Pennsylvania legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Pennsylvania HB439: 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.
Status: Signed into law, November 25, 2025
What the bill says
An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and others as herein defined; creating the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties," further providing for definitions.
From the amended text, March 17, 2025:
An act prohibiting certain practices of discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age or national origin by employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and others as herein defined; creating the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in the Governor's Office; defining its functions, powers and duties; providing for procedure and enforcement; providing for formulation of an educational program to prevent prejudice; providing for judicial review and enforcement and imposing penalties," further providing for definitions. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Section 4 of the act of October 27, 1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, is amended by adding clauses to read: Section 4. Definitions.--As used in this act unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context: * * * (bb) (1) The term "race" includes traits historically associated with the individual's race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles. Nothing in this clause shall be construed to prohibit an employer from adopting and enforcing an otherwise valid workplace health and safety rule or policy or other rule or policy justified as a bona fide occupational qualification, provided the employer demonstrates all of the following, if the rule or policy impacts traits historically associated with the individual's race: (i) Without the adoption of the rule or policy the health or …