Labor & Employment

passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 9, 2026

HB 2558: An Act prohibiting enforcement of covenants not to compete in broadcast employment agreements.

This bill, titled the Broadcast Freemarket Agreement Act, prohibits employers in the radio, television, and digital media industries from enforcing non-compete clauses in employment contracts. It declares such agreements void if they stop workers from moving to other companies or performing services within a specific geographic area after leaving their current job. The law also ensures that employees cannot be forced to sign away these protections, while still allowing employers to maintain confidentiality agreements regarding trade secrets.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill prohibits non-compete clauses, protecting worker mobility and rights in media industries.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jul 9, 2026

HB 2455: 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.

This bill grants school administrators in Pennsylvania's first-class cities and school districts the right to engage in collective bargaining with their employers. It allows these administrators to negotiate terms regarding pay, working hours, benefits, and dispute resolution through designated representatives. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will handle any disagreements about these bargaining items using the same process applied to other public employees. The changes apply immediately upon the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill grants school administrators collective bargaining rights, enhancing their ability to negotiate pay, benefits, and working conditions, which supports educator welfare.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly grants school administrators the right to collective bargaining, expanding worker rights and protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Jun 11, 2026

HB 2446: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Commonwealth services, establishing the Fire Company Transformational Grant Program.

This bill establishes the Fire Company Transformational Grant Program in Pennsylvania to provide financial support to municipal, volunteer, and combination fire companies. The program will be funded with up to $30 million annually from the Property Tax Relief Reserve Fund and allows grants ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, with a higher limit for consolidated agencies. Eligible fire companies can use the funds to purchase equipment, build or renovate facilities, recruit and retain staff, and support regionalization efforts. To qualify, applicants must meet specific administrative requirements, such as maintaining current contact information and being registered with a public safety answering point. The administering office will set detailed guidelines for the application process, evaluate requests based on established criteria, and require annual reports on how the grants are used.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $30M annually from a reserve fund to establish a grant program for fire companies, directly increasing funding for essential public safety services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds recruitment and retention of fire company staff, directly supporting workforce stability and employment standards.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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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 | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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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 | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 200: An Act establishing family and medical leave benefits, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Account and the Paid Family and Medical Leave Grant Program; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

This bill would create a state-funded paid family and medical leave program for eligible workers needing time off for health issues, childbirth, or family care. It establishes a dedicated state fund to cover leave costs, creates an advisory board to guide implementation, and assigns oversight to the Department of Labor. The program would directly affect employees in the state who qualify for these leave types, requiring employers to provide the benefits. The bill also specifies penalties for businesses failing to comply with the new requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program requiring dedicated budget appropriations for paid family leave, advancing government spending on essential worker benefits.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates state-funded paid leave for health issues, improving access to healthcare services without income loss for employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates state-funded paid family/medical leave program expanding worker benefits, requiring employer provision of leave for health/childbirth/family care, directly strengthening employment protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Feb 13, 2026

HB 1923: An Act providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; establishing the industry workers' rights coordinator within the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

HB 1923 establishes new workplace safety requirements for meat packing and food processing facilities by mandating facility health and safety committees. It creates a dedicated workers' rights coordinator position within the Department of Labor and Industry to oversee compliance and address concerns. The bill also adds specific public health emergency protections for workers during outbreaks or crises, requiring employers to follow state health guidelines. These changes directly affect workers and employers in the meat and food processing industry across the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates public health emergency protections for workers during outbreaks, requiring employers to follow state health guidelines. This directly advances public health programs and worker safety in healthcare-adjacent settings.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates facility health/safety committees, creates workers' rights coordinator, and adds public health emergency protections for workers in meat/packing industries, directly strengthening workplace safety and rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Dec 17, 2025

HR 382: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to retain expanded health insurance subsidies that enable consumers to purchase health insurance through Pennie.

This Pennsylvania House resolution (HR 382) urges Congress to extend expanded health insurance subsidies that currently help Pennsylvanians purchase coverage through Pennie, the state's health insurance marketplace. Without extension, these subsidies expire December 31, 2025, causing average premium increases of 102% for Pennie customers - projected to push 150,000 people to lose coverage. The resolution highlights that without the expanded credits, a couple earning $85,000 annually would pay $25,776 yearly for insurance (31% of their income), compared to lower costs under current subsidies. It cites Pennie's 2025 enrollment of nearly 500,000 customers and a 16% drop in new sign-ups since Open Enrollment 2026 as evidence of the need for continued support. The resolution has no legal force but requests congressional action to maintain affordability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill urges extension of federal health insurance subsidies (a form of government spending/tax credit), directly supporting continued funding for essential health coverage and preventing premium increases that would impact state residents' fiscal b...95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUrges Congress to extend subsidies preventing 102% premium hikes and 150k coverage losses, directly protecting healthcare access and affordability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill urges retention of health insurance subsidies, preventing 102% premium hikes and 150k coverage losses - directly supporting workers' access to affordable healthcare benefits, a core employment standard.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Dec 15, 2025

HB 1676: An Act establishing the Nursing Shortage Assistance Program; and imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry.

HB 1676 establishes Pennsylvania's Nursing Shortage Assistance Program, which provides state grants to "qualified nursing servicers" to help nursing students repay loans after graduation. The program requires partner hospitals to match state funds 1:1 for loan repayment and commit to hiring graduates, with grants only covering tuition expenses (not administrative costs). Nursing students working at participating hospitals may receive up to $10,000 annually or $30,000 total in loan repayment assistance. The Department of Labor and Industry administers the program, sets application rules, and reports annually on its effectiveness to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides loan repayment assistance to nursing students (higher education), directly supporting student financial burdens and workforce access in a specific educational program.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes nursing loan repayment grants to address workforce shortages, improving healthcare access and provider availability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds nursing student loan repayment to address workforce shortages, requiring hospital hiring commitments, directly supporting labor supply and employment in healthcare.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Nov 17, 2025

HB 1540: An Act amending Title 62 (Procurement) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Buy America, Buy Union Grant Program and the Buy America, Buy Union Grant Fund; and imposing duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development.

HB 1540 creates a "Buy America, Buy Union" grant program and fund under Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development. It requires state-funded projects to prioritize American-made materials and union labor by offering grants to qualifying contractors. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to finance these grants, directly affecting state agencies and contractors working on public projects. Key provisions mandate that projects receiving grants must meet specific union labor and domestic sourcing standards, altering how state procurement contracts are awarded. This policy change shifts procurement incentives toward union workers and U.S. manufactured goods for eligible state projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a dedicated fund to finance grants for union labor and American-made materials on state projects, increasing government spending on specific initiatives.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates union labor for state project grants, directly supporting collective bargaining and union employment standards per bill's core requirement.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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