New year, new laws for Pennsylvanians
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The new year brings a wave of new laws in the Keystone State and Pittsburgh.
Why it matters: The changes will influence how we work, learn, drive and pay taxes.
By the numbers: Pennsylvania lawmakers passed roughly 65 bills last year, ranking 2025 among their least productive years over the last decade.
Here is some of the top legislation coming our way.
👑 CROWN Act: This Pennsylvania law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on hair texture and style, like braids, twists and afros. The law goes into effect later this month. Pittsburgh has had its own anti-hair discrimination law on the books since 2021.
⚖️ School weapons notification: School officials must now notify parents, guardians, and employees within 24 hours whenever a weapon is discovered on school grounds. Previously, Pennsylvania law required districts to report such incidents only to the state Department of Education.
🚦Red-light enforcement: Pittsburgh will roll out automated red-light enforcement cameras at six intersections early this year. Drivers who run red lights face a citation, capped at $100 by state law.
- Violations will be reviewed by police before the city's parking authority mails tickets. Signage will be posted at all camera-equipped intersections. The city approved a five-year contract with Verra Mobility to install and operate up to 30 cameras by 2029.
- From 2019 to 2023, drivers running red lights caused 759 crashes in Pittsburgh, per the city.
📵 Distracted driving penalties: Pennsylvania will begin fully enforcing its new distracted driving law in June, after a yearlong warning period.
- Starting June 5, police can fine drivers $50 — plus court costs and other fees — for holding or using a phone while driving, even when stopped in traffic or at red lights. A driver convicted of vehicular homicide and distracted driving faces up to five additional years in prison.
🧾 New tax credit: The Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit is included in the new state budget signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro in November. It offers a refundable tax credit for low- and middle-income workers and mirrors the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
- The Shapiro administration estimates about 940,000 Pennsylvanians will qualify this tax season. Eligibility and refund amount are based on income, filing status, and number of dependents. The credit is capped at $805. Eligibility calculator here.