Labor & Employment

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 2319: An Act amending the act of June 24, 1976 (P.L.424, No.101), referred to as the Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act, further providing for title of act; and adding provisions relating to telecommunicators.

This bill expands death benefit eligibility under Pennsylvania's Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act to include telecommunicators, who are now formally recognized as covered personnel alongside firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. The legislation adds telecommunicators to the list of individuals presumed to have died in the line of duty if they suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty or within 24 hours of responding to an emergency. It also clarifies that telecommunicators are considered to be acting in the performance of their duties when following 911 emergency communication service protocols, ensuring they receive the same death benefits as other covered emergency personnel.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands death benefits for telecommunicators, strengthening worker protections and benefits for first responders.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 22, 2026

SB 906: An Act establishing the Pennsylvania Family and Medical Leave Program and the Family and Medical Leave Fund; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; creating a right of action; and imposing penalties.

This bill establishes a new paid family and medical leave program in Pennsylvania, creating a fund to support workers who need time off for family care or medical reasons. It requires employers to contribute to the program and sets rules for how long employees can take leave, how much money they receive, and what situations qualify for benefits, including care for family members with serious health conditions or recovery from domestic violence. The Department of Labor and Industry will administer the program, handle claims, and enforce rules, while employees have the right to take legal action if their rights are violated. The legislation also includes provisions for self-employed individuals to opt into the program and establishes an advisory board to guide program development.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes paid family and medical leave program, improving access to healthcare services and supporting workers during medical or family care situations.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes paid family and medical leave program, expanding worker benefits and protecting workers' rights to take time off for family care or medical reasons.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse Paid Leave

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 904: An Act providing for school-to-work programs; establishing the CareerBound Program; providing for the CareerBound Tax Credit Program; and conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Labor and Industry.

This bill creates the CareerBound Program to connect Pennsylvania students with high-priority job opportunities through school-to-work partnerships. It establishes a formal framework where schools, local workforce boards, and businesses collaborate to provide career exploration, relevant curriculum, and workplace exposure for students. The legislation also creates a tax credit program to encourage businesses to participate in these partnerships by offering financial incentives for hiring students in high-demand occupations. State agencies including the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Community and Economic Development will administer the program and oversee its implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes tax credit program to encourage business participation in workforce development, providing fiscal incentives that support economic development and education funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes CareerBound Program to connect students with job opportunities, expands career exploration curriculum, and creates tax incentives for business partnerships in education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates CareerBound Program connecting students to job opportunities and provides tax credits for businesses hiring students, advancing workforce development and employment access.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Career & Technical Education Curriculum Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 12, 2026

SB 908: An Act amending the act of August 15, 1961 (P.L.987, No.442), known as the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act, further providing for definitions, for specifications and for duty of secretary.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Act to clarify definitions and requirements for public works projects. It expands the definition of "public work" to include custom fabrication of nonstandard goods or materials for projects costing more than $25,000, while excluding structural steel and precast concrete. The law requires contractors and subcontractors performing custom fabrication to follow the same wage, reporting, and compliance rules as other public works contractors. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the Secretary of Labor and Industry must determine prevailing wage rates for all crafts, including those involved in custom fabrication, and must consider employee benefit contributions from collective bargaining agreements when setting these rates.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands prevailing wage protections to more public works projects, strengthening worker wage rights and compliance requirements under the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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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

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 905: An Act prohibiting the employment of unauthorized employees; requiring hotel and lodging industry employers to verify the Social Security numbers of employees; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

This Pennsylvania bill requires hotels and lodgings with at least 150 rooms to verify the work authorization status of all employees through the federal E-Verify system and maintain verification records for at least three years or the duration of employment. The law prohibits employers from knowingly hiring individuals who lack legal permission to work in the United States and applies to staffing agencies supplying workers to the hotel industry. The Department of Labor and Industry will be tasked with investigating complaints about violations, conducting inspections of employer records, and interviewing relevant personnel. Employers who violate the prohibition face penalties, while individuals who knowingly submit false information in complaints could face criminal charges.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill mandates E-Verify for hotels and prohibits hiring unauthorized workers, restricting immigrant employment access and increasing enforcement.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts employment for unauthorized workers and mandates E-Verify, limiting hiring practices and worker protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jul 12, 2026

HB 2190: An Act amending the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act, in collective bargaining impasse, further providing for arbitration; and, in strikes, further providing for prohibited strikes.

HB 2190 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act to change how collective bargaining impasses are resolved for specific public safety and court staff. It requires binding arbitration for disputes involving prison guards, mental hospital staff, peace officers, and court employees when mediation fails - meaning the arbitrator's decision becomes final and enforceable. However, if an arbitration decision would require new legislation (e.g., changing pay rates or benefits), that part would only be advisory, not binding. The bill directly affects these public employee groups whose work is critical to security and court operations. This change streamlines dispute resolution while maintaining legislative oversight for policy changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires binding arbitration for prison guards and court staff disputes, ensuring stable workforce in corrections and courts - key components of criminal justice system operations.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires binding arbitration for public safety/court staff collective bargaining impasses, strengthening resolution process without strikes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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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

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 2204: An Act amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, in liability and compensation, further providing for schedule of compensation and for physical examination or expert interview.

HB 2204 modifies Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to require injured workers who have received total disability payments for 104 weeks to undergo a medical examination. This exam, requested by the insurer within 60 days after the 104-week period ends, must be conducted by a Pennsylvania-licensed physician certified by an American Board of Medical Specialties-approved board (and actively practicing at least 20 hours weekly). The examination determines the degree of lasting disability using the American Medical Association's impairment guidelines, affecting workers transitioning from temporary to permanent disability benefits and insurers seeking to assess long-term compensation needs.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRequires medical exams after 104 weeks of disability payments, potentially restricting continued benefits and adding hurdles for injured workers seeking compensation under the Workers' Compensation Act.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 1188: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties of the Department of Public Instruction and its departmental administrative boards and commissions, further providing for collective bargaining.

SB 1188 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to grant collective bargaining rights to school administrators employed by cities of the first class or school districts of the first class A. It allows these administrators to negotiate terms like pay, hours, working conditions, retirement, and benefits through labor organizations representing at least 50% of their peers. Disputes over these terms will be resolved by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board using procedures similar to the Public Employers Relations Act. This bill directly affects school administrators in specific large cities and school districts, expanding their formal negotiation rights under state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants collective bargaining rights to school administrators, supporting their negotiation of pay, conditions, and benefits, thereby strengthening the educational workforce.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly grants collective bargaining rights to school administrators, enabling negotiation of pay, hours, benefits, and working conditions through labor organizations, directly advancing worker organizing rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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