Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 14 D · 2 R cosponsors

SB 406 — An Act providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; establishing the industry workers' rights coordinator within the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

Last action — First consideration

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 62% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 16 sponsors

    1 primary, 15 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (14 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill creates health and safety committees in meat packing and food processing workplaces.

This legislation establishes workplace health and safety committees in the meat packing and food processing industry. It also creates an industry workers' rights coordinator within the Department of Labor and Industry to oversee these efforts.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means better representation and potentially improved safety conditions for workers in the meat packing and food processing sectors.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

268 added · 257 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of SB 406, the definition of a "food facility" has been clarified to align with federal regulations, specifically referencing a portion of the Code of Federal Regulations. This change means that businesses must be registered as food facilities under these updated standards. Additionally, the phrase about products intended for human consumption has been removed, which simplifies the legislative language and focuses on businesses that produce a wider range of food products. This matters because it helps ensure that all food-related businesses meet consistent health and safety requirements, which can enhance public health protections.

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PRINTER'S NO.
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
361 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
361 PRINTER'S NO.
406 2025 INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK, SAVAL, FONTANA, COLLETT, KEARNEY, STREET, HUGHES, HAYWOOD, COSTA, KANE AND L.
1809 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
WILLIAMS, MARCH 10, 2025 REFERRED TO LABOR AND INDUSTRY, MARCH 10, 2025 AN ACT Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace;
406 2025 INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK, SAVAL, FONTANA, COLLETT, KEARNEY, STREET, HUGHES, HAYWOOD, COSTA, KANE, L.
WILLIAMS, SANTARSIERO, FARRY, PISCIOTTANO AND PICOZZI, MARCH 10, 2025 SENATOR ROBINSON, LABOR AND INDUSTRY, AS AMENDED, JUNE 10, 2026 AN ACT Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace;
(2) The business is registered as a food facility under Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-188, 116 Stat.
(2) The business is registered as a food facility under THE Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness <-- and Response Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-188, 116 Stat.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE TERM "FOOD FACILITY" <-- SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS "FACILITY" UNDER 21 CFR PT.
1 SUBPT.
H (RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF FOOD FACILITIES) AS OF MAY 1, 2026.
(8) the making, cooking, mixing, processing, bottling, baking, canning, freezing, packing or rendering of meat products;
(8) the making, cooking, mixing, processing, bottling, 20250SB0406PN1809 - 2 - baking, canning, freezing, packing or rendering of meat products;
or (9) the making, cooking, mixing, processing, bottling, baking, canning, freezing, packing or rendering of products 20250SB0406PN0361 - 2 - intended for human consumption.
or (9) the making, cooking, mixing, processing, bottling, baking, canning, freezing, packing or rendering of products intended for human consumption.
(5) The employee's right to seek workers' compensation for work-related injuries.
(5) The employee's right to seek workers' compensation 20250SB0406PN1809 - 3 - for work-related injuries.
(b) Training provided.-- (1) An employer shall provide worker safety training to new employees during normal working hours and at the standard 20250SB0406PN0361 - 3 - rate of compensation.
(b) Training provided.-- (1) An employer shall provide worker safety training to new employees during normal working hours and at the standard rate of compensation.
(2) The committees shall be composed of a minimum of two employer-representatives and a minimum of two employee- representatives.
20250SB0406PN1809 - 4 - (2) The committees shall be composed of a minimum of two employer-representatives and a minimum of two employee- representatives.
If more than two employees are required to represent each office of the workplace, the employer shall 20250SB0406PN0361 - 4 - require a minimum number of employees from each office to be represented on the committee.
If more than two employees are required to represent each office DEPARTMENT of the workplace, the <-- employer shall require a minimum number of employees AT LEAST <-- ONE EMPLOYEE from each office DEPARTMENT to be represented on <-- the committee.
(c) Committee formation.-- (1) An employer that has only one workplace within this Commonwealth shall form a single workplace safety committee at the workplace.
(c) Committee formation.-- (1) An employer that has only one workplace within this 20250SB0406PN1809 - 5 - Commonwealth shall form a single workplace safety committee at the workplace.
20250SB0406PN0361 - 5 - (3) The committee shall be composed of at least an equal number of employer-representatives and employee- representatives.
(3) The committee shall be composed of at least an equal number of employer-representatives and employee- representatives.
(6) COMMITTEES ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SECTION ARE <-- ADVISORY ONLY AND SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE OR BE DEEMED A LABOR ORGANIZATION, EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE OR BARGAINING REPRESENTATIVE UNDER 29 U.S.C.
CH.
7 SUBCH.
II (RELATING TO NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS).
(1) Represent the accident and illness prevention concerns of employees for the employer.
(1) Represent IDENTIFY AND COMMUNICATE the accident and <-- illness prevention concerns of employees for the employer.
(3) Establish procedures for periodic workplace inspections by the committee for the purpose of locating and identifying health and safety hazards.
(3) Establish procedures for periodic workplace 20250SB0406PN1809 - 6 - inspections by the committee for the purpose of locating and identifying health and safety hazards.
(5) Conduct follow-up evaluations of newly implemented 20250SB0406PN0361 - 6 - health and safety equipment or health and safety procedures to assess effectiveness.
(5) Conduct follow-up evaluations of newly implemented health and safety equipment or health and safety procedures to assess effectiveness.
(ii) Reports on specific hazards and corrective measures taken.
(ii) Reports on specific hazards and corrective 20250SB0406PN1809 - 7 - measures taken.
(f) Committee member training.--The employer shall provide 20250SB0406PN0361 - 7 - adequate, annual training programs for each committee member.
(f) Committee member training.--The employer shall provide adequate, annual training programs for each committee member.
(6) The names of training organizations sponsoring training, if applicable.
20250SB0406PN1809 - 8 - (6) The names of training organizations sponsoring training, if applicable.
(i) Loss of pay prohibited during training.--An employer shall permit committee members to attend a training without loss 20250SB0406PN0361 - 8 - of pay.
(i) Loss of pay prohibited during training.--An employer shall permit committee members to attend a training without loss of pay.
(4) The coordinator, either on the coordinator's initiative or in response to a complaint, shall investigate an employer's compliance with this section.
(4) The coordinator, either on the coordinator's initiative or in response to a complaint, shall investigate an employer's compliance with this section ACT.
Section 6.
<-- Section 6.
Upon investigation and a determination by the department that an employer failed to comply with this act, the department may assess an administrative penalty of $500 per day until the failure is cured.
Upon investigation and a determination by the department that 20250SB0406PN1809 - 9 - an employer failed to comply with this act, the department may assess an administrative penalty of $500 per day until the failure is cured.
20250SB0406PN0361 - 9 - Nothing in this act shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges or remedies of an employee under a collective bargaining agreement.
Nothing in this act shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges or remedies of an employee under a collective bargaining agreement.
20250SB0406PN0361 - 10 -
20250SB0406PN1809 - 10 -
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. First consideration

