SB 162 is an appropriations bill that allocates funds from the Workmen's Compensation Administration Fund for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. It provides $87,302,000 to the Department of Labor and Industry to cover expenses for administering the Workers' Compensation Act and The Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act. Additionally, the bill appropriates $550,000 to the Office of Small Business Advocate within the Department of Community and Economic Development for its operations. These funds also cover any unpaid bills incurred at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
HB 565 creates a new tax credit for Pennsylvania employers who pay for their employees' health insurance. It allows businesses to reduce their state tax bill by up to 100% of their contributions toward employee health insurance premiums, but only the first $500 per employee counts toward the credit. The credit percentage decreases as the number of covered employees increases: 100% for fewer than 50 employees, 75% for 50-99 employees, and 50% for 100+ employees. Employers must submit specific employee and insurance provider details to the Department of Revenue to claim the credit, which cannot be carried over, refunded, or sold.
SB 397 amends Pennsylvania's Public Employe Relations Act to require public employee unions to report how membership dues are spent. It mandates that unions file quarterly reports with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board detailing officer salaries, benefits, all expenses (including travel), and political spending related to elections. The bill also requires public employers to forward signed collective bargaining agreements to the board within 15 days and directs the board to make all reports and agreements publicly accessible online. These changes directly affect public-sector unions and the Labor Relations Board, increasing transparency around union finances and contract terms. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.
HB 970 establishes clear procedures for investigating Pennsylvania correctional and forensic employees (those responsible for inmate or patient care). It requires recorded interrogations, informs employees of their rights (including the right to counsel and protection from polygraph coercion), and prohibits adverse actions for exercising these rights. The bill ensures suspensions during investigations are with pay and benefits unless criminal charges trigger specific rules, and clarifies that union contracts cannot reduce these protections. It directly affects correctional officers and forensic staff employed by the state's Department of Corrections or Department of Human Services. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.
HB 183 amends Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to increase the maximum compensation period for serious permanent disfigurement of the head, neck, or face from 275 weeks to 400 weeks. It specifically updates Section 306(c)(22) to clarify that disfigurement benefits are paid separately from disability benefits, allowing injured workers to receive both simultaneously. The change applies to injuries sustained on or after the bill's effective date (60 days from enactment), regardless of when the original injury occurred. This directly affects workers who sustain qualifying permanent disfigurement in workplace injuries.
SB 538 requires the Joint State Government Commission to study driver income, traffic congestion, safety, and service access for ride-hailing companies (like Uber or Lyft) in Pennsylvania. The study will collect detailed data from companies on ride specifics, driver availability, and earnings, with a report due within 12 months. Based on this report, the Public Utility Commission may later establish minimum payments for drivers and minimum fare rates for rides, excluding taxes and fees. This bill directly affects ride-hailing companies, drivers, and passengers by potentially setting new compensation and pricing standards.
HB 891 creates the Keystone State Apprenticeship Tax Credit Program, providing tax incentives to Pennsylvania businesses that hire apprentices. It directly affects employers participating in approved apprenticeship programs, with preference given to those training disadvantaged youth (low-income individuals aged 16-24) and businesses in key sectors like clean energy, healthcare, and technology. The program allocates up to $10 million annually in tax credits from 2025 to 2030, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, which will determine eligibility and prioritize employers based on specific criteria like apprentice graduation rates and program novelty. Businesses must register apprenticeship agreements with the department to qualify for the credit.
HB 676 establishes the First Responder Resilience Grant Program to help first responder organizations (like police, fire, and emergency medical services) cover costs for embedding mental health resilience coaches. The program provides competitive grants to defray salaries and overtime for these coaches, who deliver evidence-based support such as stress reduction, peer mentoring, and suicide prevention services. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency will administer the program and manage the dedicated First Responder Resilience Grant Fund. This bill directly affects first responder organizations by enabling them to access funding for mental wellness support tailored to the unique stressors of their work.
Pennsylvania's SB 593 adds five extra points to civil service exam scores for applicants with disabilities who voluntarily disclose their disability and provide required documentation. This applies to state and local government job openings requiring civil service exams, affecting applicants who meet the definition under Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act. The bill requires the civil service commission to publicly advertise this policy on its website and in exam materials. It does not mandate disclosure but ensures eligible applicants with disclosed disabilities receive the score adjustment to determine their ranking on hiring lists.
SB 84 requires Pennsylvania school entities (including districts, charter schools, and career centers) to conduct detailed facility condition assessments every seven years, starting in 2026. These assessments must cover building structural components, mechanical systems, safety features (like secure vestibules and escape routes), environmental hazards (asbestos, lead), and projected maintenance costs for seven years and facility improvements for five years. Schools that complete the assessments receive a 2% funding boost for grants, while those that fail to comply lose eligibility for certain state funding under the Fiscal Code and school construction programs. The bill defines key terms like "maintenance costs" and "total project costs" to standardize reporting requirements for facility management.
