Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania House Bill HB241 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version

                             
PRINTER'S NO. 193 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL 
No.241 
Session of 
2025 
INTRODUCED BY GROVE, KAUFFMAN AND HAMM, JANUARY 22, 2025 
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 22, 2025 
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania 
Consolidated Statutes, in preemptions, providing for employer 
mandates by municipalities.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1.  Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated 
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 307.  Employer mandates by municipalities.
(a)  Regulation or enforcement prohibited.--A municipality 
may not in any manner regulate employer policies or practices or 
enforce any mandate regarding employer policies or practices.
(b)  Applicability.--This section shall not apply to  any of 
the following:
(1)  A mandate enacted by a municipality affecting an 
employee or class of employees of the municipality.
(2)  An ordinance authorized by the act of October 27, 
1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human 
Relations Act.
(3)  The terms and conditions of collective bargaining 
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19 agreements.
(c)  Effect.--
(1)  This section shall not be construed to invalidate an 
ordinance, rule or policy enacted by a municipality prior to 
January 1, 2015.
(2)  An ordinance, rule or policy enacted by a 
municipality on or after January 1, 2015, in violation of 
subsection (a) is void.
(d)  Relief.--If, on or after January 1, 2015, a municipality 
enacts an ordinance, rule or policy in violation of subsection 
(a), a person adversely affected may seek declaratory or 
injunctive relief and actual damages in an appropriate court.
(e)  Reasonable expenses.--
(1)  The court shall award reasonable expenses to a 
person adversely affected by a violation of subsection (a) in 
any of the following circumstances:
(i)  A final determination is granted by the court in 
favor of the person adversely affected.
(ii)  The underlying ordinance, rule or policy is 
rescinded, repealed or otherwise abrogated after an 
action has been filed under subsection (d) but before the 
final determination by the court.
(2)  If a person eligible for relief under subsection (d) 
provides at least 30 days' written notice to the municipality 
of the intention to file an action under subsection (d) and 
the municipality subsequently takes steps to provide relief 
to the person, the person shall also be eligible for 
reasonable expenses.
(f)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following 
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this 
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30 subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Employee."  An individual employed by an employer.
"Employer."  An individual, partnership, association, 
corporation, business trust or a person or group of persons 
acting, directly or indirectly, in the interest of an employer 
in relation to an employee.
"Employer policies or practices."  Policies or practices that 
include any of the following topics:
(1)  Wages, other compensation or benefits.
(2)  Hiring or termination of employees.
(3)  Workplace management, including scheduling and 
workplace procedures.
(4)  The relationship between employers and employees, 
including employee discipline.
(5)  Paid or unpaid employee leave.
(6)  Terms and conditions of employment.
"Municipality."  A county, city, borough, incorporated town, 
township, home rule charter, optional charter or optional plan 
municipality or a similar general purpose unit of government 
that may be created by the General Assembly.
"Reasonable expenses."  The term includes attorney fees, 
expert witness fees, court costs and compensation for loss of 
income.
"Wages."  As defined in section 3(d) of the act of January 
17, 1968 (P.L.11, No.5), known as The Minimum Wage Act of 1968.
Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.
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