Pennsylvania Proposes New Family Caregiver Protections

The proposed bill would bar employers from making hiring decisions based on your marital or family caregiving status.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Eldercare

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a stylized interlocking wooden piece, representing the balance between career and family life. — Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced House Bill 2871 to include marital and family caregiver status as protected classes under state employment law. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should states legally protect employees from hiring and promotion discrimination based on their family caregiving responsibilities?

Pennsylvania lawmakers recently introduced House Bill 2871, which aims to add marital status and family caregiver status to the state’s protected classes. If passed, the legislation would provide new employment protections for Pennsylvanians who manage care for blood relatives, spouses, or those in their legal custody.

Why it matters

Expanding the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include these statuses could change how employers vet candidates and structure job listings. The bill seeks to ensure that workers are not discriminated against during the hiring process due to their domestic responsibilities or marital status.

House Bill 2871 currently sits with the Committee on State Government for review. The proposal would update protections first established by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act of 1955.

The players

Committee on State Government

The legislative body currently tasked with reviewing House Bill 2871 before it can advance toward a potential vote.

The details

The bill prohibits employers from inquiring about a candidate's marital or caregiver status prior to making a formal job offer. It also forbids the publication of job advertisements that explicitly express preferences or limitations based on these statuses. Under the definition provided, family caregiver status applies specifically to those providing medical or supervisory care to a spouse, blood relative, or person in their legal custody.

1955: The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act was originally enacted.
October 21, 2026: House Bill 2871 was introduced by lawmakers.
60 days after governor signs: The projected effective date if the bill is enacted.

The Home Front

This legislation updates the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act of 1955 to reflect modern household realities. It marks a shift in state law toward recognizing the labor of family caregivers as a protected dimension of one's professional and personal life.

Families managing medical or supervisory care for relatives should track this bill if they are currently navigating the job market. While the proposal is still in the committee stage, it establishes a framework for future workplace protections for those juggling caregiving duties at home.

The takeaway

If enacted, this law would prohibit employers from screening applicants based on their caregiver responsibilities. Families should monitor the progress of House Bill 2871 through the Committee on State Government to see if these protections become law.