  2. Reported as amended

  3. Referred to Labor & Industry

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 237 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (237)

237 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 237 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 7000
Democratic 4000
Total 11000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic Yea
John I. Kane Democratic Yea
Marty Flynn Democratic Yea
Nick Pisciottano Democratic Yea
Camera Bartolotta Republican Yea
Daniel Laughlin Republican Yea
Devlin J. Robinson Republican Yea
Joe Picozzi Republican Yea
Kim L. Ward Republican Yea
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passed 10 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 6100
Democratic 4000
Total 10100
% of votes cast 91%9%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Christine M. Tartaglione Democratic Yea
John I. Kane Democratic Yea
Marty Flynn Democratic Yea
Nick Pisciottano Democratic Yea
Camera Bartolotta Republican Yea
Daniel Laughlin Republican Nay
Devlin J. Robinson Republican Yea
Joe Picozzi Republican Yea
Kim L. Ward Republican Yea
Lisa Baker Republican Yea
Rosemary M. Brown Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 406?
SB 406 is sponsored by Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Judith L. Schwank (Democratic), Nikil Saval (Democratic), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Maria Collett (Democratic), Timothy P. Kearney (Democratic), Sharif Street (Democratic), Vincent J. Hughes (Democratic), Art Haywood (Democratic), Jay Costa (Democratic), John I. Kane (Democratic), Lindsey M. Williams (Democratic), Steven J. Santarsiero (Democratic), Frank A. Farry (Republican), Nick Pisciottano (Democratic), and Joe Picozzi (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 406?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 10, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 406?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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