployment benefits access for educational workers between academic terms, directly advancing worker benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 237: An Act amending the act of December 17, 1959 (P.L.1913, No.694), known as the Equal Pay Law, further providing for definitions, for wage rates and for collection of unpaid wages.

SB 237 amends Pennsylvania's Equal Pay Law to clarify that "wages" include all compensation (salaries, benefits, and supplements) and define "comparable work" as requiring similar skill, effort, and working conditions - not just matching job titles. It strengthens protections by requiring employers to prove pay differences are based on job-related factors (like experience or performance), not sex, and prohibits lowering wages to comply with the law. The bill also allows the Attorney General to sue for unpaid wages with no filing fees and extends the statute of limitations to three years for willful violations. It directly affects all employers in Pennsylvania, including state and local government, and workers experiencing pay discrimination.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends Equal Pay Law to clarify wage definitions, require employer justification for pay gaps, and prohibit wage cuts - directly strengthens worker protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Labor Standards

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 323: An Act amending Title 15 (Corporations and Unincorporated Associations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions relating to nonprofit corporations, providing for eligibility for receipt of State resources.

HB 323 requires nonprofit corporations (both domestic and foreign with 200+ Pennsylvania employees) to meet specific conditions to receive state contracts, funding, or grants. Key provisions include: prohibiting eligibility if the nonprofit violated federal labor laws in the past five years, was found guilty of unfair labor practices in Pennsylvania within five years, or fails to submit bylaws requiring at least 20% of board members to be current employees elected by staff. Healthcare-related funding (like Medicaid reimbursements) and past violations occurring before the law's effective date are exempt. The law applies to new state contracts, funding, or grants approved on or after its effective date, which is 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits state funding for nonprofits violating labor laws/failing employee board representation requirements, directly strengthening labor protections and worker voice in nonprofits.92% confidence

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