Labor & Employment

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

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jan 9, 2026

SB 1076: An Act requiring a percentage of workers on a public works project to be hired from the local labor market; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

SB 1076, the Local Hire Act, requires at least 50% of workers on public works projects costing over $500,000 to be hired from the local labor market (defined as Pennsylvania counties and adjacent bordering counties). Employers unable to meet this requirement must post job openings on PA CareerLink® for three business days; if no qualified local applicants are found, they may obtain a waiver but must contribute to a training fund based on the collective bargaining agreement for each waived position. The Department of Labor and Industry oversees the waiver process and enforces penalties for non-compliance. This law applies to contractors working on state or local government construction, repair, or alteration projects (excluding maintenance work).

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires 50% local hiring for public projects, prioritizes local labor access, mandates training fund contributions for waived positions, advancing local employment opportunities and workforce development.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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passed · Pennsylvania · House May 7, 2026

HB 2103: An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for the title of the act, for findings and declaration of policy, for right to freedom from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation, for definitions, for unlawful discriminatory practices and for prohibition of certain real estate practices; providing for protection of religious exercise; and further providing for powers and duties of the commission and for construction and exclusiveness of remedy.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act to clarify that religious or fraternal organizations cannot restrict membership based on race, color, national origin, or ancestry to deny equal access to housing, employment, or public accommodations. It specifically updates Section 5(h)(10) to explicitly prohibit such discrimination under the guise of religious or fraternal affiliation. The change directly affects religious institutions, fraternal organizations, and housing providers operating under existing exemptions. The amendment takes effect 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination by religious/fraternal organizations under PA Human Relations Act, aligning with tenant protection and equal access to housing.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAmends PA Human Relations Act to prohibit religious/fraternal orgs from discriminating in employment based on race/color/national origin, directly protecting workers' rights under employment standards.95% confidence

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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

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 2087: An Act amending the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, in additional coverages, further providing for definitions.

HB 2087 amends Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to extend coverage to volunteer firefighters, ambulance corps members, and rescue squad volunteers who provide regular operational support (such as fundraising, equipment maintenance, or administrative tasks) but do not respond to emergency calls. The bill adds these volunteers to the definition of "employe" under the act, requiring such support to be conducted regularly and approved by the municipality. It explicitly excludes social members who are not involved in operational duties. This change ensures these volunteers can receive workers' compensation for work-related injuries sustained while performing their support roles. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends workers' comp coverage to volunteer firefighters/ambulance corps for regular support roles, adding them to 'employe' definition, strengthening protections for non-emergency volunteer workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Dec 10, 2025

SB 1085: An Act establishing the Direct Care Worker Wage Advisory Board and providing for its powers and duties; providing for minimum wage for direct care workers and for a direct care worker registry; and imposing penalties.

SB 1085, the "Good Jobs for Quality Care Act," establishes a Direct Care Worker Wage Advisory Board within Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to address recruitment and retention challenges for direct care workers. The bill sets a minimum wage for these workers - defined as individuals providing hands-on care in home, community, or nursing home settings to elderly or disabled individuals (including personal care aides, home health aides, and nursing assistants) - and creates a statewide registry to track their employment. The Advisory Board, composed of worker representatives, employers, and care recipients, will examine factors like compensation and work schedules to make recommendations. The bill also includes penalties for violations of its minimum wage and registry requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill sets minimum wages and creates registry for direct care workers (home health aides, personal care aides), addressing workforce retention to improve quality of care delivery in healthcare settings.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSets minimum wage for direct care workers (personal care aides, home health aides) and creates advisory board to address recruitment/retention, directly advancing wage standards per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Minimum Wage

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 16, 2025

HB 194: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, establishing the Mental Health Professional Student Loan Forgiveness Program; imposing powers and duties on the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency; and making an appropriation.

HB 194 creates Pennsylvania's Mental Health Professional Student Loan Forgiveness Program, targeting mental health workers serving children and adolescents. It allows eligible residents who complete qualifying degrees (like social work, counseling, or psychology) and work in early childhood-to-adolescence mental health roles to receive up to $22,500 in loan forgiveness after signing a 7-year employment contract. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers the program, requiring applicants to prove residency, partial degree completion, faculty recommendations, and secure employment in the specified field. Participants must maintain employment for seven years or repay the forgiven amount if they leave the field early, fail to comply, or provide false information. This directly affects mental health professionals in Pennsylvania seeking relief from student debt while addressing workforce needs in youth mental health.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill makes appropriation for mental health loan forgiveness program, funding public service through state budget allocation90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates loan forgiveness for mental health professionals serving K-12 students, enhancing school-based mental health support and educational access for youth.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareHB 194 creates a loan forgiveness program for mental health professionals serving youth, directly funding and incentivizing workforce expansion in mental health services per healthcare topic description.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentThe bill creates a loan forgiveness program for mental health workers (social work, counseling, psychology), providing financial support to encourage retention in high-need roles. This expands worker benefits and supports employment in critical se...95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Student Health Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 18, 2025

SB 860: An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Human Services Code, in public assistance, further providing for reimbursement for certain medical assistance items and services.

This bill requires Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services to establish a dental benefit package for medical assistance recipients aged 21 and older by 2025-2026. It mandates that the dental coverage must maintain all existing services provided before 2011 and cannot remove any current benefits, though it may add new coverages. The department must seek federal approval via a waiver or State plan amendment to implement this dental coverage. The bill also requires the department to publish notices in the Pennsylvania Bulletin detailing the benefit package, which will remain in effect until updated by regulation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires dental benefits expansion for medical assistance recipients, maintains existing services, and mandates federal approval for implementation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands dental benefits for medical assistance recipients (including low-wage workers), maintaining existing services and adding new coverages, aligning with worker benefit expansion.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 980: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, further providing for assistance to fire companies and EMS companies and providing for protection against PFAS chemicals and for firefighting protective equipment; in grants to fire companies and emergency medical services companies, further providing for award of grants; and imposing penalties.

SB 980 bans the manufacture, sale, and use of class B firefighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals after July 1, 2026 (for manufacturers/sellers) and January 1, 2027 (for users), with limited exceptions for federal requirements and exempt facilities like airports. It requires manufacturers of firefighting protective gear to label products containing PFAS and provide online information about PFAS content. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations (up to $5,000 for first offenses, $10,000 for repeat offenses) and creates new grant funding for fire companies to dispose of PFAS foam and purchase PFAS-free alternatives, with penalty revenue directed to these programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam to prevent health risks (cancer, immune issues), aligning with public health protection under healthcare policies.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans PFAS in firefighting foam/gear, directly improving firefighter workplace safety and health protections per bill's safety focus.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 565: An Act amending Titles 24 (Education) and 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in membership, contributions and benefits, providing for supplemental annuity commencing 2025 and for supplemental annuity commencing 2026; and, in benefits, providing for supplemental annuity commencing 2025 and for supplemental annuity commencing 2026.

SB 565 adds two new supplemental retirement annuities for eligible Pennsylvania state employees. Starting July 2025, retirees who retired before July 2, 2001 (and meet specific service criteria) receive a one-time percentage-based supplement (4.5% to 14% of their July 2025 payment, depending on retirement date). Starting July 2026, eligible retirees receive an annual inflation-adjusted supplement tied to the CPI-U index (capped between 1% and 7% of their monthly payment). The Commonwealth funds both supplements over 10 years, with school districts not liable for the costs. This directly affects current retirees, not new hires or active employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds supplemental retirement annuities for state retirees, expanding post-employment benefits and enhancing financial security for eligible retirees.95% confidence

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