Labor & Employment

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 10, 2025

HB 1629: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for public worker safety and protection.

HB 1629 requires Pennsylvania public employers to create safety plans protecting outdoor public workers, including sanitation staff, crossing guards, utility workers, and park maintenance crews. It mandates risk assessments, quarterly incident reviews, and mandatory violence prevention training within 30 days of hire - covering de-escalation, reporting, and legal rights - refreshed every two years. Employers must establish confidential incident reporting systems, provide paid leave for recovery after violent incidents, and offer counseling or legal support. The bill also requires data collection on workplace violence and creates enforcement mechanisms, including fines for non-compliance and protections against retaliation for reporting.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates safety plans, risk assessments, violence prevention training, and confidential reporting for public workers, directly strengthening workplace safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Workplace Safety

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 16, 2025

HB 1617: An Act amending the act of July 14, 1961 (P.L.637, No.329), known as the Wage Payment and Collection Law, further providing for definitions; and providing for specific liability.

HB 1617 amends Pennsylvania's Wage Payment and Collection Law to clarify that general contractors are jointly and severally liable for unpaid wages owed by subcontractors on construction projects. This directly affects construction workers who may receive faster payment, as well as general contractors (who must cover subcontractors' wage violations) and subcontractors (who must reimburse contractors under specific conditions). Key provisions require general contractors to pay wages if subcontractors fail to do so, unless the subcontractor's contract already covers indemnification or the general contractor delayed payment. The bill applies to new construction contracts entered after its effective date, which is 60 days after passage.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies contractor liability for unpaid wages, ensuring faster payment to construction workers - directly strengthens wage collection protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 18, 2025

HB 777: 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.

HB 777 requires Pennsylvania public school districts to pay education support professionals (like aides and clerical staff) a minimum hourly wage of $20 or a living wage based on cost-of-living adjustments, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. School districts must make supplemental payments to cover wage gaps for existing contracts below this rate through 2029-2030, with the Department of Labor setting and annually adjusting the living wage using the Consumer Price Index. The Department of Education will reimburse districts for these supplemental payments, adding the reconciled amount to their annual funding allocation. This applies directly to over 500 school districts and their education support staff, ensuring wage standards align with inflation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates $20+ minimum wage for education support staff, strengthening workforce compensation and retention in schools per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates $20/hour minimum wage + COLA-adjusted living wage for school support staff, directly increasing compensation standards and protecting worker pay rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 3, 2025

SR 157: A Resolution encouraging Federal, State and local policymakers, educational institutions, workplaces and other organizations to adopt and uphold diversity, equity and inclusion principles that promote inclusivity, protect freedom of expression, remove barriers and provide equitable opportunities for all individuals to pursue their American Dream.

SR 157 is a non-binding resolution encouraging federal, state, local governments, schools, workplaces, and organizations to adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles. It calls for promoting inclusivity, protecting free expression, removing barriers, and creating equitable opportunities for all people to pursue their goals. The resolution does not create new legal requirements or alter existing laws; it serves as a statement of support for DEI practices. It directly addresses policymakers, educational institutions, and employers by urging them to uphold these principles voluntarily. The resolution was referred to the Rules & Executive Nominations committee on October 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEncourages DEI principles in educational institutions to promote inclusivity, remove barriers, and provide equitable opportunities for all students and educators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill promotes equitable workplace opportunities and removes barriers through DEI principles, aligning with labor & employment protections by fostering inclusive work environments.85% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jun 1, 2026

HB 1826: An Act amending the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, further providing for definitions.

HB 1826 amends Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act by updating key definitions to clarify anti-discrimination protections in employment. It lowers the minimum employee threshold for businesses to be considered "employers" from four to two workers, expanding coverage to more small businesses. The bill also explicitly includes religious, charitable, and similar organizations as employers for discrimination based on race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability - previously excluded for these categories. Additionally, it revises the definition of "employee" to focus on employer control over work while maintaining exclusions for casual domestic workers and family employees (e.g., parents, spouses, or children).

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands anti-discrimination coverage by lowering employee threshold from 4 to 2 workers and including religious/charitable orgs, strengthening worker protections in employment.95% confidence

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 3, 2025

HB 455: An Act providing for grants to organizations that host or offer education, workforce training or skills development to young adults; establishing the Building a Better Future Grant Program; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and making an appropriation.

HB 455 establishes Pennsylvania's "Building a Better Future Grant Program" to fund organizations providing education and workforce training to young adults aged 16-24 who are disconnected from education. The program targets organizations serving youth from low-income backgrounds with specific vulnerabilities (e.g., foster care, disability, homelessness, or school dropout) and requires grantees to offer at least two services like job training, career counseling, or high school equivalency support. The Department of Labor and Industry will administer $5 million in state funding (from the General Fund) to award grants of up to $1 million per organization, with 5% reserved for statewide technical assistance. This directly affects eligible young adults and qualifying local organizations focused on construction, healthcare, and other in-demand vocational fields.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new state appropriation for youth workforce training grants, explicitly increasing public funding for essential services targeting vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program funding education/workforce training for underserved youth (16-24), expanding access and support for disconnected students.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes grants for youth workforce training and education, directly advancing employment opportunities for vulnerable populations through skills development programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget K-12 Education Apprenticeships Child Labor Workforce Development

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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

Sub-Topics Public Health Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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passed · Pennsylvania · House Oct 15, 2025

HB 145: 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 ineligibility for compensation.

HB 145 amends Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation law to clarify when workers lose eligibility for benefits. It directly affects claimants who voluntarily leave jobs, adding specific protections: workers cannot be disqualified for leaving due to disability if suitable work is available, for joining or staying in a union, or to accompany a military spouse relocating due to active duty orders. The bill defines "suitable employment" as work requiring similar skills and paying at least 80% of a worker's previous average weekly wage. These changes aim to prevent unfair disqualifications while maintaining the law's core purpose of providing benefits to eligible unemployed workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds protections preventing disqualification for leaving jobs due to disability (suitable work available), union activity, or military spouse relocation - strengthens unemployment eligibility under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill protects unemployment benefits for workers leaving jobs to accompany military spouses relocating due to active duty orders, supporting military-connected families and veterans' support systems.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Unemployment Military Families

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passed · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 1053: 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 the definition of "employe."

SB 1053 amends Pennsylvania's Workers' Compensation Act to expand the definition of "employe" to include volunteer emergency personnel. It specifically adds coverage for members of volunteer fire departments, ambulance corps, and rescue squads who perform operational support duties (such as fundraising, equipment maintenance, or administrative tasks) on a regular, approved basis - *not* just emergency response. This change ensures these volunteers qualify for workers' compensation if injured during approved activities, while explicitly excluding "social members" who do not perform operational duties. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' comp coverage to volunteer emergency personnel for operational duties, enhancing workplace safety benefits and worker protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 13, 2025

HB 899: An Act providing for the right for employees to paid sick leave from employers and for civil penalties and remedies.

HB 899 requires Pennsylvania employers to provide workers with paid sick leave for their own health needs or to care for family members. Employees earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, with a minimum annual accrual of 40 hours. The law prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who use this leave and mandates clear posting of rights. It covers most private-sector employees (excluding federal workers) and applies to all employers with 15+ employees in Pennsylvania, effective upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid sick leave, prohibits retaliation, and expands worker benefits, directly advancing labor and employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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