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Northampton County Council introduces Human Relations Commission ordinance after broad public support
Summary
After multiple public speakers urged updated local protections, Northampton County Council introduced an ordinance to establish a county Human Relations Commission and scheduled a public hearing and possible vote for March 19, 2026. Supporters said a local commission would resolve discrimination complaints faster than the state system.
Northampton County Council on March 5 introduced an ordinance to establish a county Human Relations Commission and set a public hearing, debate and possible vote for March 19, 2026.
Supporters from across the community told the council the state Human Relations Act has not kept pace with modern needs and that a local commission would shorten adjudication times and expand protections. Corine Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Trans Equity Project, said Pennsylvania’s law ‘‘has not been substantially updated in any form since 1955’’ and urged the county to act to cover veterans, gig workers, people with chronic illness and LGBTQ+ residents.
Kristen Volchanski of Action Together NEPA said a local commission would reduce the backlog and increase access to remedies. ‘‘Our state's Human Relations Act is from 1955. It does not include robust protections against discrimination for many other classes,’’ she said. Wendy Wright, an intern with Keystone Equality, cited Lehigh County’s volunteer commission as a low-cost model and noted that local panels can resolve many cases far faster than state processes.
During the public comment period Joe Welsh of the Lehigh Valley Justice Institute said a local body ‘‘would be a fantastic improvement’’ because state and federal agencies are often ‘‘completely overwhelmed’’ and can take a year or more to reach decisions. Karen Davidson, chair of the City of Bethlehem Human Relations Commission, told the council that a countywide ordinance would create consistent protections for Bethlehem residents who currently have mixed coverage by neighboring ordinances.
Council members who sponsored the ordinance asked staff to prepare for the March 19 hearing. The ordinance introduction does not itself adopt policy; it begins the public process and allows for hearings, amendments and a future recorded vote.
