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Committee advances bill to extend Human Relations Act protections to agricultural, domestic and smaller workplaces
Summary
House Bill 1826, sponsored by Representative Madden, would expand the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to cover agricultural and domestic workers and lower the employee threshold for coverage from four to two. Supporters called the change a corrective for historic exclusions; some members urged consultation with farming groups on impacts.
The House Labor & Industry Committee voted to report House Bill 1826 (printers number 2250), sponsored by Representative Madden, which would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to extend anti‑discrimination protections to agricultural and domestic workers and reduce the statutory employee coverage threshold from four employees to two.
Sponsor remarks outlined the bill as a targeted update to remove historical carve‑outs that have left groups of workers without the same legal protections enjoyed by most employees. Representative Madden and other supporters cited the historical roots of those exclusions and urged the committee to extend coverage so “more Pennsylvanians can work in environments free from discrimination.” They also referenced national analyses and testimony noting the long‑term consequences of earlier exclusions.
Opponents and some committee members asked for more time to consult directly with agricultural stakeholders. Representative Grove and others urged outreach to the Farm Bureau and other rural stakeholders before advancing a change that would bring most small farms into the act’s coverage. Concern focused on definitional clarity — for example, how “casual basis,” “temporary,” and “special engagement” would be interpreted in agricultural settings — and on avoiding unforeseen compliance burdens for small operators. Committee staff were asked to collect feedback and to confirm the bill’s operational definitions.
The committee voted to report HB 1826 favorably to the full House. Several members encouraged additional conversations between sponsors and agricultural stakeholders as the bill moves forward.
What’s next: HB 1826 was reported from committee; staff were asked to facilitate follow‑up discussions with farm and agricultural groups and to clarify statutory definitions and implementation questions raised at the hearing.
