Committee approves expansion of equal-pay law to cover race and ethnicity, adds pay-transparency and higher penalties

The House Labor & Industry Committee voted March 25 to report House Bill 630, which would modernize the state's equal-pay law to extend wage-discrimination protections to race and ethnicity, add pay-transparency measures and protections against retaliation, and increase penalties for violations.

Committee staff described the bill as a modernization of equal-pay law. Representative O'Mear, a cosponsor, said the measure was timely: "Today is actually Equal Pay Day in 2025... It's March 25," she said, noting the date marks how far into the year women must work to match men's prior-year earnings. O'Mear said the bill would also limit employers' use of prior salary when setting a new hire's pay and cited national wage gaps and recent settlements as reasons to act.

Opponents in committee, including Representative Joebs, argued the bill would create regulatory burdens that harm employers. Representative Gleit (committee member) relayed the Department of Labor and Industry's statement that the agency had not received an equal-pay complaint in over 20 years, and said federal and state laws already prohibit discrimination. Several members framed the debate around enforcement cost, business compliance and differing lived experiences.

After debate, the committee took a roll-call vote. Recorded yes votes included: Dawkins; Brandon; Donahue; Jeroll; Green; Haddock; Kinkade; Kojewski (by designation); Mursky; Miller (by designation); O'Meara; Scott (by designation); Siegel (by designation); and Young. Recorded no votes included: Grove; Anderson; Barker; Bernstein (designation); Cooper; D'Orsay; Ecker (designation); Fink; Gleim; Jones; Reichard; and Rossi. The chair announced, "The bill passes." The committee then reported House Bill 630 as committed for further consideration.

Committee discussion cited federal laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission's investigatory role, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as part of the broader legal context raised by members. Supporters urged the bill as a tool to address pay gaps, including a cited figure that women earn "about 80 cents to the dollar" compared with men and a sponsor statement that some mothers earn roughly $10,000 less than comparable fathers.

No amendment was adopted in committee. The bill will proceed to subsequent legislative steps for additional consideration.